In the Zhou Dynasty, the size of the tripod was used to represent the status of the nobles: for example, the king used nine tripods, the ministers used seven tripods, the officials used five tripods, and the scholars used one or three tripods (source of Yiyan Jiuding).

"The king of Chu aspires to the throne" comes from "Zuo Zhuan·Xuan Gong Three Years" and is found in "Historical Records·Chu Family".

During the Western Zhou Dynasty, the size and number of tripods used represented the status of the nobles.

The allusion of "Chu Zi aspires to the throne" shows that King Zhuang of Chu coveted the Zhou Dynasty.

Allusion: After the Battle of Chengpu between Jin and Chu, Chu turned to the east.

In 613 BC, after King Zhuang of Chu came to the throne, the Chu State became powerful again.

In 606 BC, King Zhuang of Chu attacked the army of Lu Hun (today's north of Song County, Henan) and fought all the way to the Luoshui River. He "observed the troops in Zhou's territory" and held demonstrations in Luoyang, the capital of Zhou.

The king of Zhou sent Wang Sunman to express his condolences, but King Zhuang actually asked "the size and importance of the tripod" and wanted to move the tripod to Chu.

Wang Sunman said, "The Jiuding is too huge, and its weight cannot be estimated due to its age." King Zhuang of Chu was obviously dissatisfied with this answer, and replied, "As long as the hooks of Chu soldiers are broken off, it will be enough to cast the Jiuding."