The Marquis of Li’s Chinese bells
Bells have been used in Asia since the second millennia before Christ (BC). Complex carillons of up to 65 bells of varying size and two pitches have been found in graves in China. They were played with hammers, like the one found in the grave of the Marquis of Yi in the State of Zeng, from the 5th century BC, which is the largest and least damaged instrument discovered. It retains its original sonority, a characteristic of all bells, which retain the voice with which they were created through the centuries.
The Bianzhong was begun with three hand-bells around 2000 BC, and the number of bells increased until it reached its peak in the first millennium with 65 bells requiring several ringers.
Broadly speaking, the differences between Oriental Asian bells and Western ones seem to be that the Asian ones focussed on their aspect as musical instruments and the Western ones developed their facet for communication or language.