국립중앙박물관 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA

Highlights
Bronze Artifacts from Daegok-ri, Hwasun (Bronze Ritual Bells)
  • Nationality/Period

    Early Iron Age

  • Provenance

    Hwasun-gun

  • Materials

    Metal - Copper Alloy

  • Category

    religion - Folk belief - Belief of the village - bell with eight beadsl

  • Dimensions

    D. 14.5cm, D. 12.5cm

  • Designation

    National Treasure 143-2

  • Accession Number

    Sinsu 2580

This bronze bell was unearthed from the archaeological site at Daegok-ri of Dogok-myeon, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do. It features an octagonal bronze disk at the center with eight projections each having a bell at the end. Each bell has a bronze pellet inside which makes a (ringing) sound when shaken. Bronze bells such as this are usually found in pairs, suggesting that they were ritual instruments that would have been held in each hand of the person ringing them. No similar artifacts have been discovered in either China or Japan, making them a uniquely Korean Bronze Age heritage.