The craftsmen first built a large manufacturing site to manufacture the main body of the big clock. They dug a pit 10 meter square underground, made an outer mold for casting according to the designed big clock model, and then dried it in the shade at low temperature and baked it into pottery. Then, according to the radius and thickness of different sections of the clock body, the scraper membrane is designed as the internal model of the big clock. Around the outer fan, craftsmen fill it with soil and tamp it layer by layer to bear the pouring pressure and ensure sufficient strength; The craftsmen used the most typical rainwater pouring method, and the four gates were all located in an inconspicuous position next to the clock knob; When the pot full of golden soup was poured out, the clock of hosts was completed in one go.
Yongle Dazhong
After the clock body is completed, another process-cooling will be carried out. Cooling is a very important process in clock casting, and it requires very strict cooling speed. If the cooling speed is too fast, the clock body will burst, and all previous efforts will be in vain, making the big clock a useless dumb clock. Therefore, the craftsmen of Yongle Bell skillfully used the fire and flame in the bell pit as a natural cooling system to ensure the smooth cooling of the bell, and finally completed the basic casting procedure of the bell.
After the completion of the big clock, a stable, that is, load-bearing clock knob is installed. In order to be able to hang a clock weighing tens of tons, craftsmen skillfully added a steel core in the middle of the clock knob. First of all, they cooked the bell knob by lost wax method, put it in the designated position between the inner fan and the outer fan, let it be poured with the bell body after heating, and blend perfectly with the big clock to achieve a natural effect. All the four thin bars are spread out into a ball to ensure that the big clock will never be pulled out and slipped after being hoisted.
The manual workshop-style production of Yongle Bell in Ming Dynasty has the scale and momentum of modern industry.
In the history of China, the ancient clock has a unique position and function. Its history is even older than the history of writing, and its internal cultural significance is far-reaching. Ancient clocks can be used as percussion instruments and musical instruments, and can also reflect the political majesty of centralization. With the introduction and popularity of Buddhism, ancient clocks have also been used as Buddhist musical instruments. Yongle Bell is a huge clock, which collects all kinds of ancient clocks in China. There are different opinions about the reasons for its casting: some people infer from the poems of Shen Deqian and Emperor Qianlong in Qing Dynasty about "Eliminating the black industry by relying on Buddha's power" and "Repentance depends on Buddhist temple bells" that Ming Chengzu cast bells to repent for his brutal behavior in the "Battle of South Beijing"; Some people think that Ming Chengzu is a good wish to express "only wish that the country is rich and strong and the people are happy"; First, it is said that Ming ancestors used bells to promote Buddhism; Others think that Emperor Chengzu of Ming Dynasty is to commemorate the move of the capital and show off his achievements.
Yongle Bell shows the advanced technical level of China in Ming Dynasty and is a successful example of integrating politics into Buddhism.
The main entrance of Dazhong Temple today.