Clock is a percussion instrument, which is used for sacrifice or banquet. The original bell evolved from the Shang Dynasty bronze cymbals. According to its shape and hanging mode, there are different names such as Yongzhong, Button Bell and Zhong Qi. Clocks with different frequencies are hung in groups on the clock stand in order of size to form a harmonious ensemble scale, which is called chime.
Pitch is directly related to the size of the clock. There were 3 or 5 minutes in Shang Dynasty, 8 minutes in the middle and late Western Zhou Dynasty and 9 minutes or 13 minutes in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, chimes were all the rage, and they were as famous as Qin, Sheng, Drum, Pian and other musical instruments. They became important funerary objects for the royal family.
Zeng Houyi's bells are numerous and large in scale. They are divided into 8 groups according to the order of size and spacing, and hung on a three-story clock rack with patterns painted on it.
The shape and weight of chimes are the smallest in the upper layer, followed by the middle layer and the largest in the lower layer. The smallest piece weighs 2400 grams; The largest weighs 203.6 kilograms. Their total weight exceeds 2500 kilograms, and their weight and volume are also rare in chimes.
The bell frame of the chime is made of copper and wood, and it is in the shape of a curved ruler. It is supported by six bronze warriors with swords and several pillars. The beam is made of wood and painted, and there are bronze sleeves engraved with dragon patterns at both ends of the beam.
There are three bronze men with swords in the middle and lower beams, who support the beam frame with their heads and hands, and are reinforced by copper columns in the middle. The bronze man is a rare masterpiece among bronze figures. He wears a robe and a belt around his waist, and looks solemn. Taking the bronze man as the clock base makes the chime more luxurious.
The first three groups 19 pieces are button clocks, which are small in size and have square buttons and seal cutting, but the inscriptions are cylindrical and the pieces are columnar, with fewer words and only sound names.
The middle and lower layers of bells are the main parts of chimes, which are divided into three groups. These three sets of clocks have different shapes. The first set is called "Hu Zhong" and consists of 1 1 Yongzhong with long breasts. The second set is called "Sheng Ling" and consists of 12 short-breasted bells; The third group, named "Zhong Jie", consists of 23 long-breasted clocks. The bell handle is long, and the bell body is decorated with embossed plain patterns, which is fine and exquisite.
There are gold inscriptions on the clock, all about music, except "The End of Ceng Houyi in Holding". The middle and left side of the drum are marked with different pitches, such as 22 names such as Gong, Yu and Gong Zeng. On the other hand, it is the name of the law, the mode, the treble, and the corresponding relationship between Zeng Guo and Chu, Zhou, Qi and Jin.
Among the 65 magnificent bells in Ceng Houyi, one is unique and self-contained. It is called Zhong Qi. This clock hangs in the most conspicuous position in the middle of the lowest floor of the huge arc clock rack.
The bell is huge, with a double dragon snake-shaped button and a curled dragon body. Looking back, the snake is located above the faucet, coiled and opposite, and its posture suddenly emerges. Watches are also decorated with a flat plate.
Enamel clock has a unique shape, complex patterns and exquisite production, and is a fine product in bronze ware. There is an inscription of 3 1 in the middle of the clock, which means that in 433 BC, Zhang Xiong, King of Chu Hui, came back from Xiyang and made this clock specially for Ceng Houyi as a gift to Xiyang for Ceng Houyi to enjoy forever.
Through research, it is found that the content of the inscription is completely different from other buttons and bells, and no word is related to music. It shows that Huang Zhong has nothing to do with Zeng Houyi's chime, but it is not the same. Maybe it was added temporarily when he was buried. It squeezed out the largest chime in the lower floor and hung it in the most conspicuous position to show its respect for Chu.
Chu gave Zeng such a heavy gift, which shows that the friendly relationship between Zeng and Chu is extraordinary.
During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Chu was a powerful country among the Seven Heroes. In the past, Chu was quite powerful, so Su Qin said, "The place is five thousand Li, a million, a thousand cars and ten thousand horses, ten years."
Why did such a powerful State of Chu send such a heavy gift to little Ceng Houyi?
Both Historical Records and Letters from Chu recorded the story that King Zhao of Chu ran with him: In 506 BC, He Lv, the king of Wu, and his brother-in-law, led troops to attack Chu, and finally conquered Ying, the capital of Chu, which is now Jiangling.
