The Symbolic Significance of Four-legged Fang Ding Incense Burner

Symbolic significance of four-legged Fang Ding incense burner: Ding-style incense burner, also known as incense burner tripod, is a ritual vessel that has been used since ancient times. Burning sandalwood and pine branches can ward off evil spirits and seek happiness, symbolizing the rights of emperors.

A pot with a cover, a stove without a cover. Usually three legs. In the Zhou dynasty, there were regulations on the number of emperors, princes, Qing doctors and yuan scholars. With the gradual evolution of this symbol of rank, status and status, Ding gradually became a symbol of kingship and a national treasure. Rulers often cast pots with the strength of the whole country. After Qin Dynasty, the symbolic meaning of Ding Wangquan gradually lost.

Later, with the spread of Buddhism in China, the form of Ding continued. The tripod of later generations is usually placed in front of the temple, which is not only an ornament, but also a container for burning incense, so it is called the censer tripod.

The origin of tripod:

The original tripod evolved from ancient pottery utensils, that is, the combination of pot, pottery foot and furnace. The main purpose of tripod is cooking food. The three legs of the tripod are the stove mouth and the bracket. It can cook oil and cook food by fire under the abdomen. Since the bronze tripod appeared, it has added another function and become an important ritual vessel for offering sacrifices to gods.

Bronze tripod mostly has three legs with round abdomen and four legs with square abdomen. Dingkou has two ears. The possession and use of bronze tripod is one of the symbols of the status difference of slave owners.