In the 1970s, archaeologists in China made one of the most impressive archaeological discoveries in world history from the tomb of a marquis (the Marquis Yi of Zeng) who lived and died in south China in the 5th century BCE. It is a set of 65 perfectly tuned bronze bells (bianzhong in Chinese) that can play any song that can be played on a piano. For music enthusiasts, this means they can play all twelve notes in a chromatic scale in three octaves. Nothing like this grand set of musical bells has been discovered from any other site in the history of archaeology. These are not your common clapper bells! These bells were struck on the outside and played two perfectly tuned notes each. Even a modern-day carillon bell cannot compete with the Marquis Yi of Zeng’s bells.

The Zeng state

Zeng was a small state in south China during a period in Chinese history when China was divided into warring kingdoms. This period is known as the Warring States period in Chinese history. Zeng was so insignificant, no one wrote about it during the period. It wasn’t until the discovery of the Tomb of the Marquis Yi of Zeng and its extravagant set of bells that historians knew it even existed!

Learn more about the Tomb of the Marquis Yi of Zeng, his magnificent set of tuned bells, and ancient Chinese music in this video.

Main artwork:

Set of 65 bells (bianzhong), late 5th century BCE, Warring States period, bronze and lacquer, from the tomb of the Marquis Yi of Zeng, Leigudun Tomb 1, Suixian, Hubei, China. Hubei Provincial Museum

Chapters in this video

00:06 Introduction to the ancient Chinese bells from the Tomb of the Marquis Yi of Zeng

00:46 The Zeng state and the Warring States period

01:16 Discovery of the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng

01:23 Who was Marquis Yi?

01:36 Zeng, a vassal to Chu

02:11 The Marquis tomb and its underground burial structure

02:53 The bells (bianzhong) and the lacquer bell stand

03:14 Why are there different sizes of bells from top to bottom and how were they played?

03:41 These are not clapper bells!

03:56 Striking the bells with mallets and poles

04:16 Bells everywhere else were dinky!

04:25 Listen to Hubei Chime Orchestra play traditional Chinese music on the bells

04:49 Cool design features of the bells

05:13 Why doesn’t on bell match the others?

05:41 Inscriptions on the tuned bells

05:53 Marquis Yi’s love of music (and partying)

06:02 Most magnificent bells in human history

National Learning Standards

World History

NSS-WH.5-12.3 ERA 3: CLASSICAL TRADITIONS, MAJOR RELIGIONS, AND GIANT EMPIRES, 1000 BCE-300 CE