Page 45 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book
P. 45
A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols 38
Flowers and a bee: like girls with a young man
Bells
zhong
Bronze bells have been found dating from very early periods of Chinese history.
They were originally used, it seems, as musical instruments. In later times they came to
be associated with Buddhist temples, where they are mainly used today. In early times,
bells used to be consecrated with the blood of a sacrificial animal, and then struck with a
wooden staff. There are several reports of bells being cast from weapons which had been
taken by force or confiscated in order to nip a rebellion in the bud.
