From 《
左传·
宣公三年》: when King Zhuang of Chu (
楚庄王) marched his army to the Zhou border, he 'asked about the size and weight of the cauldrons' (
问鼎之大小轻重) — the nine
鼎 (bronze cauldrons) being the symbol of imperial legitimacy. Asking about them was an unmistakable bid for the throne. Hence 'to ask about the cauldrons' = 'to bid for supreme power,' now also used for chasing championships and top awards.
