Since the existence of the Novgorod veche, bells in Russia have been treated tenderly and reverently. The raising of the bell to the bell tower, whether it be a small church or a large temple, has always been a solemn and significant event. There is even a special science Campanalogy that studies these unique products of human hands. In the Russian state, bells that reached a weight of more than a thousand pounds were called "thousandths." But in other cultures, there were large bells. Let's find out what is the largest bell in the world.
In the photo: Kherson foggy signal bell
List of ten largest bells:
10
Yunle. Beijing (46.5 tons)
In the majestic Beijing temple of Awakening there is a bell, which was cast according to the decree of Emperor Yongle in the distant 1415. Due to the weight and size of the medieval product, the religious building is also called the Temple of the Great Bell.
The penetrating sound of the bell, whose height reaches 5.5 meters, and a diameter of 3.3 meters is heard far beyond the temple complex.
In addition to sound, it is also known for the fact that more than 230 thousand symbols of Buddhism are applied to the product by masters of engraving.
9
Cathedral bell. Nizhny Novgorod (64 tons)
Perhaps, in the most Russian of all Russian cities, among the most picturesque open spaces, a large-sized memorial bell is installed. The installation location was not accidental, at the confluence of two great Russian rivers - the Oka and Volga.
It was here that in 1612 a militia was formed that liberated Moscow from Polish intervention. And in modern history, the memorial sign has become a symbol of the unity of Russia.
Established in 2012, the bell is a true work of art. On its dome are bas-reliefs of especially revered Russian saints.
8
The Great Assumption Bell. Moscow (65 tons)
For the first time, the bell to the belfry of the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin was cast during the time of Catherine II, but in 1812, when the Philaretovskaya extension was destroyed, it broke.
After the victory over the French, it was decided to cast a new symbol of Orthodoxy from captured cannons. Famous masters Zavyalov and Rusinov completed the order in 1817, and a bell weighing 65 tons was raised to the bell tower.
It is worth noting that this is one of the few Orthodox shrines that has survived the harsh 20-30 years of the struggle with religion.
7
New Tsar Bell (72 tons)
In 1930, many of the bells of Moscow churches and monasteries were dropped and melted at Moscow factories. But the time of revival came, and in 2002 a program was adopted in Russia to restore the lost Orthodox church heritage.
In 2004, the New Tsar Bell, whose weight was 72 tons, was raised to the belfry and took its place of honor, surrounded by no less massive bells - the Firstborn, weighing 27 tons and Blagovest - 35 tons.
It is also worth remembering that the belfry at the bell tower of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra is one of the highest in the territory of modern Russia.
6
Tion-in. Kyoto (74 tons)
In the Japanese city of Kyoto, in the main temple of the Buddhist School of Pure Land, a bell is placed, whose weight is 74 tons.
It was cast in 1633, and is considered to be the largest in Japan. The sounds of the Tion-in bell are recognizable by every Japanese, because it is they who announce the coming of the New Year.
The giant dome is tied to massive rings that were made by a famous sword-making master in Japan. It takes 16 monks to swing a log that strikes the dome and sets the tongue in motion.
5
Mingunsky bell. Mingun (90 tons)
The main bell of Myanmar, cast in bronze, weighs 90 tons, but locals traditionally designate it weighs 55,555 Burmese vises.
King Bodapaya ordered to build a giant temple, where it was planned to establish a large bell. It was cast for two years at the very beginning of the XIX century, and installed on two stone pillars.
On the surface of the dome there are symbols of five fives, but the inside is lined with graffiti that many tourists leave. The rings on which the Mingun giant hangs are made in the form of figures of mythical lions.
4
Strengths. Liuzhou (109 tons)
On the banks of the Liujiang River in the picturesque places of the Chinese Autonomous Region of Guangxi Zhuang, the Silai Monastery was lost. The pagoda became famous not only in China, but also in the world due to the fact that in 2010 a bell weighing 109 tons was placed on its territory, and the diameter of the dome is 9 meters.
Its sound is carried far along the river valley, on top of the tops of centuries-old trees. The dome engraved 92,000 hieroglyphs, which, when read, add up to the most important Buddhist prayers.
3
Bell of Happiness. Pingdinshan (116 tons)
In 2000, the Chinese city of Pindinshan acquired a unique attraction. There they installed a huge bell of Happiness. Its weight is 116 tons, and the diameter of the dome is 5.1 meters.
Its establishment was timed to the beginning of the third millennium. It is believed that hitting him three times, a person will meet happiness on the path of life. Today, of the current copies, this is the largest bell.
It is made in traditional Buddhist technique, has no language. And the sound is extracted with a special percussion device, which is located outside the dome. Now we at TheBiggest have a new fad on our travel sheet. I'd like to listen and see this huge bell.
2
The Tsar Bell. Moscow (203 tons)
This magnificent monument of foundry art has a glorious and tragic fate. Empress Anna Ioannovna ordered to cast a bell weighing 10 thousand pounds.
When chased work was carried out on the dome, a fire broke out in Moscow and a large piece broke off from the product under the influence of fire.
Repeatedly undertaken to raise the 203-ton giant to the bell tower. But after unsuccessful attempts in 1836, the bell that never rang was installed in the Moscow Kremlin on a specially prepared pedestal.
It is noteworthy that in the Moscow fires of 1654 and 1701, his predecessors crashed. It was from their metal that Anna Ioannovna ordered a new bell to be cast.
1
The Great Bell of Dhammazedi. Myanmar (297 tons)
We know about this masterpiece of Buddhist foundry art only from historical documents. In the distant 1484, it was made by unknown oriental masters at the great command of King Dhammazedi. The king delivered it as a gift to the majestic pagoda of the then capital Shvedagon.
During the civil strife in Burma, a squad of European mercenaries captured the city. Their commander, the Portuguese de Briton, decided to melt the bell into cores and cannons. During transportation along the river, the Great Product drowned along with the ship of de Brita.
According to historians, the bell weighed 297 tons. It could still be observed at low tide in the late 19th century.
Conclusion
The stories associated with the bells are very interesting, and sometimes not without tragedy. They were exiled, tortured, pulled out languages. In the Soviet period, a large number of bells were melted. But in many Asian countries, the colonial authorities, destroying places of worship, burned not only temples, but also broke bells, capable of raising the people to rebellion for freedom and independence with their ringing.
Each of the dozens of bells presented has its own unique history, but all of them are undoubtedly unique sights of the world heritage. TheBiggest editors will ask you to write in the comments which big bells you would like to see with your own eyes, and which ones you might have seen? Share your thoughts with readers.
Article author: Valery Skiba