Ancient Wind Chimes

Windchimes have fascinated man for centuries.

Ancient wind chimes offer the modern world a musical glimpse into cultures (especially Asian) of long ago. Webster's Universal College Dictionary defines wind chimes as "An arrangement of small suspended pieces, as of glass, metal, or ceramic, hung loosely together so that they tinkle pleasingly when blown by the wind." They were also called wind bells. For over 5,000 years, man has enjoyed the sweet reverberations of this wind-driven musical instrument.

Types

The most common type of wind chime was the simple arrangement of resonating chips and pieces of available medium hanging from a supporting center that jingled when the breeze bumped them against each other.

Another type of wind chime was a collection of hanging items surrounding a main clapper that struck a tonal plate suspended from the clapper when moved by the wind.

The third kind consisted of a bell that had a long clapper with a wind catcher at the base. As the wind moved the catcher, the attached clapper struck the bell.

Composition

The most ancient wind chimes were composed of bone, wood, bamboo, shells and other natural materials while later periods used bronze and other metals, silver, glass and bits of pottery (during their respective time periods).

History

Wind chimes originated in Southeast Asia around 3,000 B.C. Made of natural materials such as wood and therefore decaying over time, not many authentic ones remain; archeologists also found evidence that they existed in Egypt and around the Mediterranean Sea as early as 2,000 B.C. Wind bells or chimes actually came from India, where pagodas originated. Buddhists hung them from the uplifted eaves of the pagodas to promote peace and harmony by inviting kind spirits in, and to scare evil spirits away. As the Buddhist religion crossed into China, the pagoda with its accompanying chimes followed. Wind bells or chimes became Chinese as early as 1,100 B.C., when the Chinese first began to cast bells. Wind chimes properly placed became weather predictors and warning harbingers of imminent natural disaster such as fires, wind storms, tidal waves, snow storms and erupting volcanoes. Their melodic, soothing tones became a part of feng shui (creating peace and harmony through arrangement of objects and space) during the Hung Dynasty in the 3rd century B.C.

Later the people of Bali, in Indonesia, hung long bamboo chimes in fields not only to charm the spirits that inhabited the rice paddies, but to scare birds and animals away.

Attraction

Wind chimes fascinated ancient people for many of the same reasons as they do modern man. Watching the movement of the objects as they glide around in a circle while the breeze defines the rhythm and listening to the delicate tinkle or deep resonating tones captured attention and appreciation.

Significance

In the beginning, the use of wind chimes enhanced the religious experience and offered protection form evil and annoying spirits. Over time their significance shifted to the secular world and became more practical as they were used in the fields as scarecrows are used today and as warning devices. In feng shiu they were believed to help people reduce stress, eliminate anger, calm the mind, relax the body, reduce muscle tension and achieve peace.

References

• Fiveacrewindchimes: History of Wind Chimes
• Outdora: More History of Wind Chimes
• Answers: Information about Wind Chimes