Windchimes; A History Of Beautiful Tones
January 4th, 2010 by Wendy Criswell, under Travel and Leisure. No Comments
You can usually find windchimes hanging from the rooftops or tinkling in the garden in just about every town and city. They give a melodious effect to the atmosphere. There are some windchimes made to produce music like melodies and other types just give a pleasant waterfall of sound as the wind blows. Windchimes can be made out of anything that will make a sound when it hits another one or a hard surface so it should not be very hard to find one that is pleasant to your own ear.
The use of windchimes goes back to prehistoric times but whether they were used for pleasure or warning of intruders or conveying the strength of the wind is uncertain. Windchimes were found in South East Asia in an archaeological site and date to around 3000 BC. Ancient windchimes were made of bone, bamboo or other woods, stones, and shells. The Egyptians were the first people to make windchimes out of metal as they cast them in bronze.
The Buddhists in Asia were the ones who developed windchimes to the fullest mostly because they used them in ceremonies. They hung windchimes to the rooftops of pagodas and temples that would ring deliriously whenever the wind came through. In Asia and the Mediterranean people believed that the windchimes would call to good spirits and they would come to protect the people who put them up. It was also believed that windchimes would keep evil spirits at bay. You can find windchimes on many residences in China and Japan the owners hoping the good spirits will protect them. In other cultures it is believed that windchimes will make you have good luck.
he people of the ancient Celtic nations did not use windchimes to calm the soul. They placed them in the woods and around villages to deceive their adversaries. The Celts were a very superstitious people and the enemy would hear the sounds the chimes made, think the area was haunted and high tailed it far away.
It seems that windchimes will calm the mind and spirit. Each chime has a tone and resonance that has the ability to heal both the mind and the body of a human being. The chimes bring great awareness and will connect you with your own spirit. The are relaxing and can quell anger bringing a balance to the soul. Feng Shui employs the use of windchimes in order to bring that balance into the home.
In the past farmers used windchimes in order to tell what kind of weather would affect the crops that day. Some wind directions bring about specific weather conditions so if the wind was blowing a certain way farmers new there was going to be rain that day. The windchimes would let them know which way the wind, or weather, was going. They would set up several sets of windchimes so they could hear the direction of the wind. They could also tell the wind speed by the tone of the chimes. Some farmers used them for another reason entirely. They were used to scare birds away that would normally decimate a crop.
Today windchimes are still popular and are made from suspending tubes or other materials from string. Some are made of rods or tubes and are often made of metal or wood although there are still some being made with glass prisms and shells. Some metal windchimes have a ball like clapper or a horizontal disk that is suspended from the center with the chimes all around it. When the wind blows the chimes bump against the clapper or disk causing them to ring or make another sound. Other windchimes may suspend the materials in a row and when they hit each other they make a pleasant tinkling sound.
Many people adorn their homes and gardens with windchimes today. They are not there to frighten away pests or nasty spirits and they are not there to forecast the weather. They do make a pretty sound and make the environment more pleasant and tranquil. They were trendy in the past and they are now and can be found in any home or business. Today they are made of a multitude of materials and sold with carved wood, metals, stained glass, shells and other objects that make sound when hung by string and jostled together. They may not attract luck or protective spirits but everyone puts a smile on their face when they hear them.
Want to know even more about accessorizing your patio than this? You can find out everything you want and more when you visit wind chimes today. Please Stop by our site and browse a full inventory of unique wind chimes and other patio accessories.
