Shopofkorea guides
What Comes Up When You Search for the Emille Bell?
Official product names are shown in Korean. Product pages are in Korean; prices are in South Korean won (KRW).
The Emille Bell is another name for the Seongdeok Daewang Sinjong (Divine Bell of King Seongdeok). The name is said to come from a legend tied to the sound of the bell. At Shop of Korea, craft items modeled after this bell are also sold under the same name.
What you find through a search are traditional bell replicas and decorative craft pieces. Knowing the origin of the name makes the dragon-head and lotus decorations on the replicas look a little different.
Why the Seongdeok Daewang Sinjong Is Called the Emille Bell
The Seongdeok Daewang Sinjong is a bell made to honor the achievements of King Seongdeok. It was cast in 771 during the Silla period. The name Seongdeok Daewang Sinjong carries within it the identity of the person the bell commemorates. Emille Bell is a name passed down through a legend tied to this bell.
Both names refer to the same bell. One evokes the purpose for which the bell was made; the other calls to mind the story surrounding its sound.
The product collection at Shop of Korea uses both names together. The notation '에밀레종 (성덕대왕신종)' shows the relationship between them. Someone searching under the familiar name Emille Bell ends up encountering replicas modeled after the Seongdeok Daewang Sinjong.
A Name Said to Come from a Sound Like Calling for One's Mother
The Emille Bell carries a sorrowful legend that a child was sacrificed in the making of the bell. The story begins with the account that the first bell cast did not produce a beautiful sound. It is then said that a child was sacrificed in order to cast the bell. The sound of that bell was said to resemble a voice searching for its mother.
The name "Emille" is also explained alongside this story. It is said that the name holds within it a resonance that sounds like calling for one's mother.
The story of a child being sacrificed must be distinguished from the historical facts of the bell's production. It is a legend separate from the fact that the bell was made to honor King Seongdeok. The story can be seen as carrying the tender feeling people felt upon hearing the bell's sound.
Knowing the name and then looking at the bell draws one's attention to its sound as well. It is as though a story of someone being called overlaps with an object made of metal. This is the added layer of feeling that the legend provides.
Dragon Heads and Lotus Flowers Found on Bell Replicas
Replicas modeled after the Seongdeok Daewang Sinjong also feature dragon-head and lotus decorations. The form and decorative elements of the large bell have been reduced and captured in miniature. These become craft pieces through which one can keep the appearance of a cultural heritage item close at hand.
'에밀레종小' (Emille Bell Small) is a reproduction replica made of metal. It reflects the bicheonsang (flying celestial figures), dragon-head, and lotus decorations. It stands 20 cm tall and weighs 1,365 g. One can imagine placing it in a display cabinet and studying the body and patterns of the bell up close.
One buyer of this product wrote: "The sound of this product's bell is truly clear." In the same review, the buyer noted that they had not heard the actual Emille Bell in person. This is one individual's personal impression of the sound of the replica itself.
'고급 에밀레종-소' (Premium Emille Bell – Small) is also a decorative bronze bell (dongjong) modeled after the Seongdeok Daewang Sinjong. The material is a bronze and copper alloy, and it weighs 1,550 g. It reproduces the form of a traditional beonjong (temple bell) as a modern decorative item. It is used as a souvenir, a corporate gift, and a decorative piece.
Both replicas originate from the same cultural heritage item. Going one step beyond reading the name, the form and patterns expressed in metal come into view. They can be appreciated while calling to mind Silla metalcraft and Korean Buddhist culture.
A Search That Leads to Small Bells and Cultural Heritage Reproductions
Among the reviews for Emille Bell replicas, there are those who purchased one because they love the sound of bells. One buyer of '고급 에밀레종-대' (Premium Emille Bell – Large) wrote: "I love the sound of bells, and after a long time deliberating, I finally made the purchase."
The review reveals a fondness for the sound and a lengthy decision-making process. It adds to the product description of souvenir or decorative item the reason that mattered most to this particular buyer.
'고급 에밀레종-대' is a decorative craft piece that reproduces the form of the Seongdeok Daewang Sinjong in miniature. Metal casting and an antique finish bring out the atmosphere of an old artifact. It stands 26.5 cm tall and weighs 2,190 g. It is an object for placing in a space and appreciating the appearance of a traditional bell.
Replicas like these also connect to the product category of small bells (jakeunjong). Small bells are souvenirs made by miniaturizing traditional bells. They may be modeled after the large bells of Buddhist temples or after the small bells hung from eaves. Among them, replicas modeled after the Seongdeok Daewang Sinjong are linked under the name Emille Bell. Not all small bells are Emille Bell replicas.
The 에밀레종 (성덕대왕신종) collection brings together bell replicas modeled after the same cultural heritage item. In the 문화재재현품 (cultural heritage reproductions) collection, other craft pieces modeled after cultural heritage items can also be found.
Searching for the Emille Bell leads you to objects that let you keep the bell close at hand, alongside the legend behind its name. Interest may naturally extend to the pleasure of gazing at the dragon-head and lotus decorations on a replica and lending an ear to the sound of the bell.