As a kind of wealth shared by mankind, bells are scattered in various parts of the world. Ancient bells have been found from Pompeii, an ancient city in Italy, and from ancient remains in Egypt and Cyprus.

   

Bells appeared in churches, monasteries and convents in Europe in the 4th century. With the growth of cultural exchanges between various countries and regions of the world, bells have been playing an ever greater role as a carrier of culture.

There are evident differences between Oriental and Occidental bells. Occidental bells refer to those made in Europe and areas influenced by European culture. They mainly consist of church bells and ship bells. Such a bell is usually shaped like a cup. A clapper fixed loosely inside the bell produces a crisp and sonorous sound when it strikes the side of the bell. Most of the Oriental hells in the early days were musical bells. Then Buddhist bells became popular in Asian countries. Such a bell is fairly long. When it is struck from outside, it produces a deep and lingering sound.