Minneapolis Institute of Art

Bo bell

China

Date

late 6th–5th century BCE

Medium

Bronze

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

This impressive bronze bell, called a bo or bozhong, once echoed through ancestral temples and ceremonial spaces with deep, resonant tones. It was struck on the outside with a mallet and belonged to a graduated set, each tuned to a specific pitch. Its almond-shaped body and flat bottom are typical of the bo form, while the handle—formed by two S-shaped dragons—symbolizes divine power. This bell served as more than a musical instrument—it was a medium of ritual, belief, and cosmic connection in early Chinese civilization. China, Asia

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