(Fig.1)

　　At the end of 1970s, a set of chime bells made of Si Bin QING stone was unearthed in Shandong Province (Fig.1) and subsequently in 1980s outcropped Si Bin stone material, which has been rarely seen for long and out of which Si Bin QING stone bells were made, was once again found on the ancient Si River banks in Shandong Province. The outcropped Si Bin stone has boasted of a long standing and been well established in the history of China, its reputation respectable and sacred. There is a clear and definite record in《 Shang Shu 》①，describing that " among Hai Zhou ( Zhou is an administrative unit in the division of the territory of ancient China ), Dai Zhou, Huai Zhou… it is only in Xu Zhou where QING stone

(Fig.2)

material outcropped on the top mountain surface along both banks of the Si River was carefully picked out to be presented as article of tribute."(Fig.2) There is an account in《 Shang Shu 》to the effect that it would appeal to all animals to come out dancing together if the stone were struck or hammered, a fact verifying to the full that outcropped Si Bin QING stone originating from Xu Zhou served as one of the important tributes in the reign of Emperor Yu some 4100 years ago. Furthermore, in the period of totem culture, representatives of various tribes acting as animals they worshipped, carried out their religious activities, dancing around the outcropped Si Bin QING which had, at that time, symbolized their belief and power. After the emergence of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, the outcropped Si Bin QING was once more invited into temple and taoist abbey, being enshrined and worshipped as the oldest percussion instrument in a Buddhist or Taoist mass and as

(Fig.3, a set of musical QING stone bells)

one of the important ritual instruments for Confucianists to cultivate their moral character and nourish their inborn nature, as well. (Fig.3, a set of musical QING stone bells) The 2nd emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin ( 599 - 649 A.D.) once even had the political situation and power of the Tang Dynasty divined simply by striking QING stone. The ancient Chinese people would attach much importance to such a degree the event when Si Bin QING stone had been excavated in the country that the whole nation would celebrate jubilantly, for the excavation of the stone would be viewed as a good omen of flourishing and prosperity of the country.

Note:
① One of Confucianists' classics dealing with historical documents and papers of remote ages