Temple Bell, Beijing

This bell was part of the loot brought back by colonial troops who had participated in the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion in which troops from various colonial powers had defended their nationals during a popular uprising. The Chinese community of Sydney supported the sending of these troops, fearing the disruption and preferring more constitutional reform at that stage.

Beijing Temple Bell

Image Courtesy of: Powerhouse Musuem

“The bell was acquired by a party of NSW China contingent who were serving with the British troops in China and found it half buried in the ground of a ruined Buddhist temple in the ‘Tartar city’ of Beijing."

Powerhouse Museum

The scalloped edges is typical of northern Chinese bells, a feature absent from southern Chinese bells that were placed in many Australian Joss Houses.