Museum Updates
Wooden-clapper bell a symbol of teachers in China
Updated: Sep 10, 2026
China Bound
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On Chinese Teachers' Day, do you wonder about the symbol of teachers in China?
Some 3,000 years ago, teachers would shake a wooden-clapper bell or mu duo (木铎), sending students back to class — much like today's school bell. Confucius was honored as the "Wooden-clapper Bell Chosen by the Heaven", and those who carried the mu duo became a symbol of teachers.
Today, you can still spot the mu duo on the emblems of many teacher-training universities across China, carrying on the tradition of education.
The bronze bell pictured here dates back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) and is part of the collection of the Henan Museum.
Next time you visit a Chinese normal university, take a closer look at its emblem. Can you spot the mu duo?
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