夏商周三代在用鼎礼仪制度上，存在一脉相承的密切关系。到了西周，则以列鼎制度彰显使用者的身份地位（天子九鼎、诸侯七鼎、大夫五鼎、元士三鼎或一鼎）。
There is a close relationship in the ritual system of using tripod in Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties. In the Western Zhou Dynasty, the identity of the users (emperor Jiuding, Marquis Qiding, official Wuding, yuan shisan ding or Yiding) was demonstrated by the system of arranging tripods.
东周以来，王室衰微，诸侯国势力崛起，从西周时的礼乐征伐自天子出，转为自诸侯出，自卿大夫出，进而陪臣执国命。反映在用鼎制度上便是贵族阶层对鼎制的逐级僭越，此种僭礼行为最终导致整个用鼎礼制的彻底崩溃。
Since the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, the royal family has declined, and the powers of the vassal states have risen. From the Western Zhou Dynasty's ritual and music conquest, it turned out to be from the vassal states, from the ministers and officials, and then to accompany the ministers to control the country's life. Reflected in the use of the tripod system is the aristocracy's gradual arrogation of the tripod system, which eventually led to the complete collapse of the whole tripod system.
史书记载，秦灭周后第二年即把周王室的九鼎西迁咸阳。但到秦始皇灭六国，统一天下之际，九鼎已不知下落。
According to historical records, the nine tripods of the Zhou royal family were moved to Xianyang in the second year after the Qin Dynasty destroyed the Zhou Dynasty. However, when the first emperor of Qin destroyed the six kingdoms and unified the world, the nine tripods had disappeared.