Strolling across any large Chinese city, on walls and bus stops you may have noticed posters featuring a bronze cauldron with three legs. This is a ding (鼎; Dǐng). The posters also have an inscription ‘keep your promise like you guard your honor’ (遵守诺言就像保卫你的荣誉一样 zūnshǒu nuòyán jiù xiàng bǎowèi nǐde róngyù yīyàng). But how is an ancient vessel connected to reputation and promise?
By Ilina Tatiana