Shaodong Minan Bo (Four-tiger bo bell)

Well preserved. Made of bronze, with light green colour on the surface. The body of the instrument is quite slim and long. The cross-section of the body is shaped like a rectangle with rounded corners, which is different to the common shape of a combined pair of tiles that most bronze bells feature. The upper surface (wu) and the bottom rim (yu) are flat. The suspension loop (niu) on the top is trapezium shaped. There is a small square hole in the middle of the wu, which is connected to the inside of the body. The raised edges (feileng) of either side of the bell both have a pair of upside-down tigers on them. These four tigers have flat bodies, wide-opened mouths and curly tails. The tigers on the top have their tails attached to the loop (niu). The upper area of the central feileng is decorated with a high-combed phoenix and the lower section is decorated with 4 hook-shaped designs. The main design on the body is imposing, and features an animal mask formed by upside-down Kui dragons [legendary creatures with one leg and one horn, an open mouth and a curled tail]. There are two rows of studs placed above and below the animal mask. The studs on the top rows are smaller whereas the ones on the bottom rows are bigger. The loop, the bodies of the tigers and the animal mask are all covered with cloud patterns.