10 BULLETIN 136, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



The Japanese temple bell (94631, pi. 7b) is of beaten bronze 

 hung in a frame of carved teakwood. On its surface may be seen 

 the small protuberances said to represent snails. The beater is of 

 varnished red wood with head of kid stuffed with raw silk. This 

 bell is extremely sonorous and was used in religious services. It 

 was collected in 1884 by the United States diplomatic representative 

 at Tokio. 



A particularly interesting bell is 94961 (pi. 7a), collected by Dr. 

 Julius Neumann, in Canton, China. This bell is suspended in a 

 manner that passed out of use before 1279. According to Engel, 

 the Chinese at an early period had " a somewhat square bell made 

 of an alloy of 1 lb. of tin to 6 of copper." It is said that " the first 

 alterations were made in the Sung dynasty, when the ring at the 

 side of the handle was moved to the top, so the bell hung straight 

 instead of obliquely." x The Sung dynasty ruled from 960 to 1279 

 A. D. A second peculiarity of this bell is that the mouth is not 

 straight across but rises from the ends to the middle, forming an 

 obtuse angle on both sides. The material of the bell is cut bronze, 

 and on each of its four sides are twisted cones, representing the snails 

 that protected the head of Buddha. 



A different type of bell, also suspended in a carved frame, is 94962 

 (pi. 7c). On the outside are four diagrams, suggesting astronomical 

 charts, showing stars connected by raised lines. It was struck with 

 a small wooden mallet. A Chinese bell of cast metal with a ring 

 handle is 5390. The history of this bell is not recorded. 



CYMBALS 



As seen in a modern orchestra, the cymbals are not conspicuous 

 instruments, but they have a particularly interesting history. They 

 are a pair of round, thin metal plates with a leather strap through 

 the center of each, by which the performer holds it in his hand. The 

 metal is usually an alloy of 80 parts copper to 20 of tin skillfully 

 hammered by hand. To produce a good tone they are not struck 

 together but rubbed against each other in a single sliding motion. 

 If one cymbal is used alone and struck with a padded stick, it 

 becomes a gong. Wagner introduces this in single notes in "Die 

 Walkure," producing a remarkable effect. 



The gong had its origin in a pounding on stones or logs by un- 

 civilized peoples, but the cymbal is an instrument of dignity, asso- 

 ciated with the highest culture of the ancient world. According 

 to Xenophon, the cymbal was invented by Cybele and used at her 

 feasts in 1580 B. C. Cymbals are represented in the sculptures 

 of Nimroud and were used in religious and patriotic observances 



1 North China Branch, Royal Asiatic Society, 1908, p. 40. 



