大钟寺观古迹

大钟寺观明朝姚广孝。所铸八万四千斤铜钟。高于数层楼宇纽高七尺。径一丈四尺。外铸华严经全部。内法华经全部。尊胜咒全部以金刚经锁边。其纽楞严咒为永乐帝荐母而造也。

宣化偈曰：

缅甸虽有大金塔。支那更有大铜钟。
两者皆为历史物。神钟失而复得鸣。

Viewing the relics at Ta Chung⁶ Monastery

The Master viewed the eighty-four-thousand-pound bronze bell, which was cast by the Monk Yao Kuang Hsiao during the Ming Dynasty. It is several stories in height. Its crown is seven feet high, and it is fourteen feet in diameter. The entire Avatamsaka (Flower Adornment) Sutra is cast on the outside, and the Dharma Flower Sutra and the Tsun Sheng (Noble and Sublime) Mantra in their entirety are cast on the inside. The Vajra Sutra is cast on the lip, and on the crown, the Shurangama Mantra. It was offered by the Yung Le Emperor for the sake of crossing over his mother.

The gatha says:
Although in Burma one can see the magnificent Golden Stupa,
The colossal Bronze Bell of China is even greater yet.
Both of these are renowned historical objects.
The cherished bell has now been lost, but it will ring again.

6. "Great Bell"