Bunun Bell in Lijiang

Bunun Bell is a unique and story-filled cultural symbol in Lijiang. It originates from the extraordinary experiences of a wanderer named Bunun (布农).

In 1995, Bunun embarked on the Yunnan-Tibet Tea Horse Road, traveling by foot and horseback. The journey lasted over three months and covered a grueling distance of more than 1,900 kilometers, heading towards Lhasa (拉萨) in Tibet. During this long and arduous trip, the monotonous sound of horse bells accompanied him constantly. To comfort himself and pray for a safe journey, Bunun picked up two pieces of wood and meticulously painted patterns of the Lancang River (澜沧江) and Meili Snow Mountain (梅里雪山) on them. He attached one piece to the horse bell and hung the other around his neck. He was fortunate to have these items blessed by nine lamas (活佛) along the way.

After returning to Lijiang (丽江), Bunun used precious wood from the Hengduan Mountains (横断山) to create many similar works. These became the highly praised Bunun Bells. Each Bunun Bell is unique. A wooden plaque with a hand-painted Lijiang landscape by Bunun hangs below the bell. The wooden plaque is made of natural wood, and the back is inscribed with poetic text that matches the artistic conception of the painting. In terms of appearance, Bunun Bell is completely different from the common bells in Lijiang. It looks particularly elegant and rustic. The bells are divided into handmade and machine-made types, which means that the sound of each bell is one-of-a-kind. Moreover, Bunun Bell is further categorized into bronze bells and antique copper bells, as well as yin bells and yang bells. The yin bell has a low and gentle sound, as if it is expressing the tenderness of a woman. The yang bell has a loud and crisp sound, showing the strength of a man. The ones hung at home are called auspicious bells, while those hung on cars or luggage are known as safety bells.

Nowadays, Bunun has rented a two-story building of 80 square meters near the Big Stone Bridge (大石桥) on Sifang Street (四方街) in Lijiang Ancient Town (丽江古城). He runs the Bunun Bell business there. This shop is not only unique in Lijiang Ancient Town but also the only one of its kind in the whole country. In the world, there are only three other branches of Bunun Bell, located in Kathmandu (加德满都) in Nepal, Calcutta (加尔各答) in India, and Athens (雅典) in Greece. When people stroll through Lijiang Ancient Town, they can hear the clear and melodious, lingering bell sounds from Bunun Bell shop from a distance. It feels as if they are transported back to the legendary times of the Tea Horse Road, with caravans slowly passing by. Bunun Bell carries the ancient charm of the Yunnan-Tibet Tea Horse Road. It has now spread to dozens of countries around the world, bringing auspiciousness and safety to people. It has become a beautiful cultural landscape along the Yunnan-Tibet line and an unforgettable unique memory for every visitor to Lijiang.