Taoist Spiritual Bell aka Di Zhong, in Chinese, we called it 帝鐘/三清鈴/三山鐘.
For Taoist Bell, there's a difference as compare to the Buddhist one.
For Taoist Bell, the top part of the handle shall be in a form of 3 Sharp Pointed tips, whereas Buddhist one shall be in a Ring-connect-Ring top.
Till today, quite a number of Taoist Priests still couldn't get this correct.
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Uses of Taoist Spiritual Bell:
To summon Deities or to inform the Deities that certain issues are going on, etc.
To gather Souls from afar.
While chanting, the rythme of the Bell can help to control the speed of the chanting in-order to reach a state of Self-controling or mind-calming, etc.
Add on:
ReplyDeleteThe 3 pointed tips represent our Three Pure Supreme One (San Qing) and some say, the Three Initial Period of the Universe.
I've seen taoist temples using the Buddhist bell too. Is it appropriate to give taoist robes or bell to taoist masters? Or would they find it offensive? Though I read from a scripture that its good to donate robe but are taoist paraphernalia like bell good to donate too?
ReplyDeleteYup, till today, a lot of the trained Priests still dont know that actually they cant used the Buddhist form of Bell, but due to lack of knowledge and ignorant, a lot of things are being mixed-up.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to offer robes and Ritual Objects to them, this is consider as doing good deeds, this is a form of action that is recommended. :P
Wu Liang Shou
Oh I see. Thank you very much.
ReplyDelete