Buddhist priests get ready to ring in the changes for 2017 in Kyoto

It might not quite be time to ring in the New Year, but when the bell is this large with some heavy lifting required, a dress rehearsal can be a good idea.

Seventeen Buddhist priests heaved an enormous wooden bell hammer to strike the giant bell at Chionin temple in this city’s Higashiyama Ward on Dec. 27 in a practice run for New Year’s Eve.

Its deep, grave sound echoed through the winter sky over the temple four days ahead of the main event.

The bell, cast during the Edo Period (1603-1867), measuring 3.3 meters high with a diameter of 2.8 meters, weighs 70 tons.

Seventeen Buddhist priests from Chionin temple rehearse ring the temple's giant bell for New Year’s Eve in Kyoto’s Higashiyama Ward on Dec. 27. Photo: Kenta Sujino

It is one of the most renowned large bells in Japan, along with others such as those at Todaiji temple in Nara and Hokoji temple, also in Higashiyama Ward.

The Chionin temple bell will be tolled 108 times to mark the coming of the new year, starting from 10:40 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

(The Asahi Shimbun)