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The Bell Tower originally housed a huge iron bell. But because its tolling was not loud enough, this was replaced by a massive cast bronze bell over 10 inches thick that is in perfect condition today. The iron bell was moved to the back of the DrumTower where it has remained for over 500 years. As recently as 1924, the bronze bell could be heard ringing out the 7:00 p.m. chime from a distance of over 20 kilometers.

According to legend, an official named Deng tried unsuccessfully for over a year to cast the bell. On the eve of the final casting, his daughter, fearing that further delays and loss of working time would bring blame on her father, decided to sacrifice her life in order to move the gods to bring about a perfect casting, and threw herself into the molten bronze.

Her panic-stricken father could only recover a single embroidered slipper from the flames. The casting was a success and the emperor, moved by the young girl's spirit of sacrifice, named her the "Goddess of the Golden Furnace" and built a temple in her honor near the foundry. By the ordinary people she was remembered as the "Goddess Who Cast the Bell.

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After the bell was installed, the chimes could be heard clearly and resonantly all across the city. But on stormy evenings, the bell would emit a desolate moaning sound similar to the word xie, which means "shoe" in Chinese. Recalling the old legend, mothers would comfort their children with: "Go to sleep! The Bell Tower is tolling. The Goddess Who Cast the Bell wants her embroidered slipper back."

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2011-05-23
The Bell Tower has been a symbol of Xi an ever since the cities establishment. It houses a huge bell, which was traditionally ringed every morning to offer the correct time to the city. It was first built as part of Yingxiang Temple in 1384, which marked the ...Read More
2011-05-23
Lie with Ann s big mountains highest peak, it is the rare treasure of the ancient building of China. Established in Sui Dynasty A.D. 581) ,Originally known as revitalizing and teaching the temple ,And then rename as The day Buddhist temple of the Buddhist ,In ...Read More
2011-05-23
The Temple of the City God of Pingyao is in the east part of town. An ancient Taoist temple which boosts deeply religious, historical and cultural value, the temple was first built in the Northern Song Dynasty and was rebuilt several times during the Ming and ...Read More

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