Bell (Chunyu)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Bronze bells with this peculiar shape, known as chunyu, originated in regions along the Yangzi River from Sichuan to Zhejiang, and extending as far as south as Guangxi. They range in date across the entire Eastern Zhou era and into the early Han dynasty. Their exact function is still being investigated; many speculate that they were used for sending military signals rather than for playing music.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art