Wei Bin's Temple Bell
Wei Bin's Temple Bell has been in a collection in the Royal Ontario Museum since 1920. It is located on the first floor near the Chinese Galleries entrance and belongs to the George Crofts Collection. Wei Bin's Temple Bell is made of Bronze, is 200 cm in height, 114 cm in diameter, and is cylindrical in shape with a domed top and flared wavelike rim.
Historical background
The carved words on the bell state that Wei Bin's Temple Bell was made in the 13th year of the Zhengde regnal period of the Ming Dynasty, which was 1518. The bell was bestowed by the Director of Ceremonial Wei Bin.Zhengde delegated his powers to his chief eunuch Liu Jin. When Liu Jin died in 1510, Wei Bin took his place as Director of Ceremonial, a powerful office with responsibilities over the emperor's correspondence, the imperial seal, and palace rituals. Wei Bin was regarded as one of the Eight Tigers, also referred to as the "Gang of Eight".
Temple location
As stated on the bell, it was suspended, with imperial permission, in the Hongshan Si in Beijing, just outside the Zuoan Gate. In the Ming Dynasty, this area was a suburb of the palace Forbidden City.Image:Text on Wei Bin Bell.jpg|thumb|left|Text on the Temple Bell