A Study Of Chu Chime-bells

Named after Chu people, Chu region, Chu state and Chu culture, Chu chime-bells played an important role in the history of chime-bells in the pre-Qin. Based on a total collection of Chu chime-bells that are descripted, handed-down, or excavated and a comprehensive review of previous relative achievements, this article emphasizes in refineing and summarizing the character of Chu chime-bells, and explaining its cultural meanings under the background of rital and musical culture in the pre-Qin.By analyzing its shape, decoration and inscription, this article summarizes the notable outer features of Chu chime-bells with close connection of music sound, and explains its inner rital and musical connotation. It studies the development of the musical function of Chu chime-bells, and refines the basic note-row and musical core elements of Chu chime-bells. Based on these conclusions, the musical function of some incomplete Chu chime-bells is deduced reasonablely. The article also studies the assemblage of Chu chime-bells, which is considered as an important representative of the rital and musical culture, and analyzes the status of Chu chime-bells in every phase of the vicissitudes of ritual musical system (Li Yue system). At the same time, it tries to trace of the situation of Chu Yue Xuan in the pre-Qin. According to conclusion above, the article also stages Chu chime-bells, explains the relationship between Chu chime-bells and the centre plain chime-bells, and further reveals the cultural phenomenon embodied by them.