A Ding (鼎, Chinese for “Tripod”) is an ancient Chinese cauldron or holding vessel. Historically, these vessels have been used for holding food and wine, or for ritual sacrifices to ancestors or deities. Around 1000 B.C, dings held the ability to perform ritual ceremonies and ultimately became a symbol of power and authority. The ding represented inherent hierarchies, as they were mostly used by nobels and emporers. Bronze ware was often looted in victories over other nations, therefore symbolized sucessful conquests and strength. The possession of one or more ding is connected to power and dominion over the land.

Two variations of the ding exist, including the li-ding and the fang-ding. The li-ding bowl swells slightly where the legs meet the vessel akin to chinese li ritual bronze. The fang-ding, paradoxically called “Square Tripod”, is a square or rectangular shaped vessel resting on four legs. The legs of the ding are minimally decorated, whilst the bodies are often adorned with Taotie, Monster Masks, which utilizes the shape and surface of the bowl.

鼎是中國古代用以盛載東西的容器。歷史上，這些器皿被用來盛裝食物和酒，或用於祭祀祖先或神靈。公元前1000年左右，鼎多於舉行儀式時使用，逐漸成為了權力的象徵。由於鼎主要被貴族和皇帝使用，它同時亦代表了固有的等級制度。青銅器經常在戰勝其他國家時被掠奪，因而象徵著征服和力量。而擁有一個或多個鼎則與權力和對土地的統治有所關聯。

鼎一共有兩種形態，包括立鼎和方鼎。立鼎碗在足部與容器相交的地方略微膨脹，類似於中國禮制中的青銅器。方鼎是擱在四足上的一種方形或長方形的器皿。鼎的足部裝飾極簡，而鼎的外側則經常有饕餮或怪物面具的雕刻，充分地利用了碗的外壁部分。