What are the uses of the ancient tripod as a symbol of authority?

Ding is one of the most important bronzes, used for cooking and storing meat. The three dynasties of Qin and Han dynasties lasted for more than two thousand years, and the tripod has always been the most common and mysterious ritual vessel.

The "Simuwu" Dafang Ding collected by China History Museum is a bronze tripod in the late Shang Dynasty. Rectangular, four legs, height 133 cm, weight 875 kg. This is the largest bronze ware in Shang Dynasty. There is the word "Simuwe" in the belly of the tripod, which was cast by the Shang king to sacrifice his mother Wu.

Generally speaking, there are two kinds of tripod: three-legged round tripod and four-legged Fang Ding, and they can be divided into two kinds: covered tripod and uncovered tripod.

There is a group of ding, from big to small, in a row, called leding. The number of tripod stands for different status levels in the Zhou Dynasty. Tripod is usually singular. According to literature and archaeological findings, Jiuding should be a vassal, the seventh and fifth ding should be a great doctor, and the third and first ding should be a scholar. However, the system of the Emperor of Heaven is twelve ding, which is even, and the tomb of the Emperor of Zhou has not been seen so far, so whether this record is correct remains to be verified. Of course, Jiuding in the ranks does not represent Jiuding of the central government.

About the origin and function of "Ding": Ding was originally an ancient cooking utensil, equivalent to the current pot, used to stew and hold fish. Xu Shen said in Shuo Wen Jie Zi: "Ding, three feet and two ears, is also the treasure of five flavors." There are three-legged tripod and four-legged Fang Ding. The earliest tripod was made of clay, and later there was a bronze tripod made of bronze. Legend has it that Yu Xia once collected the gold of nine animal husbandry and cast Jiuding under Jingshan Mountain to symbolize Kyushu, and carved fascinating figures on it to alert people and prevent them from being hurt. Since the legend of Zhu Yu's nine cauldrons came into being, the cauldron has developed from an ordinary cooker to a national heavyweight vessel. The country was destroyed, Ding moved, Xia dynasty was destroyed, Shang dynasty was prosperous, and Jiuding moved to Shangdubo (b? ) Beijing; After the demise of Shang Dynasty, Xing He Jiuding of Zhou Dynasty moved to Du Hao of Zhou Dynasty (H? O) Beijing. From Shang Dynasty to Zhou Dynasty, "Dingding" was the capital or established a dynasty.

Ding is regarded as a symbol of country, country and power, and the word "Ding" has also been given extended meanings such as "distinguished", "distinguished" and "grand", such as keeping the contract, becoming famous, and helping each other at its peak. Ding is also a ritual vessel for meritorious service. In the Zhou Dynasty, when the monarch or the princes and ministers celebrated or received awards, they had to cast a tripod to record this grand occasion. This custom still has some influence. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, the people of China and People's Republic of China (PRC) presented the bronze tripod-Century Baoding to the United Nations on June1995+1October 2/KLOC-0. On the occasion of celebrating the 50th anniversary of Tibet's peaceful liberation, the central government presented Xizang Autonomous Region with the "Baoding of National Unity" standing in the Great Hall of the People Square in Lhasa, symbolizing national unity and the vigorous development of various undertakings in Tibet. This move has far-reaching significance and rich cultural connotation.

Ding is the representative of bronze culture in China. It is the witness of civilization and the carrier of culture. According to the legend of Zhu Yu Jiu Ding, it can be inferred that China had bronze smelting and casting technology as early as 4000 years ago; The bronze ding of Shang Dynasty unearthed underground proved conclusively that Shang Dynasty in China was a highly developed bronze age. The "Simuwu" Dafang Ding collected by China History Museum is a bronze tripod in the late Shang Dynasty. Rectangular, four legs, height 1.33cm, weight 875 kg. This is the largest bronze ware in Shang Dynasty. There is the word "Simuwe" in the belly of the tripod, which was cast by the Shang king to sacrifice his mother Wu. Da, Da and Mao He unearthed in the Qing Dynasty are all famous bronzes in the Western Zhou Dynasty. The inscriptions on bronze wares such as Ding recorded the laws and regulations of Shang and Zhou Dynasties and historical facts such as conferring titles, offering sacrifices and conquering. And handed down the seal script of the Western Zhou Dynasty to later generations, forming a bronze calligraphy art with high aesthetic value. Ding is therefore more valuable and becomes a more important historical relic than other bronzes. Li Zehou, an aesthetician, believes that Chinese bronzes, with their unique tripod as the core, are the most aesthetic works of bronze art in China, with heavy and solid objects, hideous and mysterious patterns and profound carving.