Tripods a symbol of power: The importance of food and drink in ancient China can be illustrated by an example: According to the Chou li (Ritual of Chou), over 60 percent of the staff in the imperial palace--which numbered 4,000 in all--belonged to the kitchens.
鼎是政權象徵飲食在古代中國的重要性可以用一個例子說明：「周禮」中記載，在帝王宮殿服侍的四千人中，百分之六十以上隸屬廚房。