湖北省社会科学院楚文化研究所 易德生
曾侯乙编钟Chime - bells of Marquis Yi of the Zeng State（制图刘阳）
问：1978年出土于曾侯乙墓的曾侯乙编钟，为什么总在我国特别重大的庆典中现身？
答：1997年，在香港回归的盛大庆典上，录制的交响乐曲中，编钟的乐音是用曾侯乙原件编钟演奏的。2008年北京奥运会上，曾侯乙编钟的原声录音被用在标志音乐及颁奖音乐中。
曾侯乙编钟的青铜器乐音（即所谓“金声”）再配上编磬的玉石之声（即所谓“玉振”），形成极具中华民族特色的“金声玉振”“金石和鸣”的宏大音乐效果。它是迄今为止我国古代乐器中规模最大、音域最广的一套乐器，是名副其实的“古代乐器之王”。
首先，曾侯乙编钟是迄今为止悬挂乐钟数量最多的一套乐器。共65件乐钟，有次序地分上中下三层悬挂在曲尺形的大钟架上。
其次，曾侯乙编钟规模宏大，且铸造技术高超。整个编钟的青铜原料总重近4500公斤。在铸造技术上也是非常高超。编钟音色优美，一个关键因素是合金的配比非常科学。乐钟铸造后又有技术含量极高的铸造工序：调音技术。即用磨石等工具在钟的鼓部和侧鼓部的内壁进行锉磨、调音。如果锉磨过多，音准就会偏低，乐钟就会废掉。可见古代钟匠具有极高超的调音技术和辨音能力。
第三，曾侯乙编钟是铭文字数最多的一套乐器。钟体、钟架、钟钩上的铭文，总数达3755字。这些铭文是研究古代音乐及理论的宝库。
曾侯乙编钟在泥土中沉睡了2400多年，但依然华丽精致、音质完美，可以用来演奏现代多声部的复杂音乐作品，例如《欢乐颂》等交响乐。堪称世界级的音乐及文化遗产。
Why do the Chime-bells of Marquis Yi of the Zeng State deserve the reputation of “King of Ancient Musical Instruments”?
Q: Why does the chime bell set, excavated from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of the Zeng State in 1978, always appear in China's crucial ceremonies?
A: In 1997, the original chime bells were used to play the recorded symphony in celebration of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. In the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, their audio record was also integrated into the logo music and award-bestowing music.
A harmonious integration of the sounds from the bronze chime bells (striking golden bell) and jade musical stones (beating jade) produces magnificent musical effects with Chinese characteristics:“Jin Sheng Yu Zhen” (resonant and melodious music of bronze and jade instruments) or “Jin Shi He Ming” (harmonious music of bronze and jade instruments). The chime bell set truly deserves the title of “King of Ancient Musical Instruments”, for the largest scale and the widest range among ancient Chinese musical instruments.
First, the set contains the largest number of suspended bells ever discovered. A total of 65 bells are orderly hung on three levels— top, middle, and bottom — on a big L-shaped rack.
Second, the large-scale chime bell set, with the combined weight of the used bronze materials approaching 4,500 kilograms, shows great casting technique. A key to the melodious timbre is the scientific alloy ratio. After being cast, the chime bells underwent a tuning process that demanded an exceptionally high degree of technical expertise. This involved filing and tuning the inner walls of the bell's primary striking zone (the front bulge) and secondary striking zone (the side bulge). The pitch would be low, with too much filing, and thus the bell would be scrapped. It can be seen that ancient bell makers boast a very high tuning technique and sound recognition ability.
Third, the chime bell set has the largest number of words in the inscriptions on the bell bodies, racks and hooks. Totaled to 3755 words, these inscriptions form a treasure trove for the study of ancient music and theories.
The chime bells, buried for more than 2,400 years, are still magnificent and exquisite, with a perfect timbre. They can be used to play modern multipart musical works, such as symphonies like Ode to Joy. The chime bell set deserves the name of a world-class musical and cultural heritage.
（翻译：但海剑 李心兰 陈诗雨 王梓湾 马 娜 金明君 李俊红 顾江诚 赵子懿 武汉理工大学外国语学院）