Ritual tripod cauldron (Ding)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Linked to power and dominion over the land, the ding is one of the most important ritual vessel types. They were used to cook and serve food offerings. Similar to other ritual bronze vessels, ding were originally made as ceramics, then were cast in bronze in the Shang dynasty. In the later periods, ding were produced in ceramics and metalwork not only as ritual vessels but also to serve as incense burners.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art