What was the ancient tripod used for?

In ancient China, the main function of Ding was to cook food and store meat. Generally, there are two kinds of tripod and four-legged Fang Ding. Although the tripod was originally a cooker, it became a national weapon after the legend of Dayu casting Jiuding, and then developed into a sacrificial utensil, especially later, it was considered as a symbol of the state and power.

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.

There is a record in Zuo Zhuan in the Spring and Autumn Period: In the early years of Xia Dynasty, Kyushu was designated as the world, and state animal husbandry was established. Xia Qi asked Kyushu Pastoral to contribute bronze casting tripod. Send people to paint famous mountains, rivers, places of interest, and strange things in all States of the country into picture albums, and then select craftsmen to imitate these paintings on Jiuding, symbolizing that a state has a tripod. Jiuding symbolizes the unity of Kyushu and the high concentration of kingship.

Extended data

development period

China entered the class society from the Xia Dynasty, and the bronze manufacturing industry symbolizing national political power, military power and theocracy was completely monopolized by nobles. The manufacture of these bronzes is based on the will, needs and aesthetic wishes of the nobles. After more than 20 centuries of development and evolution, Chinese bronzes can be divided into the following periods:

1, Early Period: Xia Dynasty-Due to the immature smelting process of copper and the scarcity of materials, there are few kinds of bronzes unearthed in the Xia Dynasty, and all the bronzes unearthed in the Xia Dynasty so far are "milk nails".

2. Prevailing period: During the Shang Dynasty (from the Shang Dynasty moving its capital to Yin (now Anyang, Zhou Muwang) to the early Western Zhou Dynasty, when Wuding of the Shang Dynasty arrived in the west), the bronze wares were thick, regular and ornate, reflecting an ugly beauty. For example: Simuwu Fang Ding, Fang Ding with animal face pattern, Fang Ding with chest nail pattern, Ding Ke, Zi Long Ding, etc.

3. Maturity: Western Zhou Dynasty (from the late Western Zhou Dynasty to the early Spring and Autumn Period)-In the Spring and Autumn Period, the ancients invented techniques such as "lost wax method", "separate casting method" and "wrong gold and silver", which made the bronzes in the Spring and Autumn Period more unique and complicated. Representative works are; Lotus crane square pot

From the mid-Spring and Autumn Period to the Warring States Period, the tripod in bronze ware was originally a very common cooker in ancient times, but its practical significance gradually weakened and became a symbol of power.

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