Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng


The Bianzhong of Marquis Yi of Zeng, or Zenghouyi Bells, is the name given to an ancient musical instrument made of bells unearthed in 1978 in the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng in Leigudun Community, Nanjiao Subdistrict, Zengdu District, Suizhou, Hubei Province, China. The bianzhong were made in 433 B.C.
The bianzhong are hung on two sets of wooden racks. One rack is long and wide. The other rack is long and wide. The two racks are perpendicular to each other.
The instrument contains a total of 64 bianzhong, which are hung at three levels and are divided into eight groups. There are 19 bells in three groups at the top level. 33 bells are in three groups in the middle level. There are 12 bells in two groups at the bottom level.
The biggest bell is in height and weighs weight. The smallest bell is in height and weighs.
Each bell can play two tones with three degrees' interval between them. The tonal range of Zenghouyi Bells is from C2 to D7. In the middle area of the tonal range, it can play all twelve half tones.
The wooden hammers used to strike the bells were also unearthed from the Zeng-hou-yi Tomb.
The original bells are on permanent display at the Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan. Copies have been made for other museums.