The chime bell of the Northern Song Dynasty collected at Liaoning Provincial Museum is cast in bronze, decorated with two twisting dragons, and carved with Chi-Loong patterns on its external surface. It belongs to the oval cylinder chime bell category.

One of the surfaces is engraved with two Chinese characters “Da Sheng”, meaning great brilliance. On the other surface are the words “Nanlyu Chime Bell”.

The bell is made of high-quality bronze, which is in line with the characteristics of chime bells of the Spring and Autumn Period.

This bell is one of the imitation antique chime bells to play the newly composed Dashengyue (Music of Great Brilliance) during the reign of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty.

Dashengfu, the professional musical institution established by Emperor Huizong, specialized in all kinds of music played during sacrifices and court gatherings.

Aside from making new musical instruments, the institution also tuned old pieces, released musical scores, and promoted the refined music revolution proposed by the emperor.

According to numerous records, six ancient chime bells were unearthed in Chongfuyuan Temple of Yingtian Prefecture during the reign of Emperor Huizong. They were engraved with the words “The bells of Emperor Chenggong of the State of Song in the Spring and Autumn Period”. Hearing of this, Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty became so enamored that he immediately ordered the making of the template and the tuning standard with regard to this set of chime bells.

Following Emperor Huizong’s edict, craftsmen imitated the ancient chime bells and made 12 sets of 28 chime bells, creating 336 in total, namely the Dasheng Chime Bells

Emperor Huizong sent out an edict, stating, “Previously, Yao created Da Zhang, Shun made Da Shao. The kings of the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties produced their own music. After thousands of years, the music that integrates the essence of the previous ones is now composed. Thus, the new music should be named Da Sheng.” Thus, Dashengyue,was created.

According to the History of the Song Dynasty, when Dashengyue was first played at the palace banquet, a group of cranes flew from the east and hovered over the palace. Emperor Huizong believed that this was an emblem of auspiciousness.

Dashengyue was not only suitable for significant occasions, such as sacrifices and court gatherings, but it also spread among offices in charge of imperial music.

After the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty, the Dasheng Chime Bell was lost to the north. At present, 20 to 30 chime bells, which were unearthed or passed down, are collected at the Palace Museum(Beijing), Taipei Palace Museum, Hebei Museum, Haidian Museum(Beijing) and Liaoning Provincial Museum.