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.
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.
Extended data
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. Ding belly has the word "Simuwe", which was cast by Shang Zhouwang as a sacrifice to 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 bronze works in the mature period of China bronze art?
Baidu Encyclopedia-Ding