This bronze bell was accidentally discovered by a local resident in Sangpum-ri, Geumsa-myeon, Yeoju-gun, Gyeonggi-do Province in April 1969. Standing 85.4 cm tall, it is a medium-sized bell produced in the early Goryeo period. Its date is confirmed by an inscription on the side that reads “fourth year of Qingning” (淸寧), an era name of the Liao Dynasty that corresponds to 1058 on the Roman calendar. The discovery of this bell had great significance in revealing many new details about bronze bells from the early Goryeo period, very few of which have survived.

This bell shows many of the same stylistic characteristics as Buddhist bells from the preceding Unified Silla period, including the dragon-shaped handle at the top (from which the bell was hung), the sound tube next to the handle, the decorative bands around the upper and lower rim, the placement of the striking points, and the four rectangular panels symmetrically placed on the four sides of the upper body, each containing nine knobs shaped like lotus buds. However, the bell also features some details that are unique to bells from the early Goryeo period. In the handle, for example, the dragon’s head is raised and detached from the crown of the bell, and it holds a cintamani jewel in its mouth. The earliest known example of a Buddhist bell with this style of dragon is the bell from Cheonheungsa Temple, which is inscribed “twenty-eighth year of Tonghe,” a Liao era name corresponding to 1010. Thus, this style of dragon, which first appeared in the early Goryeo period, seems to have been more widely accepted by 1058.

The neck of the dragon is curved like the letter “S,” and even its mane and scales are depicted in detail. The mane is a new feature, extending like a row of horns along the dragon’s back from the head to the back leg before attaching to the sound tube. The tall, slender sound tube is divided into sections by a design of connected beads, and further adorned with a shallow lotus scroll design. The crown of the bell is encircled by a ring of protruding petals, which is known as a “conical-hat-shaped flower design.” Notably, this is the earliest known appearance of this detail on a bronze bell. Below that is a decorative band containing a peony scroll design outlined by connected beads. As mentioned, there are four rectangular panels respectively placed on four sides of the upper body, each containing nine knobs shaped like lotus buds. Below each panel is a carving of a Buddha or bodhisattva, in alternating order, seated on clouds. These Buddha and bodhisattva figures are a new detail of the early Goryeo period, replacing the flying apsara (female spirit) figures that were commonly featured on Unified Silla bells. On the lower body of the bell are the striking points. Notably, this is the earliest known bell to have four striking points, which became the standard number by the mid-Goryeo period. The bottom of the bell is wrapped with another decorative band of peony scrolls and connected beads, matching the upper band. The inscription can be found in a frame shaped like a mortuary tablet, located above the lower band. This type of frame containing an inscription first appeared on the aforementioned bell from Cheonheungsa Temple.

The most noteworthy feature of this bell is the ring of protruding flowers around the crown, known as the “conical-hat-shaped flower design.” This bell is the earliest known example of this design, which is now an important criterion for distinguishing between bells of the early and late Goryeo period. Most Buddhist bells that predate this one have a non-protruding design engraved around the crown, a detail that traces back to the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok. In the Goryeo period, however, this non-protruding design was gradually replaced by the protruding flower design seen here.

The bell’s inscription is engraved in a frame that is shaped like a mortuary tablet, found on one side just above the lower band. This inscription, which reads as follows, provides some important information about the bell:

“To wish for the king’s longevity, one metal bell was specially cast and made. Its weight is 150 geun. Written in the fifth month of the fourth year of Qingning (1058).” (特爲聖壽天長之願鑄成金鍾一口 重一百 五十斤淸寧四年戊戌五月日記)

Thus, in addition to recording the date, the inscription also provides the weight of the bell (150 geun, or approximately 75 kg) and its purpose (to wish for the longevity of King Munjong, ruler of Goryeo at the time). The phrase “聖壽天長,” meaning “to wish for the king’s longevity,” is not related to Buddhism, but also appears in the inscription on a bell from Jangsaengsa Temple, produced in the “second year of Daan” (大安), a Liao era name, corresponding to 1086. Unfortunately, the inscription on this bell does not include the names of the hall or the temple where it was enshrined. But the inclusion of the weight (150 geun) is important, serving as a benchmark for mid-sized bells from the mid-eleventh century.

This bell has great value in demonstrating the stylistic transition of bells from the Unified Silla period to the Goryeo period. Moreover, it has tremendous significance for researchers as the earliest known bell with the protruding flower design, which became a representative detail of bronze bells in the late Goryeo period.