Bongjeongsa Temple Bronze Bell

This bell was made in 1813, the 13th year of King Sunjo's reign in Joseon. It measures 67 cm in height, with the sound-tube (eumtong) standing 22 cm high and the mouth of the bell 55 cm in diameter. The shoulder of the bell forms a gentle curve overall, while from the midsection down to the mouth it is treated almost as a straight line. At the top of the bell is the dragon-shaped hanging hook (yongnyu), together with the sound-tube: the hook is carved in the form of a dragon's head, though in a simplified manner, and the sound-tube — a device meant to improve the resonance of the bell's sound, usually omitted on Joseon-period bells — here takes only the form of one, its opening being blocked. The body of the bell is divided horizontally into three sections by encircling lines. At the very top, two standing bodhisattva figures are carved in symmetrical arrangement, with a square raised border (yugwak) placed between them; inside this border are nine raised bosses (yudu). At the centre of the bell, four round medallions bearing Sanskrit letters (beomja) are arranged, and the remaining space is filled with an inscription recording the bell's history. Although simplified and formalised, this bell retains stylistic features of the Silla and Goryeo periods, making it, as a bell cast in the 19th century, a good example showing the appearance of Silla- and Goryeo-period bells.

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Where it is

Region

Andong, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Cultural Heritage Material · 문화유산자료