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Originally Posted by Rick
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Hi Rick. Lovely find, I've wanted one of these for ages.
It seems to be a big bell bowl (Gong bowl/singing bowl/Rin).
I'm not sure if its Chinese or Japanese, I assume Chinese, but the Japanese liking for chinese characters and designs on bronzework confuses the hell out of me (Japanese Bronze mirrors are often totally chinese in design and have long chinese inscriptions)
I was offered a similar one to yours recently as Chinese, but it had a split (and that affects the sound).
The bronze of the bowl should be quite thin and hand beaten. The rounded bottom is usual. You should buy it a cheap cushion off of ebay (donut shaped, or just round) to sit on, and play it with a large wooden stick by rubbing not banging the top of the outside, suede covered sticks of this size are often preferred but I feel that as its a buddhist item, plain wood is more in keeping.
Here's a video of Craig (the chap who helped me with my bowl, and I gave him a right laugh playing it with a rolling pin!! any big bowl can 'sing'). He's 'the man' when it comes to these things.
With very little practice you'll get a good constant sound out of it and you'll see how the rounded bottom is essential for the resonance. Any cracks or flaws with be audible as buzzy underlying vibrations.
http://www.bonsaiinformation.com/BBC.htm