It is the largest bell remaining in Korea and is one of the three complete bells of the Unified Silla Dynasty remaining in Korea, along with the Bronze Bell of Sangwonsa Temple (National Treasure) and the Bronze Bell (Treasure) excavated in Uncheon-dong, Cheongju. The height is 3.66m, the mouth diameter is 2.27m, and the thickness is 11~25cm, and the weight was confirmed to be 18.9 tons by precise measurements at the Gyeongju National Museum in 1997.King Gyeongdeok of Silla tried to make a bell to spread the merits of his father, King Seongdeok, but failed to achieve his will. After that, King Hyegong completed it in 771 and called it the Sacred Bell of Great King Seongdeok. This bell is also called the Bongdeoksa Bell because it was first hung at Bongdeoksa Temple, and it is also called the Emille Bell due to a tale that a baby was donated to it.At the top of the bell, there is Eumtong, a sound tube that helps the sound resonate, which is a unique structure that can only be found in the bronze bells in Korea. Yongnyu, which serves as a ring for hanging the bell, is carved in the shape of a dragon`s head. The body of the bell is surrounded by wide bands at the top and bottom, and floral patterns are engraved inside, and beneath the shoulder of the bell, 9 lotus-shaped peaks protruding in 4 places are surrounded by a square rim. There are two pairs of images of flying fairy below the square rim, and between them, Dangzoa, the part where the bell is struck is placed in the shape of a lotus flower, and the history of the bell is engraved on the front and back of the body. In particular, the entrance part of the bell has a unique shape that is curved in the shape of a flower, which is a characteristic of this bell. As this bell was made when the art of Unified Silla reached its heyday in each field, its splendid patterns and carving techniques are worthy of representing the times. In addition, the inscription of about 1,000 characters remaining on the body of the bell is evaluated as a valuable epigraph material that can examine not only the text but also the religion and ideology of the time.
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