The taozhong, the earliest kind of bell, appeared in
primitive Chinese society. It was an instrument for labouring
people to play after work. The introduction of metal brought about
the tongnao (a bronze percussion instrument resembling an
inverted bell, sounded by a hammer), tongling (a small
bronze bell) and tongzhong (a bronze bell). Then they
evolved into the bianling (a chime of small bells),
biannao (a chime of percussion instruments resembling
inverted bells) and bianzhong (a chime of bells).
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Many chimes of bells appeared in the days before the Qin Dynasty
(221 BC-206 BC) unified China. Most of them were shaped uniquely
like combined pairs of tiles. They produced quick and short notes.
Each bell could produce two different notes when the front and the
side of its lower part were struck. So such bells were also known
as double-note bells. As they were used mainly for performances,
they were also called musical bells.
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With the development of society and the elapse of time, the
musical bells gradually became feudal sacrificial vessels and
important symbols of power, rank and position of the ruling
classes. According to The Junior Dancing Master, the Ministry
of Rites, the Ritual of Zhou, "The emperor could have bells on
the four sides of his palace, a duke or prince could have bells on
three sides of his residence, a minister could have bells on two
sides of his residence and an official could have bells on one side
of his residence." This was a clear proof of the rigid hierarchy of
power in those days.
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Due to the differences in the uses, shapes and regional features
and the evolution of times, the ancient Chinese percussion
instruments before the Qin Dynasty were divided into the
nao (an ancient percussion instrument resembling an
inverted bell, sounded by a hammer), duo (a kind of bell
used in ancient China when proclamations were issued or in times of
war), zheng (a bell-shaped percussion instrument used in
ancient times by troops on march), goudiao (a long and
narrow bell), yongzhong (a bell with a cylindrical handle
on top), niuzhong (a bell with a semi-circular knob on
top), yangjiaozhong (a bell shaped like a ram's horns) and
tongzhong (a tube-shaped bell).
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With the introduction of Buddhism into China after the Qin
Dynasty, ancient bells gradually became important musical
instruments for Buddhism. As the saying goes, "There are bells at
every temple. Without bells, there would be no temples." Round
bells took the place of those shaped like combined pairs of tiles.
The strokes of bells became sweet and sonorous, spreading to
distant places.
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With their imposing shapes and deep and prolonged sound, round
bells were widely used in Buddhism and Taoism. They also entered
the imperial court and became a symbol of imperial power. During
the Ming and Qing dynasties, ancient Chinese bells were divided
into musical bells, Buddhist bells, Taoist bells, imperial court
bells and bells for sounding the night watches. Their functions and
uses were broadened. According to a historical record, ?"Bells
are the leading musical instruments made of metal. The peals of big
ones can be heard five kilometers away and the strokes of small
ones can reach places half a kilometer off. When a monarch held
court or an official leaves his office, a hell is struck to call
together their subordinates. A bell is struck at a feast to
accompany the singing of songs. A bell is struck at a Buddhist or
Taoist temple to draw the devotion of worshippers and the awe of
ghosts and gods." In those days, bells served as musical
instruments, sacrificial vessels and musical instruments used in
Buddhist or Taoist masses, keeping up all the uses of bells during
the pre–Qin period and the Sui, Tang, Song and Yuan dynasties.