Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng

Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng (Chinese: 曾侯乙编钟; Pinyin: Zēnghóuyǐ Biānzhōng), or Zenghouyi Bells, were bianzhong unearthed in 1978 in the Zeng-hou-yi Tomb in Sui County, Hubei Province, China. The bianzhong were made in 433 B.C..

The bianzhong are hung on two sets of wood racks. One rack is 7.48 meters long X 2.65 meters wide. the other rack is 3.35 meters long X 2.73 meters wide. The two racks are perpendicular to each other.

The bianzhong are constituted by altogether 65 bells, which are hung at three levels and are divided into eight groups. There are 19 bells in three groups at the top level. There 33 bells in three groups at the middle level. There are 12 bells in two groups at the bottom level. There is another big bell.

The biggest bell is of 153.4 cm height and 203.6 kg weight. The smallest bell is of 20.4cm high and 2.4kg weight.

Each bell in the Bells can play two tones with three degree's interval between them. The tonal range of Zenghouyi Bells is from C2 to D7. In the middle area of the tonal range, it can play all twelve half tones.

The wood hammers used to strike the bells were unearthed from the Zenghouyi Tomb as well.

Further reading

*Lee, Yuan-Yuan and Shen, Sinyan. (1999). "Chinese Musical Instruments (Chinese Music Monograph Series)". Chinese Music Society of North America Press. ISBN 1-880464039
*Shen, Sinyan (1987), Acoustics of Ancient Chinese Bells, "Scientific American", 256, 94.