A Ding is an ancient Chinese vessel with legs, a lid and two handles opposite each other. They were made in two shapes with round vessels having three legs and rectangular ones four.
In Chinese history and culture, possession of one or more ancient dings is often associated with power and dominion over the land. Therefore, the ding is often used as an implicit symbolism for power. The term "inquiring of the ding" is often used interchangeably with the quest for power.
