Mingun Bell

{{Short description|Bell located in Mingun, Sagaing Region, Myanmar}}

{{Infobox monument

| monument_name = Mingun Bell

| native_name = {{lang-my-Mymr|မင်းကွန်း ခေါင်းလောင်းတော်ကြီး}}

| image = Bell, Mingun, Myanmar.jpg

| caption =

| location = Mingun, Sagaing Region

| designer =

| type = Temple Bell

| material = bronze
90,718 kg

| length =

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| begin = 1808

| complete = 1810

| open =

| dedicated_to = Mingun Pagoda

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| coordinates = {{coord|22.052972|N|96.017778|E|region:MM-01_type:landmark_source:dewiki|display=inline,title}}

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The Mingun Bell ({{lang-my-Mymr|မင်းကွန်းခေါင်းလောင်းတော်ကြီး}} {{IPA|my|mɪ́ɰ̃ɡʊ́ɰ̃ kʰáʊɰ̃láʊɰ̃ dɔ̀ dʑí|}}) is a bell located in Mingun, Sagaing Region, Myanmar. It is located approximately {{convert|11|km|mi|abbr=on}} north of Mandalay on the western bank of the Irrawaddy River. It was the heaviest functioning bell in the world at several times in history.

Description

The weight of the bell is 55,555 viss ({{convert|90,718|kg|lb|0|disp=or}}). This number is conveniently remembered by many people in Myanmar as a mnemonic "Min Hpyu Hman Hman Pyaw" ({{lang-my-Mymr|မင်းဖြူမှန်မှန်ပြော}}), with the consonants representing the number 5 in Burmese astronomy and numerology.{{cite web|url=http://www.myanmars.net/myanmar-museum/largest-ringing-bell.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909082625/http://www.myanmars.net/myanmar-museum/largest-ringing-bell.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-09-09 |title=The Mingun Bell |publisher=Myanmar's Net Inc. |access-date=2008-02-19 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.myanmars.net/myanmar-travel/myanmar-mandalay/mingun.htm|title=Mingun|publisher=Myanmar's Net Inc.|access-date=2008-02-19}} The weight of the bell and its mnemonic words are written on the surface of the bell in white.

File:Mingun Bell 1873.jpg

File:Mingun Bell 1896.jpg

The outer diameter of the rim of the bell is {{convert|16|ft|3|in|m|2}}. The height of the bell is {{convert|12.0|ft|m|2}} on the exterior and {{convert|11.5|ft|m|2}} in the interior. The outside circumference at the rim is {{convert|50.75|ft|m|3}}. The bell is {{convert|6|to(-)|12|in|cm|0}} thick and stands {{convert|20.7|ft|m|2}} high from the rim to the top.{{cite web|url=http://www.myanmar.gov.mm/Perspective/persp2001/8-2001/min.htm|title=The Mingun Bell|publisher=Ni Ni Myint, (www.myanmar.gov.mm)|access-date=2008-04-21|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706051545/http://www.myanmar.gov.mm/Perspective/persp2001/8-2001/min.htm|archive-date=2008-07-06}}

The bell is uncracked and in good ringing condition. The bell does not have a clapper but is rung by striking the outer edge.

History

Casting of the bell started in 1808 and was finished by 1810. King Bodawpaya (r. 1782–1819) had this gigantic bell cast to go with his huge stupa, Mingun Pahtodawgyi. The bell was said to have been cast on the opposite side of the river and was transported by using two boats, which after crossing the river, proceeded up two specially built canals. The canals were then dammed and the bell was lifted by raising the water level by the addition of earth into the blocked canal. In this way the bell was originally suspended.

The Mingun Bell was knocked off its supports as a result of a large earthquake on 23 March 1839. It was resuspended by the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in March 1896 using screw jacks and levers using funds from public subscription.Bird, George W (1897). [http://dlxs.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=sea&cc=sea&idno=sea282&node=sea282%3A29&frm=frameset&view=image&seq=466Wanderings in Burma], pages 318–319. London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Ltd. Felice Beato captured a photograph of the bell prior to its resuspension.

Current status

At 90 tons, the Mingun Bell reigned as the largest ringing bell in the world until 2000, when it was eclipsed by the 116-ton Bell of Good Luck at the Foquan Temple, Pingdingshan, Henan, China.{{Cite web |url=http://www.kungfuhome.net/Htmls/Scenic/Scenic_308.shtml |title=Fodushan Scenic Area |access-date=2010-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930155457/http://www.kungfuhome.net/Htmls/Scenic/Scenic_308.shtml |archive-date=2018-09-30 |url-status=dead }}