This story is the origin of the central plains, the king of Chu Zhuang was enough to become the overlord at that time, and he was ambitious, and even dared to compete with the royal family. But for the Jiuding here, we still have doubts. According to legendary sources, Jiuding was cast during the Xia Yu period and was used as a symbol of state power. Through the three periods of Xia Shang, it has always been regarded as a heavy instrument of the country. Jiuding, on the other hand, symbolizes the nine states of the world, namely Yu, Ji, Yan, Qing, Xu, Jing, Yang, Yong, and Liang. In our Chinese history, Ding is a word that appears very frequently. In many idioms, there are ding characters, such as one word nine ding, human voice boiling and so on. And once we think of the Dingqi, we will think of the power of the state, the Jiangshan Sheji.
However, when we look up at this national heavy instrument, we ignore the original function of Dingding - the pot. The explanation in the "Sayings" is that three feet and two ears are precious utensils that blend various flavors. It is also generally used to stew or hold meat, etc., so it is inseparable from eating. But why is it that such a pot becomes a symbol of the country? Since Dayu divided the world into nine states, the metals offered from all over the world were cast into Jiuding under the Jingshan Mountain. Legend has it that when you enter the mountains, rivers, and so on, you can't meet any ghosts. Therefore, Ding is also covered with a veil of divine blessing, but the reason that really makes Ding stand out from many eating utensils lies in the raw material of Ding- bronze.
When King Zhuang of Chu was in the Central Plains, he replied to Wang Sun Man that the bronze folded by the weapons of the Chu State was enough to cast nine dings. The importance of bronze can be seen here, and the main use of bronze in the pre-Qin period was only two. The first is to forge large ceremonial sacrificial tools, and the second is to forge weapons. As the saying goes, "The great affairs of the country are in the worship of the gods." Thus bronze has evolved into a standard and symbol of a nation's strength.
Bronze, on the other hand, is both a sacrificial object and a large instrument. Therefore, an instrument that costs several tons of bronze to forge is undoubtedly a signal of national strength that the outside world reveals. This is also equivalent to today's aircraft carriers, showing that the country is strong and does not use direct war, revealing strength is also a means of deterrence. And the bronze ding, it is exactly like this. Therefore, what King Chu Zhuang said at that time was revealing a piece of information. The bronze possessed by the Chu state was no less than that of the Zhou royal family, and it was precisely because of this that Wang Sunman felt threatened. Because this is coveting the world, coveting the position of the co-lord of the world.
Therefore, there are two reasons why Ding will become a symbol of power, the first is because Ding Ben appeared from the Dayu period, has been passed down for a long time, and is also an instrument that symbolizes the nine states under the heavens. In addition, in addition to being a food utensil, ding is also a sacrificial item. This kind of large sacrificial utensils is originally sacred, let alone inherited? The second is because the raw materials of Ding are very precious, and bronze in the pre-Qin period was a very important resource for a country. The country with the most bronze also represents the stronger the strength, so Jiuding, as the instrument that consumes the most bronze, naturally also represents the most authoritative meaning.
However, after the Qin Dynasty, Ding gradually lost its position. From an artifact representing the authority of the state, falling into the ordinary. It is the Qin State that brings Ding into the ordinary. Before the appearance of Qin Shi Huang, there was also a very representative figure in the Qin Kingdom, whose name was Yindang. The name alone can make a deep impression, but its people are brave and powerful. Yingdang is also the King of Qin Wu, born powerful, and very fond of fighting with people. However, it was precisely this that led to his accidental death. In the fourth year of King Wu of Qin, the State of Qin captured Yiyang in Korea. Subsequently, King Wu of Qin went directly into Xianyang in a vain attempt to learn from King Zhuang of Chu. Only this time he didn't just ask, he had to touch.
Just when King Wu of Qin entered the Taimiao Temple, he found Jiuding, and he even pointed to Yongzhou Ding and said that the Qin state was Yongzhou, so he had to bring Yongzhou Ding back. At this time, the official who guarded the Jiuding said that this ding had a thousand jun weights, and the King of Qin Wu did not believe it, so he had to lift it up. Who knew that when King Qin Wu raised his ding half a foot off the ground, he lost his hand in exhaustion. This ding also happened to be pressed on the right leg of King Qin Wu, and eventually King Qin Wu also died due to excessive blood loss. After the death of King Wu of Qin, his younger brother succeeded him as King Zhaoxiang of Qin. It was also during the reign of King Zhaoxiang of Qin that the Zhou royal family perished, and King Zhaoxiang of Qin wanted to move Jiuding to Xianyang. However, in the middle of the road, he fell into the bottom of the river in Pengcheng, Surabaya, and has since disappeared.
The disappearance of Jiuding has also become a mystery for eternity, and there are many loopholes in the "Records of History" alone, first saying that Jiuding was plundered by King Zhaoxiang of Qin, and then saying that Jiuding sank in the water. In the Book of Han, there are both, simply saying that Jiuding sank, and Qin Shi Huang salvaged fruitlessly. In short, the disappearance of Jiuding is also a pity, after all, Jiuding, as a milestone in the era of Chinese civilization, still leaves us with too much mystery and curiosity.