How Chinese Used Music as the Basis of Society:

The Chinese actually based their measurements on bells. The Kuo Yu, written several centuries B.C.E., says:

"The ancient kings made as their standard the chung vessel, and decreed that the magnitude of its pitch should not exceed that produced also by the string of the chun [a seven-foot tuning string], and that its weight should not exceed 120 catties. The measures of pitch, length, capacity, and weight originate in this standard vessel."

In his book Genius of China, Robert Temple explains:

"It is doubtful if any other civilization in history based all its measurements on the musical pitches of bells. This system certainly gave an impetus to the development and perfection of the tuned bell in China, since if perfectly tuned bells did not exist, then all would fall into confusion. No standards of measure would exist, cheating and corruption would spread, commercial disagreements could not be avoided, the disruption of trade would ensue, and riots and rebellions might follow. These were real, not imagined dangers. It was imperative that the authorities kept the measures in order by regulating the pitches of the bells. This was one of the most urgent concerns of all ancient Chinese governments. The very safety of the state might have been at stake."

Chinese bronze bells from the 14th century B.C.E. have been discovered. Bells in the sixth century B.C.E. were just under two feet high.

In Europe, no bell larger than eight inches is known from ancient times. As late as 1000 C.E. no bell more than two feet high had been known in Europe.

*The excerpt is from The Genius of China: 3,000 Years of Science, Discovery and Invention by Robert Temple. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1989.

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