“Wangziwu”Ding Tripod

The ding was unearthed in 1978 in Xiasi,Xichuan County,Henan Province.It is 49 centimeters in height with the 0.23 meters’Diameter.

 

photo/ Henan Museum 

There are 14 lines of 83 Niao-Zhuan Characters on the inner wall of the ding,which says that Wang Ziwu cast the ding to offer sacrifices to his ancestor,King Wen.He was honored by the people of Chu because of his practice of virtue.He hoped that the later generations will always take that as the criterion of their own actions.

According to the inscriptions,the tomb owner,also known as Zi Geng,once held the post of Ling-Yin in the State of Chu,which was equivalent to the later prime minister.

It is not only a product of aesthetics in that days’Chu,but also a representative of Chu tripod in the Spring and Autumn Period.With its unique shape,elaborate decoration,elegant inscription,it reveals the extremely prominent identity of the ding owner,and becomes a precious material for the study of Chu culture.