初的鼎是由远古时期陶制的食具演变而来的，即是由釜、陶支脚和灶的组合而成的。鼎的主要用途是烹煮食物，鼎的三条腿便是灶口和支架，腹下烧火，可以熬煮油烹食物。自从青铜鼎出现后，它又多了一项功能，成为祭祀神灵的一种重要 礼器。
The first tripod evolved from the ancient pottery utensils, that is, the combination of cauldron, pottery feet and stove. The main purpose of the tripod is to cook food. The three legs of the tripod are the stove mouth and bracket. The tripod can cook food with oil by burning under the abdomen. Since the bronze tripod appeared, it has another function and become an important ritual instrument for sacrificing gods.
青铜鼎多为圆腹三足，也有方腹四足的。鼎口处有两耳。对铜鼎的拥有和使用，是奴隶主身份等级差别的标志之一。
Bronze tripods are mostly round bellied tripods and square bellied tripods. There are two ears at the mouth of the tripod. The ownership and use of the bronze tripod is one of the signs of the difference in the status of slave owners.
秦代以后，鼎的王权象征意义逐渐失去。以后，伴随着佛教在中国的传播，鼎的形式得以延续。后代的鼎通常安放在寺庙大殿前，既是装饰物，又是焚香的容器。
After Qin Dynasty, the symbolic meaning of the royal power of Ding 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 hall, which is both a decoration and a container for burning incense.