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The largest bell in the world?
The Mingun Bell is wellknown not only in Myanmar but also
around the world. King Badon or more wellknown as King Bodawpaya
dedicated a big bronze bell near the Mingun Cedi at Mingun
on the west bank of the Ayeyawaddy River, facing Mandalay.
The Bell was made of bronze; but it is said that Buddhist
devotees inserted gold, silver ornaments and jewellery into
the bronze. The Bell measures eleven cubits and four thits
(Fingers) in diameter at its mouth; 33 cubits, one mit (6
inches) and four thits in circumference and 13 cubits, one
mit and four thits in height. It weighs 55555 viss.
The casting of the gigantic Bell began in M.E 1170 (A.D.
1808) on an island called Alei Kyun opposite of Mingun and
was completed in the month of Nayon (June) M.E 1173 (A.D.
1811).
British records state that two bullock carts could easily
drive past abreast under the Bell. According to the dimensions
given in the records, by modern day measurements, the external
diameter of the mouth is 16 feet 3 inches, the internal diameter
of the mouth at a height of 4 feet 8 inches is 10 feet. The
height of the inside of the Bell is 11 feet 6 inches and the
external height is 12 feet. The diameter of the internal top
is 8 feet 6 inches. The thickness of the Bell varies between
6 inches and 12 inches. Roughly speaking it weighs about 80
tons.
But if an exact calculation is worked out, from the detail
measurements and weight given in the contemporary account
of the Bell, mentioned in the Konbaung Set Maha Yazawun Taw
Gyi (the Great Royal Chronicle of the Konbaung Dynasty), it
is found that the real weight far exceeds the estimate. 55555
viss converted into tons, would equal 90.52 tons.
In the list of ancient monuments and antiquities under the
custody of the Archaeology Department, this big Bell has been
recorded as the World's second largest Bell. But on page 238
of the Guiness Book of World Records published in March 1982,
it is mentioned that the largest heaviest functioning Bell
in the World is the 101.4 ton Mingun Bell in Mandalay Division,
Myanmar.
Note: Information on this page supplied
by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar.
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