Juesheng Temple Bell Tower: Yongle Bell

CHINA, Beijing; Ming dynasty

The bell was originally situated within Wanshou Temple in Beijing and was moved to the bell tower within Juesheng Temple in 1733. It was cast during the rule of Emperor Yongle (reigned 1402–1424) of the Ming dynasty at Deshengmen Foundry in Beijing in memory of the soldiers who had died in the Jingnan Rebellion. It also commemorated the relocation of the capital to Beijing.
Also known as the King of Bells, this bell weighs 46.5 t. The crown consists of four arches, from which the bell is suspended. The bell is made up of the shoulder, waist, and sound ring, all of which bear inscriptions. The waist is divided into four sections. The bell is cast with 17 sutras and Dharani, in both Sanskrit and Chinese, composed of a record 227,000 words and characters. The exterior has the Amitabha Sutra, Dharani of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, and Sutra of the Names of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Sages, and the shoulder has the Diamond Sutra. The interior is engraved with the Lotus Sutra. The characters are in regular script and it is thought that they were written by Shendu, a renowned calligrapher of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644).
The sound of the bell can be heard 40 km to 50 km from the temple and can last for two minutes. It is an example of the high level of bellfounding during the Ming dynasty. It also exhibits fine calligraphy.