英文介紹北京故宮

1、.FORBIDDEN CITY 紫(禁城 )(In front of the meridian gate)Ladies and Gentlemen:I am pleased to serve as your guide today.This is the palace museum; also know as the Purple ForbiddenCity. It is the largest and most well reserved imperialresidence in China today. Under Ming Emperor Yongle,construction bega

2、n in 1406. It took 14years to build theForbidden City.The firstruler who actuallylivedhere was MingEmperor Zhudi. For five centuries thereafter, it continued tobe the residenceof23 successive emperors until1911 when QingEmperor Puyi was forced to abdicate the throne. In 1987, theUnited Nations Educa

3、tional, Scientific and CulturalOrganization recognizedthe Forbidden Citywas a world culturallegacy.It is believed that the Palace Museum, or Zi Jin Cheng (Purple Forbidden City), got its name from astronomy folklore, Theancient astronomers divided the constellations into groups and centered them aro

4、und the Ziwei Yuan (North Star) . The constellation containing the North Star was called the.Constellation of Heavenly God and star itself was called the purple palace. Because the emperor was supposedly the son of the heavenly gods, his central and dominant position would be further highlighted the

5、 use of the word purple in the name ofhis residence.Infolklore,the term “an eastern purplecloudis drifting” became a metaphor for auspicious events after apurplecloudwas seen driftingeastward immediately before thearrival of an ancient philosopher, LaoZi, to the Hanghu Pass.Here, purple is associate

6、d with auspicious developments. Theword jin(forbidden)is self-explanatoryas theimperialpalacewas heavilyguarded and off-explanatoryas theimperialpalacewas heavily guarded and off-limits to ordinary people.The red and yellow used on the palace walls and roofs are also symbolic. Red represents happine

7、ss, good fortune and wealth. Yellow is the color of the earth on the Loess Plateau, theoriginalhome of the Chinese people.Yellow became an imperialcolor during the Tang dynasty, when only members of the royalfamilywere allowed to wear itand use itin theirarchitecture.The Forbidden City is rectangula

8、r in shape. It is 960 meters long from north to south and 750 meter wide from east west. Ithas 9,900 rooms under a totalroofarea 150,000 square meters.A 52-meter-wide-moat encircles a 9. 9-meterhigh wall whichencloses the complex. Octagon shaped turretsreston the fourcorners of the wall. There are f

9、our entrances into the city: the Meridian Gate to the south, the Shenwu Gate (Gate of Military Prowess) to the north, and the Xihua Gate (Gate of military Prowess) to the north, and the Xihua Gate (WesternFlowery Gate ) to the west, the Donghua (Eastern Flowery Gate) to the east.Manpower and materia

10、ls throughout the country were used to build the Forbidden City. A total of 230,000 artisans and one million laborers were employed. Marble was quarried fromfangshan Country Mount Pan in JixianCounty in Hebei Province.Granitewas quarriedin Quyang County in Hebei Province.Pavingblocks were firedin ki

11、lnsin Suzhou in southernChina. Bricksand scarlet pigmentation used on the palatial walls came from linqing in Shandong Province. Timber was cut, processed and hauled from the northwestern and southern regions.The Palace Museumhas served as the royal residence during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It w

12、as here that a total of 24 monarchs ascended the throne and wielded power for some 500 years. The Palace Museum, as the most beautiful spot of interest.throughout Beijing, is unique for its location: to thenorthwest is Beihai(North Sea) Park, famous for its whitepagoda and ripplinglake;to the west i

13、s the Zhongnahai (centraland south sea); to the east lies the the Wangfujing ShoppingStreet; and to the north id Jinshan Park. Standing in theWanchun (Everlasting Spring) Pavilion at the top ofJingshan(Charcoal Hill) Park, you overlook the skyline of thepalace Museum.At the southernend of the palace

14、 is Tiananmen(Gate of Heavenly Peace) and the famous square named afterit .This is the symbol of the People s Republic of China.A world-famous historical site, the Palace Museum is on theWorld HeritageListof UNESCOand isan embodiment of orientalcivilization.The Palace Museumis rectangularin shape, 9

15、60 meters longfromnorth to southand 750 meters wide from east to west, coveringa space of 720,000 square meters of which 150,000 is buildingarea . It has 9000-strongrooms in it. According to legendthereare 9999.5 room-units in all .The whole compound is enclosedby a 10-meter-hignwall and is accessed

16、 through four entrances,namely, the meridian Gate in the south ,the Gate of MilitaryProwess in the north, Donghua(Eastern Flowery ) Gate in thenorth, Donghua ( Eastern Flowery) Gate in the east and.Xihua(Western Flowery)Gate inthe west. On each corner thereis a turretconsistedof9 roofbeams, 18 pilla

