433 BCEReputable source · 2 sourcesWell documented
The Bells of Marquis Yi of Zeng
On the timeline · around 433 BCE · Prehistory & Antiquity
What happened
The tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng, sealed in 433 BCE and rediscovered in 1978 in Hubei, China, held a colossal set of 65 tuned bronze bells (a bianzhong) hung on a three-tiered wooden frame. Each bell sounds two distinct pitches depending on where it is struck, and together they span three octaves of a twelve-note scale — a feat of metallurgy and acoustics unmatched anywhere in the ancient world.
Why it matters
The Zeng bells prove that ancient China possessed a sophisticated theory of tuning and temperament, and they are the largest and best-preserved set of ancient bronze bells ever found — a musical instrument that still plays today.
Sources
- Smithsonian Music. In Sync: Ancient Chinese Bronze Bells at the Smithsonian · Reputable source
- UNESCO Memory of the World. The Suizhou Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng · Reputable source
Related timelines
- History of China → — A masterpiece of ancient Chinese bronze-casting