Page 274 - The Golden Age of Chinese Archaeology: Celebrated Discoveries from the People’s Republic of China

scale in E in three consecutive octaves. The overall chief minister of Chu. Feng's tomb contained a
distribution of notes is less regular than in earlier magnificent set of seven bronze tripods made for
and contemporaneous chimes made in northern Wangzi Wu. How such royal bronzes came into
China, possibly indicating that mid-sixth-century Feng's possession is unclear; perhaps they were a gift
Chu casters were just beginning to cast acoustically from the Chu king, symbolizing Feng's appointment
sophisticated bell-chimes. 4 as chief minister and, simultaneously, the ouster of
7
The symmetrical groups of bosses on eachyong- Wangzi Wu's branch of the royal lineage. LVF
zhong probably served to dampen the nonharmonic
Inscription 8
overtones emitted by the upper part of the bell,
thus emphasizing the two fundamental notes. The It was the first month, in the first quarter,
enclosed panels between the bosses, as well as on day dinghai. I, Wangsun Gao, selected my
the shank, are ornamented, in typical Chu style, auspicious metals and for myself made
5
with tiny dragons raised in jagged relief. Larger [these] harmonizing bells. They are long-
versions of the dragon motif appear on the flat vibrating and sonorous, and their fine
head and in the center of the striking platform. sound is very loud. With them, sternly and
The inscribed text, repeated seventeen times, 6 in a very dignified manner, I reverently serve
identifies the individual for whom this chime was the king of Chu.
made as the grandson of a Chu king. Though un- I am not fearful and make no mistakes. I
known from historical sources, this Wangsun Gao am gracious in my administrative demeanor.
may have been the son of Wangzi Wu (d. 552 BCE), I am thoroughly familiar with the awe-
a royal prince and Yuan Zi Feng's predecessor as inspiring ceremonies. I am greatly respect-

273 CHU TOMB S AT X I A S I