The Nine Tripod Cauldrons (Jiuding) were, by legend, cast by the sage-king Yu the Great, one for each of the nine provinces of the realm, and passed down through the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties as physical tokens of the Mandate of Heaven. Possessing them signified the right to rule all under heaven, and their permitted display was graded by rank, from one or three cauldrons for the scholarly gentry up to nine reserved for the sovereign alone; their disappearance during the late Zhou period was read as confirming that the dynasty had lost its mandate.
History & Origin
Cast by Yu the Great, according to legend
Facts
Use
Who May Handle ItTrained or authorised specialists only 1 ConsecrationConsecrated in a rite before use 1 Identity
Category of Sacred ObjectLegendary bronze vessels said to symbolize the sovereignty of ancient Chinese dynasties. 1 Object category (class) Attributions
TraditionAncient Chinese religion, the Mandate of Heaven 1 Connections
Associated With
This source names Yu the Great directly: "were, by legend, cast by the sage-king Yu the Great, one for each of the nine provinces of the realm, and passed down through the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties as physical tokens of the Mandate of..."
Source Sources of Chinese Tradition, Volume 1Wm. Theodore de Bary and Irene Bloom (eds)
Belongs to Tradition
Source Sources of Chinese Tradition, Volume 1Wm. Theodore de Bary and Irene Bloom (eds)
Related To
Sources
1. Sources of Chinese Tradition, Volume 1
Wm. Theodore de Bary and Irene Bloom (eds), Columbia University Press, 1999on the Nine Tripod Cauldrons and the Mandate of HeavenView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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