Ancient bell rings again in South Korea after 1200 years
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In Gyeongju, South Korea, the National Gyeongju Museum held a public sounding of the Seongdeok Daewang Bell, nicknamed “Emile Bell,” on the evening of September 24th.
The museum rang the bell for the second time in 22 years, drawing over 1,000 attendees from a pool of 6,063 applicants, a 60% increase from the previous event.
The bell, completed in 771 AD during the Silla dynasty, is the largest remaining ancient bell in Korea, standing 3.66 meters tall and weighing 18.9 tons. The museum conducted a “打音 (ta-eum)” investigation, a regular check-up involving measuring the sound and vibrations of the bell. This year, researchers intentionally varied the force with which they struck the bell to understand how different intensities affect the sound, aiming to create guidelines that will prevent damage to the historic artifact.
The sound of Emile Bell gained international attention earlier this year when it was featured in its entirety on BTS’s fifth album, “Ariang.” This year’s event, themed “Resonance for All,” included accommodations for people with disabilities and students from immigrant families in the Gyeongju area. The museum provided hearing loops and sign language interpretation to make the experience accessible to all. Attendees reported that the sound of the bell was clearer than during the previous public sounding.
