Editing Bell (section)

== Church and temple bells ==
{{main|Church bell}}

In the [[Eastern world]], the traditional forms of bells are temple and palace bells, small ones being rung by a sharp rap with a stick, and very large ones rung by a blow from the outside by a large swinging beam. (See images of the great bell of [[Mii-dera]] below.)

The striking technique is employed worldwide for some of the largest tower-borne bells because swinging the bells themselves could damage their towers.

In the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and among some High [[Lutherans]] and [[Anglican]]s, small hand-held bells, called [[Sanctus]] or [[Altar bell|sacring bells]],{{sfn|Herrera|2004}} are often rung by a server at Mass when the priest holds high up first the host and then the chalice immediately after he has said the words of consecration over them (the moment known as the [[Elevation (liturgy)|Elevation]]). This serves to indicate to the congregation that the bread and wine have just been transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ (see [[transubstantiation]]), or, in the alternative [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]] teaching, that Christ is now bodily present in the elements, and that what the priest is holding up for them to look at is Christ himself (see [[consubstantiation]]).

In [[Russian Orthodox bell ringing]], the entire bell never moves, only the clapper. A complex system of ropes is developed and used uniquely for every bell tower. Some ropes (the smaller ones) are played by hand, the bigger ropes are played by foot.

=== Bells in Japanese religion ===
[[File:Wind-powered bell under temple eaves,. Banna-ji. Ashikaga, Tochigi.jpg|thumb|Wind-powered bell under temple eaves, Banna-ji; [[Ashikaga, Tochigi]]]]
[[Japan]]ese [[Shinto]]ist and [[Buddhist]] bells are used in religious ceremonies. ''[[Suzui]]'', a homophone meaning both "cool" and "refreshing", are spherical bells which contain metal pellets that produce sound from the inside. The hemispherical bell is the ''[[Kane (musical instrument)|Kane]]'' bell, which is struck on the outside. Large suspended temple bells are known as ''[[bonshō]]''. (See also [[:ja:鈴]], [[:ja:梵鐘]]).

=== Bells in Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism ===
[[Jainism|Jain]], [[Hinduism|Hindu]] and [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] bells, called ''"[[Ghanta]]"'' (IAST: Ghaṇṭā) in Sanskrit, are used in religious ceremonies. See also [[singing bowls]]. A bell hangs at the gate of many [[Hindu temple]]s and is rung at the moment one enters the temple.<ref name=hindus />
<gallery>
File:RyoanJi-Kane.jpg|Japanese temple bell of the Ryōanji Temple, [[Kyoto]]
File:Bell Simoda 1856.jpg|"Bell house at Shimoda" in Japan
File:Big bell. Rewalsar.jpg|Buddhist bell, [[Rewalsar, India|Rewalsar]], India
File:Bell Patan Durbar Square Mangal Bazaar Patan Lalitpur Nepal Rajesh Dhungana (3).jpg|Bell of Taleju Bhawani temple ([[Patan Durbar Square]], Nepal
</gallery>