While some of these bells are no longer in use today, they are still around to tell the tale of their creation, unlike many, many others that weighed far more. So let us put on our bell ringing gloves and get on with the list…
World Peace Bell, United States
10 – World Peace Bell, United States (Approximate Weight: 33,285 kg)
Wiki Info: The bell is made using melted-down coinage donated from countries around the world. Using the same method, other bells have been placed in sixteen countries to date, with both the USA and Japan having more than one bell.
Yuriev Monastery Bell, Russia
9 – Yuriev Monastery Bell, Russia (Approximate Weight: 34,399 kg)
Wiki Info: This monastery also has the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in the northeastern corner of the monastery, with five blue domes and gold stars on it, built in the 18th century. The gateway into the monastery is crowned by a tall gold-domed tower which is visible from the city centre, including the Novgorod Kremlin two miles to the north.
Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery Bell, Russia
8 – Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery Bell, Russia (Approximate Weight: 35,000 kg)
Wiki Info: After the death of Feodor III, who spent most of his time there, the monastery declined. In May 1918, when the Bolsheviks tried to seize the relics of St. Savva, several persons were shot dead. The monastery was ransacked and pillaged, including the tomb of Saint Savva, made of gold plated silver, then the monks were chased out and finally, the cathedral was left to ruin.
Firstborn Bell, Russia
7 – Firstborn Bell, Russia (Approximate Weight: 35,490 kg)
Wiki Info: The monastery was founded in 1337 by one of the most venerated Russian saints, Sergius of Radonezh, who built a wooden church in honour of the Holy Trinity on Makovets Hill. Early development of the monastic community is well documented in contemporary lives of Sergius and his disciples.
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Đại hồng chung Bell, Vietnam
6 – Đại hồng chung Bell, Vietnam (Approximate Weight: 35,986 kg)
Wiki Info: This is one of the biggest bells in Vietnam. In 1714, Lord Nguyễn had it rebuilt again. It might be because of Lord Nguyễn Phước Châu’s admiration for Most Venerable Thạch Liêm, his original master, so he recognised the monk as the founder of the temple, despite the fact that the temple had actually been built a long time before the arrival of Thạch Liêm.
Gotemba Bell, Japan
5 – Gotemba Bell, Japan (Approximate Weight: 36,170 kg)
Wiki Info: The Largest swinging bell in the world, Cast 2004, by a Ships propeller foundry, on behalf of the royal Royal Eijsbouts bell foundry and weighs about 35 tonnes
Tharrawaddy Min Bell, Myanmar
4 – Tharrawaddy Min Bell, Myanmar (Approximate Weight: 38,000 kg)
Wiki Info: The Tharrawaddy Min Bell, also known as the Maha Tissada Gandha Bell, is a large bell located at the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar. It was donated in 1841 by King Tharrawaddy, of Konbaung Dynasty. The official Pali name of the bell is Maha Tissada Gandha, which means “Great Three-toned Sweet Sound”.
Blagovestniki Bell, Russia
3 – Blagovestniki Bell, Russia (Approximate Weight: 40,000 kg)
Wiki Info: In 1594 and 1603, he cast two huge bells weighing 10.2 metric tonnes and 17.8 tonnes, correspondingly. These bells were donated by Boris Godunov to the Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra. In 1621, Andrey Chokhov and other masters cast four bells for the Ivan the Great Bell Tower can still be seen in the middle tier of the bell tower.
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Yongle Bell, China
2 – Yongle Bell, China (Approximate Weight: 42,000 kg)
Wiki Info: The Big Bell Temple was built in 1733 during the reign of the Yongzheng Emperor of the Qing dynasty. The temple’s name came after the famous “Yongle” Big Bell that is housed inside the temple, which was cast during the reign of the Yongle Emperor the Ming dynasty.
To-dai-ji Temple Bell, Japan
1 – To-dai-ji Temple Bell, Japan (Approximate Weight: 44,000 kg)
Wiki Info: Tōdai-ji is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Japan. Its Great Buddha Hall houses the world’s largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese as Daibutsu. The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the Kegon school of Buddhism.