 |
Temple of Heaven |
 |
|
Temple of Heaven |
|
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests祈年殿
At the north end of the Temple of Heaven is the majestic Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, an impressive three-tiered wooden structure that sits on a large, three-tiered marble plinth, 6 meters high. 在天坛的最北面是庄严宏伟的祈年殿。上面是一个非常华丽的三层圆形纯木制结构的屋顶，下层是一个巨大的三层大理石基座，高6米。
The hall itself is 38.2 meters high (32 meters from the plinth) and 24.2 meters in diameter. Remarkably, not a single nail was used in its construction - a feat that required a high level of craftmanship. 祈年殿自身高38.2米（基座是之上是32米），直径24.2米。最另人惊讶的是，其身没用一颗钉子，全部是木头扦插而建—可以想象那需要一个多么高超精湛的技艺。
Initially constructed in 1420 in a square design, it was reconstructed in 1545 during Emperor JiaJing's reign as a round building with a three-tier roof much as we know it today. At that time the roof was constructed with blue, yellow and green glazed tiles symbolising Heaven, Earth and the mortal world. During Qing Emperor QianLong's reign it was reconstructed again in 1751. This time the roof was tiled only in azure colored tiles. 实际上最初是方形的设计建造于1420年嘉靖年间，而后1545年乾隆年间重建了现在这个有着三层屋顶的圆形建筑，和我们现在看到的差不多。在那时屋顶是用蓝、绿、黄三色的琉璃彩釉建造，分别代表着天、地、人。 在1751年清朝乾隆年间又再次重修了。这次屋顶全部只用蓝色的釉砖。
The hall burned down in 1889 and was rebuilt soon after. A major facelift was completed in 2005. It is the only existing example of the ancient Ming Tang architectural style. 这大殿在1889年被大火烧毁了之后又迅速重建。2005年又重修缮了主要的外观。他是唯一一个遗留到现在的明、唐时期的建筑风格的例子。
在殿前三层台阶中间有雕有龙纹图案的丹陛，皇帝会坐在轿子从这个丹陛上通过。
Inside the Hall are 28 tall pillars, each made from a single tree trunk. The four posts around the inner circle represent the four seasons. The 12 posts around the middle circle represent the 12 months. The 12 posts of the outer circle represent 12 ShiChen. In ancient China, one ShiChen equalled two hours so that a complete day was divided into 12 ShiChens. The12 gilded pillars and the 12 outer eave pillars together represent the 24 solar terms of the year. The designer used the numers of the pillars to represent the time division of the Chinese calendar about hour, day, month and season, and used the round shape of the structure to represent the endles time and its repetition in endless circles. It is indeed a building of time. 在大殿里面有28个柱子，每一个都是一个单一的树干。最中间的四个龙井柱寓意着四季。十二个金柱象征着十二个月，外层十二个檐柱象征着12个时辰。在中国古代，每两个小时是一个时辰，所以12个时辰正好是一整天。金柱、檐柱加起来代表24个节气。加上龙井柱梁枋上的的八根雷公柱，这里大小36个柱子暗喻着36天罡。 这里的设计体现了古代农历的年、月、日、时的时间观念，再利用圆形建筑体现时间的往复循环，二者结合起来，在一座具体的建筑上展现了永无止境的时间体系。从这个意义上说它是一个时间建筑。
The interior of the hall is magnificently decorated and contains a large south facing ceremonial throne. 在大殿内装饰的非常华丽有一个面向南正式的宝座。
From 1751 onwards, the Hall was used exclusively to pray for good harvests at the winter solstice. 在1751年前，这个大殿是在冬至时用来祈求来年有个好年景。 |
The Four Main Structures at the Temple of Heaven
|
Next
: 
