Tsung Chou Chung

Late Western Chou dynasty, ca. 9th 8th century B.C.
Height: 65.6cm Width: 35.2cm Weight: 34900g

This bell has two large dragon motifs on the lower part and several smaller ones on its upper half.
The Tsung Chou chung is one of only a handful of vessels known to be commissioned by a Chou king rather than some lesser noble. The inscription consists of 122 characters. It describes events connected with the Chou King's campaign to discipline an unruly vassal, P'u-tzu, the ruler of a state south of the Han River in Hupei. When the King's army arrived in the P'u state, Pu-tzu met him with peaceful overtures, and 26 princes altogether came to pay homage. The Chou King cast the bell to commemorate this feudal ceremony

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