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- Relic from a Distant Temple
VICTORIA'S CHINESE BELL
BARRY TILL
The famous ancient Chinese bell, which formerly hung in Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, was a popular tourist attraction and became interwoven with the local history of the City of Victoria. Countless children grew up with knowledge of this ancient relic, and would play next to it and bang coins and stones against it. However, it had been slowly deteriorating in its outdoor location since 1904. In order to preserve it and save it for future generations of British Columbians to enjoy, it was found necessary to move the bell indoors to the cli�matically controlled environment of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
This small publication has been prepared to provide information about this important art object, which is part of Victoria's rich cultural heritage. The Archives for the City of Victoria and the Province of British Columbia have been consulted to try to give an accurate account of the date and reasons why the bell was presented to Victoria, and from where it came. Also the casting techniques involved in producing such a bell will be examined as well as the significance of bells in China. It is hoped this modest booklet will place the bell in its proper historical and cultural context, and provide interesting information related to it.
Old photograph of Chinese Bell in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria.
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