大鐘寺觀古蹟

大鐘寺觀明朝姚廣孝。所鑄八萬四千斤銅鐘。高於數層樓宇紐高七尺。徑一丈四尺。外鑄華嚴經全部。內法華經全部。尊勝咒全部以金剛經鎖邊。其紐楞嚴咒為永樂帝荐母而造也。

宣化偈曰：

緬甸雖有大金塔。支那更有大銅鐘。
兩者皆為歷史物。神鐘失而復得鳴。

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"