What the bell? | National Bell Festival

days

hrs

mins

secs

Explore the weird, the wonderful, and the whimsical at BellFest – from exclusive events and happenings, to behind-the-scenes access at some of the most fascinating historical sites in Washington, D.C.

Learn about the Different Parts of a Japanese Bell

Bronze bells dotted across the temples, monasteries, and landscapes of Japan differ greatly in size, weight, and ornamentation, but most maintain consistent elements…

National Bell Festival in the News!

The final reverberations from the 2024 National Bell Festival have dissolved and the skies have settled into a comfortable silence – though the excitement here on the…

1798 Hanshō

At the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum within the U.S. National Arboretum hangs a hanshō, or half-bell from a long-lost Japanese Buddhist temple and…

What Is the Difference Between a Bonshō and a Hanshō?

Bells have a long heritage of deep integration in Buddhist monastic life. The movements of monks on various occasions are directed by the tinkling, ringing, or…

Hello, Hanshō! D.C. Welcomes a New (Old) Bell

This New Year’s Day, festivalgoers descended on the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum to hear the resonant tolls of a sacred…

The National Bell Festival, Inc. is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Give Today