[ **[[Material culture]] | [[China--History]]** ] --- > [!note] Ref. > *Bell (Bo Zhong)*. early 400s BC. Bronze, Overall: 41.4 cm (16 5/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Collection: China - Zhou Dynasty; Department: Chinese Art; Gallery: 241A Arts of Ancient China; John L. Severance Fund. https://jstor.org/stable/community.24605217. # Bell (Bo Zhong) (400s BCE) > date: early 400s BC > > Music in the Eastern Zhou dynasty not only served ritual purposes but also provided entertainment in feudal courts. The elliptical cross-section of the Chinese bronze bell is unique; it could produce two notes depending on where the bell is struck, either at the rim or near the center. The bell is suspended when played and often belongs to a graduated set arranged according to pitch and size. This bell displays elaborate ornamentation and exquisite workmanship. A twin-bodied serpent intertwined with two tigers forms the suspension loop at the top. Coiled serpents form the knobs on the body. The lower part bears an animal mask, its horns interlaced with abstract bird designs. > > medium: bronze > > measurements: overall 41.4 cm.[^1] ![[China, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770-256 BC)-BellBoZhong-early 400s BC-2, Licenced CC1.0.jpg]] ![[China, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770-256 BC)-BellBoZhong-early 400s BC-3, Licenced CC1.0.jpg]] ![[China, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770-256 BC)-BellBoZhong-early 400s BC-6, Licenced CC1.0.jpg]] ![[China, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770-256 BC)-BellBoZhong-early 400s BC-7, Licenced CC1.0.jpg]] **Source: [Bell (Bo Zhong), JSTOR](https://jstor.org/stable/community.24605217). All images licenced under [CC 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/).** [^1]: ‘Bell (Bo Zhong)’. Metalwork. China, early 400s BC. 1962.44. The Cleveland Museum of Art. [https://jstor.org/stable/community.24605217](https://jstor.org/stable/community.24605217).