Korean Bell of Friendship

The Korean Bell of Friendship is a massive bronze bell housed in a stone pavilion in Angel's Gate Park, in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Located at the corner of Gaffey and 37th Streets, the section of the park is alternatively called the "Korean-American Peace Park" and occupies part of the former Upper Reservation of Fort MacArthur.

The bell was presented by the Republic of Korea to the American people to celebrate the bicentennial of the United States and to symbolize friendship between the two nations. The effort was coordinated by Philip Ahn, a Korean American actor. It was dedicated on October 3, 1976, and declared Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 187 in 1978.

It is modeled after the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok the Great of Silla (also known as the Emille Bell), cast in 771 for Bongdeok Temple and now located at the National Museum of Gyeongju; both are among the largest bells in the world and the largest bell ever cast in Korean history. The bell is made of over seventeen tons of copper and tin, with gold, nickel, lead, and phosphorus added to the alloy for tone quality. It has a diameter of 7½ feet, average thickness of 8 inches, and a height of 12 feet. The exterior surface is richly decorated in relief, featuring four pairs of figures. Each pair includes a "Goddess of Liberty" (bearing some resemblance to the Statue of Liberty) and a Seonyeo, or Korean spirit figure, holding a Korean national symbol: a Taegeuk symbol, a branch of rose of Sharon, a branch of laurel, and a dove.

Beginning in 2010, the bell is struck five times a year: on New Year's Eve, Korean American Day (January 13), the (Fourth of July), Korean Liberation Day (August 15), and every September in celebration of Constitution Week. It was also rung on September 11, 2002, to commemorate the first anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The bell does not have a clapper; instead, it is sounded by striking it with a large wooden log.

The pavilion that houses the bell was built by Korean craftsmen over a period of ten months. Its design is traditional. It is axially symmetric, consisting of a hipped (a.k.a. "pyramidal") roof supported by twelve columns representing the Korean zodiac, each column guarded by a carved animal.

The Belfrey of Friendship, which houses the Korean Bell of Friendship, was featured in two scenes of the movie The Usual Suspects.

See also

  • List of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in the Harbor area

References

Шаблон:Reflist

External links

Шаблон:Commons category

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Abran Ochoa
21 August 2013
Wonderful view of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island on clear, sunny days. Perfect for relaxing, kite flying, picnicking and admiring the beautiful Korean Friendship Bell area!
Los Angeles
1 August 2013
Intricate reliefs represent goddesses of liberty, victory & peace, while architectural details impart the nature of Korean culture. Visit on a clear day for a picnic w/ pristine views of the harbor.
Kevin McCoy
26 April 2016
Incredible view of the Pacific! Always wanted to see this incredible cultural monument. Plus, it's an important movie location from The Usual Suspects!
Michael Morgan
31 July 2023
One of the most beautiful monuments and look out points I have ever been to. Even on a hot summer day the breeze from the ocean is cool. Very expansive views of PV, San Pedro, and the ocean
Scott R.
10 June 2012
Sandwiched between Fort MacArthur & Point Fermin. A cool area to explore with great views on a sunny afternoon. Overcast days can be downright chilly.
Pericles Papamichalis
16 October 2023
The Friendship Bell is modeled after the Emile Bell, which is the largest bell ever built in Korean history. Both are among the largest in the world.
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3752-3798 South Gaffey Street, San Pedro, CA 90731, USA Get directions
Mon-Sun 9:30 AM–5:30 PM

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