回响千年的金鸣之音

文/五花肉

上一期，专栏聚焦青铜剑的起源与发展，介绍了“始于青铜的百兵之君”。本期，我们继续关注青铜钟，一起品味回响千年的金鸣之音。

In the last issue, the column focused on the origin and development of bronze swords and introduced "King of Melee Weapons". In this issue, we will continue to introduce bronze bells and savor bronze bell sound reverberating in the course of Chinese history.

钟，是我国历史上重要的文化符号，被赋予了厚重的礼制内涵，也承载了对美好生活的向往，在世界范围内得到广泛传播和认可。

Bell is an important cultural icon in Chinese history. It is endowed with profound ritual connotation and also carries the yearning for a better life, which has been widely spread and recognized in the world.

逨钟、双龙回纹钟·西周中国国家博物馆藏

礼器：成于钟鼎之齐Alloy Ratio Standard of Ritual Ware

钟发源于中国，起初多以角、竹、陶等材质制成。商周时期，随着青铜冶炼技术的出现和发展，专门司职制钟的凫氏发现，将铜锡按5：1的比例制成的青铜钟，不仅质量上佳，而且钟声格外低沉浑厚，成为当时祭祀仪式和庆典活动不可或缺的重要礼器。这一比例也被视为钟鼎之齐的制造标准，被沿用至今。

The bell originated in ancient China and was originally made of horn, bamboo, pottery and other materials.During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, bronze smelting technology was invented. Fu, officials specializes in making bells, found that bronze bells made of copper and tin in a ratio of 5：1 were not only of good quality,but also with deep and thick sound, which became an indispensable and important ritual ware for sacrificial ceremonies and celebrations at that time. This alloy ratio standard was also regarded as the manufacturing standard of bell and sacrificial vessel, and has been used up to now.

乐器：奏响编钟绝唱Chime-bells as Musical Instrument

进入战国时期，钟又被赋予了演奏的功能，成为宫廷的礼乐之器。享誉世界的“曾侯乙编钟”就是其中的经典之作。

During the Warring States Period, the bell was endowed with the function of Musical Instrument of the court. The world-renowned "Zeng Hou yi chime bell" (Chime-bells from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of the Zeng State )was one of the master pieces.

“曾侯乙编钟”呈瓦合状，钟体扁圆，边角有棱，钟身有突起。“双音同体”是“曾侯乙编钟”最为人津津乐道的神奇之处，同样材质、同一形制、同种工艺制作的单钟，分别击打正面和侧面，可以发出不同的两个音阶，编列成组更是能完整演奏十二个半音，令人称奇。可惜的是，这种工艺标准在战火中失传，成为湮没在历史中的乐器绝唱。

"Zeng Hou yi chime bell" was tile-shaped, with a flat round bell body, edges and corners, and a protruding bell body. "Dual Tone in Single Body" was the wonder of the chime bell. A single bell made of the same material and shape could perform different tones when stricken the front and side respectively. What is even more surprising is that the chime bell could perform 12 semitones completely when arranged in groups.Unfortunately, this technical standard was lost in the war, which was the swan song of chime bell.

曾侯乙编钟·战国 湖北省博物馆藏

法器：余音厚重不绝Religious Ware with Deep and Thick Lingering Sound

到了汉末，更加细腻丰富的丝竹之音逐步取代了铜钟的金鸣之音。丧失乐器地位的钟，却以一种新的形态再次兴盛。

By the end of the Han Dynasty, string orchestra gradually replaced the voice of golden bell. The bell lost its status as musical instrument and flourished again in a new form.

彼时，传入中国的佛教，盛行参照金刚铃的形制打造体型庞大、钟壁宽厚的圆形佛钟，将“晨钟暮鼓”作为寺庙僧人的作息标准。因为钟声厚重、庄严、悠长，官方也在各地大量修建钟楼用于报时。以现存北京的永乐大钟为例，重达46 t，钟声可传40 km～50 km，余音超过1 min，被誉为“古代钟王”“铸造史上的奇迹”。

At that time, Buddhism was introduced into China.As a result, Buddha bell，similar to vajra bell ,with thick shell and huge size became popular. "Morning bell and evening drum" was used as the routine standard for temple monks. Because the bell sound was thick, solemn and long, the government also built a large number of bell towers around the country to tell the time. Take the existing Yongle bell in Beijing as an example. It weighs 46 tons,the bell sound can travel 40～50 kilometers, and has a lingering sound of more than 1 minute. It is known as "the king of ancient Chinese bell " and "a miracle in the history of casting".

结 语Conclusion

从礼器、乐器到法器，不同历史时期赋予了钟不同的功能，形成了不同的工艺标准，在厚重朴实的文化内涵滋养下，历经传承发展，在历史的长河中回响千年而绵延不绝。

From ritual wares, musical instrument to religious wares, bells were endowed with different functions in different historical periods and different technological standards were developed. Under the nourishment of cultural connotation, the bell has gone through inheritance and development and bell sound reverberated for thousands of years in the long river of history.