Bronze Cooking Ware -- "Ding"
"Ding" (鼎) was a kind of cooking ware with three or four legs. The original Ding was pottery ware, and appeared in the Stone Age. Later, bronze Ding was frequently used in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. Bronze Ding was not only cooking ware, but also ritual ware. On bronze ritual Ding, there are always many inscriptions which records the achievements of owners.
The following photoes were taken in the Historical Museum of Shaanxi Province.
A Pottery Ding (the Right) of the Stone Age
Bronze Ding of the Shang Dynasty
Bronze Ding of the Western Zhou Dynasty
A Special Ding with Four legs
You can see inscriptions on the inner side of the Ding in the following photo.
The following photoes were taken in the Palace Museum of Beijing.
Bronze Ding of the Shang Dynasty
Bronze Ding of the Western Zhou Dynasty
Bronze Ding of the Warring-States Period
