The Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok the Great

The Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok the Great / 성덕대왕신종

The Bell of King Seongdeok is Korean National Treasure Number 29.
It is stored in the National Museum of Gyeongju.

 

It is the largest extant bell in Korea weighing 18.9 tons.
Notice the depression below the bell.
It acts as an amplifier.

It is the largest extant bell in Korea weighing 18.9 tons. It measures 3.33 meters high, 2.27 meters in diameter, and 11 to 25 centimeters in wall thickness. A bronze bell commissioned by King Gyeongdeok to honor his father, King Seongdeok. The bell was cast in 771 A.D first housed in Bongdeoksa Temple, Silla region. It is stored in the National Museum of Gyeongju. Considered as a masterpiece of Unified Silla art, the hook of the bell is in the shape of a dragon's head. There are many relief patterns on the bell, including are flower patterns, lotus flowers, grass reliefs, and a pair of two heavenly maidens, over a thousand hanja inscriptions are carved on the bell.

          종=bell

          신=sacred

          대왕=Great king

The hook of the bell is shaped like a Dragon's head.

Image showing a heavenly
maiden and floral motifs.

The deep, resonant and lingering sound of the bell is what perhaps leaves the deepest impression on visitors. The reason for the sound is a phenomenon described by physicists as the “beat phenomenon”. In the case of the Seongdeok Bell it is the asymmetry of the bell’s design, with differences in thickness in the walls of the bell leading to differing frequencies and the deep sound. A soundpipe above allows conflicting sound waves to escape without disrupting the overall tone. A depression in the floor beneath the bell serves as an amplifier.

When rung, it is said to have been heard from 40 miles away on a clear day.

The bell is commonly known as the Emile Bell in both Korean and English. Emile, pronounced "em-ee-leh," is an ancient Silla term for "mommy".

The above is a photo of a souvenir replica of the actual bell located in Gyeongju, Korea.