Ding
Early Western Zhou Dynasty (11th -- 10th century BC)
Height: 15.5 cmInscriptions on ancient bronzes denote either the name of the vessel, the name of the of its owner or to whom the vessel offered sacrifice. It is from such inscriptions that vessels such as this one are known to be called.
Ding of the Shang and Zhou periods were pots for cooking meat and ritual vessels for offering sacrifices. During this time, ding were symbols of social status and nobility. The emperor was entitled to use nine ding, the feudal lords seven, the grand masters five and the elite three.
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