At that time, Wu Zixu, commander-in-chief of the State of Wu, who held the relieving power, also took part in the Chu-Han War. After the occupation of Chu, Wu Zixu and Doctor Berger ordered soldiers to dig up the tomb of King Chu Ping, drag the body outside the coffin, whip the body, and then expose the body to the wilderness.
When the city was broken, King Chu Zhao hurriedly fled from Du Ying to Yunmengze, and was shot by Wu Jun. The king quickly fled to Yunzhou, and the younger brother of Yunzhou monarch thought that the king was mean and unjust and wanted to kill him. Therefore, King Zhao Chu had no time to catch his breath and fled back to the countryside. This is the famous "Zhao Chu Wang ran with him" in ancient history.
He Lv, the king of Wu, heard that he had fled to Suiguo, and immediately led all the soldiers to Suiguo. At this time, with Hou, that is, Zeng Hou closed the city gate, deployed troops and strengthened defense.
He Lv, the king of Wu, rushed to the gate of the city and said to Sui Hou, "The descendants of Zhou Tianzi who were fenced in Jianghan Valley were all destroyed by Chu. Sooner or later, you will be destroyed by the state of Chu. You'd better hand him over and let me kill him. "
He Lv, the king of Wu, wanted to personally lead his troops into the city to find him, but he refused, saying, "It is unnecessary to say anything about being friendly with Chu generations. King Zhao of Chu is not in the country, and he has escaped. "
The prince of Wu had no choice but to return to Du Ying, Chu with his army. In this way, Sui Hou protected Zhao Chu, and King Zhao Chu was very grateful for it.
Just then, Chu reinforcements arrived and Wu Jun was defeated. He Lv's younger brother, the prince of Wu, saw that the tide had gone, and led his army back to Wu, making himself king.
He Lv, the king of Wu, learned this news and left the capital of Chu in a hurry to return to Wu. Therefore, King Chu Zhao was able to return to China to save his life.
Zhang Xiong, the King of Chu Hui on the inscription in Zhong Qi, is the son of King Zhao of Chu. In order to repay Ceng Houyi for saving his father, King Hui of Chu gave him such a beautiful clock.
Jianghan countries were all destroyed in Chu, but Zeng was the only one, probably because he had been friendly with Chu for generations.
Accompanied by Zeng Houyi's chime, there is also a set of chimes, which is an outstanding representative of ancient chimes. Bronze gold-plated parallel frames have single-sided and double-layered structures.
The main frame of the chime is a bronze staggered metal frame, which consists of a pair of monster copper columns with faucets, cranes' necks, birds' bodies and turtle's feet. The columns inserted at the top of the monster are tenoned with the beams from the waist and top. There are welded and cast copper rings at the bottom of the beam at equal intervals to hang chin hooks, and staggered golden moire smooth lines are applied to the chin frame.
According to textual research, the whole frame has 4 1 branches, and each branch emits a tone, which is a semitone series of 12. The range spans three 8 degrees, and the timbre is crisp, bright and unique.
There are also inscriptions by Mo Bao and Zhong Ming, which include numbering, phonetic notation and music theory.
Its exquisite mental frame, numerous mental blocks, clear knitting and hanging state, complete accessories, and supporting mental boxes and mallets are rare in the world.
Ceng Houyi has the largest knitting scale, the highest production technology, the best and most perfect music performance, loud, clear, bright and penetrating voice; Although the volume is not as big as the bell, it is not easy to be covered by the bell; The aftertaste is not as long as the clock, but it becomes clearer and more agile.
Ring the bell to tell the time is the flagship of all kinds of music. The chin is crescent-shaped, uniform in thickness, smooth and bright in surface, and the jade chin is named after its pleasant sound. Therefore, The Compilation of Zeng Houyi's Tomb is doubly precious, with both tangible sound and exquisite inscription calligraphy.
Ceng Houyi's arrangement shows three 8-degree musical styles, and the rich semitones show the function of inversion. What's even more amazing is that the highest note is the same as the top key of the piano.
Its ensemble with chimes is really beautiful, which fully embodies the brilliant achievements in the design and manufacture of ancient musical instruments, and also deepens people's understanding of the range and performance level of ancient court bands.
According to textual research and speculation, when Ceng Houyi plays chimes, three musicians should tap the middle three sets of chimes with T-hammers to play the main melody of the music, and two musicians should tap the lower bass bell with big sticks as harmony.
Close-up of the clock in Zeng Houyi's tomb
Chimes unearthed from the tomb of Zeng Houyi