鼎 (dǐng) - Ding — an ancient Chinese ritual bronze tripod & symbolic of power, legitimacy, and state authority

鼎Tone 3

dǐng ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

丁恩

鼎 · dǐng

Ding — an ancient Chinese ritual bronze tripod cauldron;

symbolic of power, legitimacy, and state authority;

also means to establish, to be prosperous.

Ding — an ancient Chinese ritual bronze tripodsymbolic of power, legitimacy, and state authorityalso means to establish, to be prosperous.

Usage highlights

Bronze dingTripod standingEstablish the capitalAge of prosperityRenownedWitness a covenant

Synonyms

  • 镬— cauldron (similar cooking vessel but without ritual significance)
  • 釜— pot, kettle (common cooking vessel)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The bronze ding vessel (鼎) was used in ancient rituals.
  • Three powers standing like a tripod (三足鼎立).
  • The establishment of a new dynasty (定鼎).
  • A prosperous and bustling scene (鼎盛).

Collocations

  • Bronze ding(青铜鼎)
  • Tripod standing(鼎立)
  • Establish the capital(定鼎)
  • Age of prosperity(鼎盛时期)
  • Renowned(鼎鼎大名)
  • Witness a covenant(问鼎)

Idioms

  • Three powers standing like a tripod(三足鼎立)
  • To have great fame(鼎鼎大名)
  • To aspire to the throne(问鼎中原)
  • A word carries the weight of a tripod(一言九鼎)
  • To be in one's prime(春秋鼎盛)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The ding was a sacred ritual vessel in Bronze Age China, used for offering sacrifices to ancestors and gods.
  • It symbolized political power and legitimacy; 'holding the ding' meant ruling the state.
  • The phrase 'asking about the ding' (问鼎) came to mean aspiring to seize imperial power.
  • Its three legs made it a symbol of stability and balance, as in 'tripod standing' (鼎立).

FAQ