Cửu đỉnh
Definition
- Proper Noun:
- The Nine Tripod Cauldrons: A set of nine ancient bronze ceremonial cauldrons, traditionally cast by Emperor Yu the Great of the Xia dynasty, symbolizing the nine provinces of ancient China and representing sovereign authority and the legitimacy to rule the realm.
- Symbol of Imperial Power and State: Represents supreme political power, the mandate to govern, and the unity of the territory. Possession of the cauldrons was synonymous with holding legitimate imperial authority.
- Symbol of Great Wealth and High Status: By extension, denotes immense wealth, high official rank, abundant emoluments, and extreme prosperity.
Usage Examples
- Proper Noun:
- Cửu đỉnh là biểu tượng quyền lực tối thượng của hoàng đế. (The Nine Tripod Cauldrons are the supreme symbol of the emperor's power.)
- Tranh giành Cửu đỉnh chính là tranh giành thiên hạ. (To fight for the Nine Tripods is to fight for dominion over the realm.)
- Địa vị ấy thực sự là "cửa đỉnh", bổng lộc đầy đủ. (That position is truly one of "the nine cauldrons," with ample salary and privileges.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in historical, literary, or metaphorical contexts to discuss legitimacy, hegemony, or the transfer of supreme power.
- Câu chuyện về Cửu đỉnh được lưu truyền qua nhiều sử sách. (The story of the Nine Tripods has been passed down through many historical texts.)
Variants and Related Words
- Cửu đỉnh (Cửu: chín, Đỉnh: vạc đồng): The term itself is a compound, but it is treated as a single, fixed proper noun in usage.
- Cửa đỉnh: A common variant or corruption of the term "Cửu đỉnh," used with the same symbolic meaning of great fortune and high office.
Synonyms
- Imperial Regalia: Objects symbolizing sovereign right.
- Sovereign Authority: Supreme power.
- Symbol of Legitimacy: An emblem representing rightful rule.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Tranh Cửu đỉnh: To vie for the throne; to contend for supreme power.
- Thời loạn, các thế lực luôn tranh Cửu đỉnh. (In times of chaos, factions always vie for the throne.)
- Cửu đỉnh thiên hạ: A phrase emphasizing the cauldrons' representation of "all under heaven" or the entire empire.
- Vạn chọn cửa đỉnh: An idiom meaning to be selected for a position of great wealth and power (from the variant "cửa đỉnh").