In the second exhibition hall of a forest of bells, you can find
more than 100 small bronze bells dating back to the Ming and Qing
dynasties. They include a set of four small bronze bells cast
during the Qing Dynasty. Each bell has an inscription of
si
ji (four seasons)
ping an (safe and sound) in regular
script. One bell is bigger than another. Their bottom rim is flat.
If the four small bells are spaced out, they look gorgeous like
four small pyramids.
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On the occasion of a family reunion for a New Year, people
exchange best wishes and look forward to good luck in the coming
year. They send greetings like "Fulfill your wishes" or "Happy New
Year." In the past, many porcelain vases were decorated with
Chinese rose designs and the characters si ji ping an. The
character ping here was pronounced like the word "vase" in
Chinese. The auspicious wording si ji ping an is rarely
seen on bronzes. This set of small bells has been selected from our
collection of ancient bells for the visitors, expressing our hope
that the nation will be prosperous and the people will be strong
and that they will be safe and sound in the four seasons.
