Ancient ceramic instruments unearthed at Hongshan Site Museum reveal local musical heritage

A celadon hanging bell at Hongshan Site Museum in WND. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]

Long before China became known for its porcelain, ancient artisans of the Yue State were crafting ceramic instruments capable of producing surprisingly sophisticated music. Discoveries at the Hongshan Site Museum in Wuxi National Hi-Tech District (WND) are offering new insights into this remarkable musical tradition.

Among the museum's most distinctive artifacts is a small celadon hanging bell whose rounded shape has earned it the nickname "little orange". The instrument was played by hitting its outer wall with a mallet, producing tones in a manner more closely resembling a bronze bell.

Archaeological excavations have shown that these hanging bells were typically unearthed in carefully arranged sets, with pieces of different sizes placed in sequence. Because bells of varying diameters produce different pitches, the complete set functioned much like a miniature version of China's famous bronze bell chimes. Based on these findings, archaeologists believe the celadon hanging bell was first developed in the ancient Yue State.

A complete set of celadon hanging bells. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]

The Hongshan discoveries extend well beyond these rare hanging bells. Excavations have also uncovered a rich collection of celadon musical instruments, including bells, stone chimes, percussion vessels and ceramic drum bases that once supported large drums during performances.

Various celadon instruments unearthed at Hongshan Site. [Photo/WeChat account: xinwu_wx]

Together, these artifacts demonstrate that music played an important role in the ceremonial and cultural life of the Yue people more than two millennia ago. They also reveal the advanced craftsmanship of ancient ceramic production, showing that celadon was valued not only for everyday use but also for creating refined musical instruments.