Bo bell

China

late 6th–5th century BCE

Bronze

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. Gallery G215 Gift of Ruth and Bruce Dayton