Description
The Bell of King Seongdeok (Korean: 성덕대왕신종) is a large bronze bell, the largest extant bell in Korea. The full Korean name means “Sacred (or Divine) Bell of King Seongdeok the Great.” It was also known as the Emille Bell (에밀레종), after a legend about its casting, and as the Bell of Bongdeoksa Temple, where it was first housed.
The bell was commissioned by King Gyeongdeok to honor his father, King Seongdeok. However, King Gyeongdeok never lived to see the casting of the bell, as he died in 765 A.D. The bell was finally cast in 771 A.D., during the reign of Gyeongdeok’s son, King Hyegong.
Decorated with dragon designs.
- Size: 7x7x13cm/2.7×2.7×5.1 inches
- Metal: Alloy
- Motif: Dragon