Summary
Highlights
Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty commanded official Kuan-yu to create a grand bell whose sound would reach for a hundred li, strengthened with brass, deepened with gold, and sweetened with silver, and adorned with sacred texts. Kuan-yu assembled master craftsmen, but their initial attempt to cast the bell failed as the metals refused to blend.
Despite immense effort, a second casting also failed, resulting in a cracked and fissured bell. The Emperor became extremely angry and sent a stern message to Kuan-yu, threatening him with execution if he failed a third time.
Kuan-yu's beautiful and devoted daughter, Kongai, fearing for her father's life, sought advice from an astrologer. He revealed that only when a maiden's flesh and blood were mixed with the metals would the bell be successfully cast. On the day of the third casting, Kongai, without telling anyone, leaped into the molten metal to save her father.
After Kongai's sacrifice, the casting proceeded. The molten metal, purified and whitened, resulted in a perfectly formed and beautiful bell. Kongai's body was completely absorbed, blessing the metals. When rung, the bell produced a deep, powerful sound that carried for a hundred li. However, between each stroke, a mournful sound like a woman's sob and the whisper of 'Hi… I' (her name, Kongai) could be heard, along with a sharp, sweet shuddering.
To this day, Chinese mothers in Beijing whisper to their children, 'Listen, that is Kongai crying for her shoe,' attributing the bell's mournful sound to her ultimate sacrifice.