Chinese wind chimes

Due to the popularity of the wind chime it is difficult to pin down exactly where it may have originated. That having been said, it is believed that the first wind chime may have originated nearly 5000 years ago in South East Asia. These amazing musical pieces of art where not only loved for their hypnotic music, but they were actually thought to ward off the evil spirits that may have been lurking about. In addition, they were believed to be used by farmers to scare away the birds from the crops. You could say they were he equivalent of an ancient scarecrow in most farming homes.

The Chinese wind chimes where developed in approximately 1100 B.C. by the metal workers. They were actually more like bells than then today’s more modern wind chimes and they were intended for use in the religious gatherings and ceremonies of the times. Many years later they developed large wind chimes that they frequently hung from the eaves of pagodas and temples to scare away demons and ghosts while attracting spiritual guides. This spilled over into the homes of the individuals and they soon became a common part of any doorway in most homes.

While they originated in Asia and China, they soon grew very popular in most of the world. They were considered to be the protectors from evil by the Celtic, Japanese and Egyptians. Eventually they found there way to Europe and then of course on the new world. You can find wind chimes of all varieties hanging in all types of homes from great mansions to small cabins throughout the world. They are considered to be a wonderful house warming gift and can be purchased in such a huge array of styles that they can surely be found to fit most tastes.