Bronze Sheng Ding

Ding was a cooking vessel. Ding was first made in Neo-Stone Age from clay. Later on people started to make Ding with bronze, which were mostly used as ritual vessels. Sheng Ding was a kind of Ding mostly used to offer meat to the gods. Ding was usually used in a set. The tradition for ceremonies is that an odd number of Ding were used in match with an even number of Gui. The number of these vessels were considered to have ritual meaning. The more vessels a man could use in ceremony, the higher social status he had. The weight of the vessels also indicates a man’s political power. Only the supreme ruler could use nine Ding and eight Gui when offering sacrifice to the heaven.

Nine Sheng Ding were unearthed from the Zeng Hou Yi Mausolem. They are in similar shapes: all supported by claw-shaped legs have flat bottom and narrowed middle part, handles reaching outward. One bronze dagger was found with the Ding and there were bones of cow, sheep, pig, chichen and fish left in these containers. The marquis, according to the Ding and Gui discovered in his mausolem, enjoyed the power to use nine Ding and eight Gui.