A Rare Instrument of the Ailao People
Ailao Serial Bells are a rare old Chinese instrument used by the Ailao (哀牢) people, characterized by vigorous tiger carvings, strong ox carvings, and twisting snake carvings.
Part of our China History Archive
They were used from the late periods of the Warring States (战国) to that of the Western Han (西汉) dynasty.
The Ailao were a non-Chinese people living in the southeast during the Han period (202 BCE-220 CE). The discovery of the serial bells proves that the Ailao people did not only master high casting skills but also know some music theories and thus are good at testing sounds and playing.
Images of old Chinese Serial Bells
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