From the I Ching

 

The Ting is a cauldron or ritual vessel, originally a pictorial character, representing a caldron with three feet and two ears, used for cooking and preparing food for the table (the mat in old times) and the altar. (1)

...the image suggests the idea of nourishment. (Wilhelm) (2)

 

 

(1) https://www.sacred-texts.com/ich/ic50.htm

(2) http://www2.unipr.it/~deyoung/I_Ching_Wilhelm_Translation.html