Buddhist Temple Bell Emille Bell, Korean Traditional Bronze

Bell of King Seongdeok (Emille Bell) The Bell of King Seongdeok is a massive bronze bell, the largest extant bell in Korea. The full Korean name means "Sacred (or Divine) Bell of King Seongdeok the Great." It was also known as the Emille Bell, after a legend about its casting, and as the Bell of Bongdeoksa Temple, where it was first housed. The bell is considered a masterpiece of Unified Silla art. It is unique among Korean bronze bells because of the presence of a small hollow tube near the hook. The whole structure, including its decorative elements, produces a wide range of sound frequencies; the tube absorbes high frequency waves, contributing to a distinctive beat. The hook of the bell is in the shape of a dragon's head. There are many relief patterns on the bell, including flower patterns along the rim and shoulder. There are also reliefs of lotus flowers, grass reliefs, and a pair of two apsarases (heavenly maidens). The striking point of the bell (dwangja) is also in the shape of a lotus and sits between two of the apsarases reliefs. The bottom of the bell is in a rhombic shape, lending it a look unique among bells of the Orient. Legend The bell is commonly known as the Emille Bell in both Korean and English. Emille, pronounced "em-ee-leh," is an ancient Silla term for "mommy". According to legend, the first bell that was cast produced no sound when it was struck. The bell was recast many times but with no success. The king that had wanted the bell cast died after a while and his young son took over with the help of the queen. The son carried out what his father had started but still he didn't have any success. Later, a monk dreamed that if a child was cast into the metal, the bell would ring. The monk then took a child from the village and had her cast into the metal. When the bell was complete, the bell made the most beautiful sound when struck. Size : 15.5 x 12 x 6.5 cm / 6.1 x 4.7 x 2.5 inch Weight: 600 g Material: Bronze Made in South Kore🇰🇷 🔎 Please look closely and review the attached photos provided carefully to see the condition of the item(s) you will receive. ℹ️ Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions! 📦 Willing to Ship at the Buyers expense. Thank you for looking. Have a Happy Day! 🙂