Eulogize the tripod

[Song Ding]

Song Ding is 38.4 cm high, 30.3 cm wide and 7.24 kg in weight
The tripod has a round belly, a round bottom, two upright ears, and two string patterns on the belly
There are 14 lines and 152 characters on the inner wall of the tripod:
The king died in Jiaxu in May of the third year, and
the king was in the Zhou Kangshao Palace. Dan, Wang Geda
room, ascended the throne. Zaiyin Yousong started to establish the
Central Court. The Yin family gave the king’s life book, and the king called the history
Guo Sheng’s life book. Wang said, “Song, order your officials to store 20 houses in a week, and supervise them to build and store new houses in a week.”. If you receive the
order book and wear it, you will not enter the throne. Songdar Pixian Lu Xiu, the son of the Emperor Yang, was used as the tripod for the imperial examination of Uncle Gong and the imperial mother Gong Sibao. By pursuing filial piety, we pray that Jiekang [0093] Chunyou
will be rewarded and live forever. Celebrate his ten thousand years of eyebrows and longevity,
the end of the emperor’s spirit, and the treasure of his children and grandchildren
The main idea of the inscription: On the day of Jiaxu in the second half of May of the third year, the king was in Zhaowang Temple in Kangwang Temple in Zhoudi. At dawn, Wang arrived at the hall of the Zhao Temple and sat down. As the protector, Zaiyin led Song into the gate of Zhao Temple and stood in the courtyard. Yin handed the written letter of appointment to Wang, who ordered the historian Guo Sheng to read it out. Wang’s letter of appointment said: “Song, I ordered you to manage the warehouse of 20 Xuli, supervise and manage the newly built warehouse of palace supplies. I will reward you with a black official coat with embroidered edges, a large red apron with red ribbons, a luanbell, a flag and a bridle for horses and carriages. I will perform the task.” Song, kowtow, accept the book of appointment, wear it, and return to the temple, where the Gongna will meet with Zhang. In order to thank and publicize the great and profound beauty of the Son of Heaven, Song made a tripod in honor of his great father, Uncle Gong, and mother, Gong Si. It is used to remember filial piety, pray for health, generous help, smooth career path and long life. Praise the longevity of the eternal life, and be the minister of the Son of Heaven and get a good end. This tripod is used by future generations
This inscription records the whole process of a registration ceremony: 1. King Zhou ascended the throne; 2. The Blesser takes the ordered one into the temple door and stands in the court; 3. Yin Shi showed his letter of life; 4. The historiographer read the letter of life; 5. The letter of appointment is divided into two parts, one is the appointment of the post, and the other is the list of gifts; 6. The letter of appointment is worn out; 7. Return and offer the jade Zhang for the audience. The seven ceremonial notes here are very valuable information for us to understand the etiquette at that time


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