Abstract
The beat frequency is very important for the sound of Buddhist temple bells, but its concrete origins have not yet been fully clarified. In our research, we considered the beat of the bell at Hojobo Temple (Kanagawa Prefecture). Although its beat frequency has already been measured as 1.6 Hz, no satisfactory explanation has been offered for the factor that determines this value. In our previous research, we investigated the "Doza," the point where the bell is struck, and the "Obi," the vertical stripes around the bell, both of which are circumferential asymmetrical factors that can be visually recognized. Our investigations were carried out by using the Finite Element Method. These factors, however, could not sufficiently explain the beat frequency. Here, we first investigate the "Nyu," the many small projections on the bell, and the deviation between the centers of the inner and outer diameters of the bell. These two factors, however, were also found tobe insufficient explanations of the beat frequency. Through subsequent investigation, however, we finally clarified that the beat frequency's origin lies in the local dimension variation in the "Komazume," which is the bottom part of the bell as well as its thickest part.