A 2,600-year-old tomb has revealed an unusual ritual involving bronze bells

This refers to Tomb M190 in Zaoshulin, Hubei Province. It belonged to the ruler Qiu of the State of Zeng — a small but politically significant domain of the Zhou dynasty. Researcher Qinglong Ce analysed the archaeological context, the inscriptions on the bells and ancient conceptions of ritual objects.

The study has been published in the *Cambridge Archaeological Journal*.

Details

Lord Qiu lived during a turbulent period in Chinese history, when various states within the Zhou world were vying for influence. The state of Zeng was situated in a strategic region linked to the southern lands, and one of its political rivals was the powerful state of Chu.

According to Qinglong Ce’s interpretation, the set of bronze bells from Qiu was originally commissioned not merely as a status symbol or a musical instrument. The inscriptions linked it to the ancestors and invoked their power against Chu. In other words, the bells could function as a ritual mediator: their sound was intended to appeal to the ancestors and uphold the authority of the Qiu clan.

But then the political situation changed. A rapprochement took place between the Zeng and Chu states, and the bells’ former purpose — invoking the ancestors against a rival — became obsolete. Therefore, when the Qi were buried, the old set of bells may have been deliberately dismantled and placed in the tomb in a disorganised state.

It was precisely this strange arrangement of the objects that became the key to a new interpretation. If it had merely been a case of looting or accidental destruction, the scene inside the tomb would probably have looked quite different. However, the researcher draws attention to the chaotic arrangement of the bells and the deliberate destruction of their suspension system. In the article, this is interpreted as a possible ritual ‘deactivation’ of the set.

Put simply, the bells were not merely placed beside the deceased. Their former function may have been deliberately halted. They were no longer meant to ‘ring out’ as a call to the ancestors against Chu — neither in the world of the living nor in the afterlife.

Why were the bells so important?

During China’s Bronze Age, bells were objects of immense status. Sets of such bells, known as bianzhong, were found in elite tombs. They might include different types of bells, arranged according to size and tone.

These were not merely musical instruments for entertainment. In Zhou society, music, ritual and power were closely intertwined. Bells could signify the owner’s rank, their connection to their lineage and their ability to participate in the proper ritual order.

The most famous example is the set of bells belonging to Marquis Yi of the State of Zeng, found in Hubei. It is considered one of the most important artefacts of ancient Chinese musical culture; according to Xinhua, citing UNESCO, this set has been inscribed on the Memory of the World Register.

Against this backdrop, the discovery in the tomb of Qiu is particularly interesting. It demonstrates not only that bells were important, but also that their significance could change. An object that previously strengthened ties with ancestors and political struggles could, following a change in circumstances, become problematic or require ritual re-dedication.

What does ‘ritually deactivate’ mean?

The phrase ‘deactivating the bells’ is used here in a figurative sense. It does not mean that ancient people had a modern concept of an ‘on/off’ switch. Rather, it refers to the fact that an object could be deliberately stripped of its former role.

As long as the bells hung on the frame and formed a properly organised set, they could ring and fulfil their ritual function. When the frame was destroyed and the bells were rearranged, the former order was disrupted. For the people of that time, this may have signified not merely a breakdown, but a change in the object’s status.

Subsequently, according to the study, a different set appeared in the funerary context—smaller and simpler bells, neatly arranged and oriented differently. This may indicate that the old bells were no longer suitable for the new role of the deceased Qiu, whilst the new ones were intended for his afterlife.

Why this is important

The research shows that archaeological artefacts cannot always be understood merely as ‘tools’ or ‘ornaments’. For ancient societies, objects could be participants in relationships between people, ancestors, spirits, lineage and authority.

If one views the bronze bells merely as musical instruments, their unusual positioning in the tomb appears to be the result of damage or disorder. But if we take into account the inscriptions, the ritual context and the political history of the Zeng and Chu states, another interpretation emerges: the bells may have been deliberately dismantled because their former purpose no longer suited the new situation.

This changes our understanding of more than just a single tomb. Such research helps us to see how the ancient elites reimagined power after death. Burial was not merely a ‘place to store possessions’, but a way of reassembling the deceased’s identity, their connection to their ancestors and their role in the afterlife.

Background

The Zhou Dynasty existed from around the 11th to the 3rd century BC. During this long period, ritual bronze objects played a huge role in the political and religious life of the elite. They preserved the memory of ancestors, legitimised authority and helped to express the status of the clan.

The state of Zeng is particularly significant for the history of bronze bells. Famous sets of bells associated with the rulers of Zeng have already been found in Hubei, and their inscriptions offer a rare opportunity to view the political history of this state from its own perspective.

Source

Study: Chinglong Tse, “‘The Bells Are Harmonious and Resonant’: Numinous Ancestors, Resonant Bells and the Personhood of Lord Qiu of Zeng in Tomb M190 at Zaoshulin, Hubei”, Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 2026