By the Qin dynasty, no one knew where the Nine Tripods had gone.
Tips
history
Holding the tripods meant holding the throne. When King Zhuang of Chu asked how big and heavy they were, he was taken to be eyeing the throne, which gave 问鼎, 'to bid for the top'. 一言九鼎 says one person's word weighs as much as the nine tripods.
