In the second exhibition hall of a forest of bells, you can find more than 100 small bronze bells dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. They include a set of four small bronze bells cast during the Qing Dynasty. Each bell has an inscription of si ji (four seasons) ping an (safe and sound) in regular script. One bell is bigger than another. Their bottom rim is flat. If the four small bells are spaced out, they look gorgeous like four small pyramids.
On the occasion of a family reunion for a New Year, people exchange best wishes and look forward to good luck in the coming year. They send greetings like "Fulfill your wishes" or "Happy New Year." In the past, many porcelain vases were decorated with Chinese rose designs and the characters si ji ping an. The character ping here was pronounced like the word "vase" in Chinese. The auspicious wording si ji ping an is rarely seen on bronzes. This set of small bells has been selected from our collection of ancient bells for the visitors, expressing our hope that the nation will be prosperous and the people will be strong and that they will be safe and sound in the four seasons.