17、rsand 72 ridge .Encircling the compound there is a 3,800-meter-long and 52meter-wide moat, making the Palace Museum a self-defensivecity-within-a city.The Palace Museum was made a center of rule during the MingDynasty by Zhun Di, The fourth son of the founding emperorZhuyuanzhang. The whole complex

18、straddles on an8-kilometers-long central axis that stretches from Yongding(Forever Stable)Gate inthe southto Gulou (Drum Tower) inthenorth. Prominence was given to the royal power by putting the"three main front halls" and "three back halls "on the axiswhile arrange other subsidi

19、ary structure around them .Theconstruction of the Palace Museum involved manpower andresources across China. For example, the bricks laid in thehalls ,known as "gold brick, " underwent complex, two -dozenprocesses.As the finaltouch ,thefiredbrickswere dipped inChinese wood oil.Involvingcom

20、plicatedprocessesand highcost,these brick are called "golden bricks." The Palace Museumserves as a living embodiment of good tradition and stylesunique toChinas ancientarchitecture.It reflectsto thefullthe ingenuity and creativity of the Chinese working people. A.carefully preservedand com

21、plete group of royal residences,thePalace Museum is a prominent historical and tourist site.What we are now approaching isthe main entranceto the PalaceMuseum-the MeridianGate, which is characterizedby red walls,yellow glazed -tile roofs and upturned eaves. On top of thiswalls, yellow glazed-tile ro

22、ofs and upturned eaves. On top ofthis magnificent building ,there stand five lofty halls witha main hall in the center. The main hall is roofed by multipleeaves and covers a space of 9 room-units. It is flanked by twowings on each side.The wings are square in shape ,completewithmultiple and four edg

23、ed eaves and pinnacles. All of thesestructures are connected by a colonnade. Because these hallsresemble a soaring bird, it was also know as wufenglou(Five-phoenixTower) . Insidethe main hallthereis a throne.Drums and bellswere stored inthe wings. Whenever the emperorpresided over grand ceremonies o

24、r observed rites in the Hallof Upreme Harmony, drums, bells and gongs would be struck tomark the occasion.As the legend goes, the Meridian Gate used to be a place wherecondemned ranking officials would be executed. This not true.However, floggingwas carriedout here by theMing emperors ,Ifa courtier

25、falls afoulof theemperor, he would be strippedof.his court dress and flogging with a stick .At one point thepunishment became so harsh that atotal of11 peopledied fromfatal wound on a single occasion .On the other hand, thisbuildingwas also used toobserveimportant occasionslikethetraditional Chinese

26、 Lantern Festival (15th day of the firstlunar month). On these occasions, Chinese lanterns would behanged and sumptuous banquets would be given in honour of thewhole court of ministers and other ranking officials.Upon entering the MeridianGate we began our tourof thePalaceMuseum. The river foowing i

27、n front of us is known as Jin ShuiHe (Golden Water River) and the five marbles bridges spanningit are known as the Inner Golden Water Bridges. The on in themiddlewas used exclusiveby the emperor and its banisterswerecarved with dragon and phoenix designs. The bridges flankingthe imperial one were re

28、served for princes and other royalmembers. The rest were used by palatines.Aside from decoration,the golden Water Riverwas also dug as precautionagainstfire.Most ofthe structureswithinthe palace Museumare madeofwood.What ismore ,accordingtoancientChinese cosmology,theSouthis the abode of fire,so thi

29、sbrook was dug on thesoutherntipof the Palace. In this way, the Palace Museum reflectstraditional Chinese culture.This building is called the Gate of Supreme Harmony .In theforeground stand two bronze lions. Can anybody tell which ismale and which is femaleThe one on theeast playingwitha ballis male

30、, symbolizing power and universal unity. The other onthe westwith acub cuddling underneath its clawisfemaleTheone on the eastplayingwith aballismale,symbolizingpowerand universal unity.The otheron thewest with a cub cuddlingunderneath its claw is female, representing prosperity theendless succession

31、.A layoutof thePalace Museumis postedbythe entrance . From it ,you can see that the Palace Museum hastwo main parts: the forecourt and the inner court. The threemain hallsconstitutethe mainstay of the forecourt,and itwashere that the emperor announced decisions and observed rites.Behind the forecour

32、t there is the inner court, consisting ofmajor halls and the Imperial Garden .It was where the emperorattended state affairs, lived and enjoyed his luxurious life.The exhibitionsystem ofthePalace Museuminvolveshistoricalcourt relicsand articlesofancientartand culture.The PalaceMuseumhouses nearlyone

33、 millionarticlesofrare treasure,orone sixthofthetotalnumber in allof China s museums. Thereare the threemain hallsof thePalace museum,builton a triplemarble terrace . Since most of China s architecture is made.of wood, the buildings cannot be too tall. To gain the heightof the architecture,ingenious

34、ancientartisansbuiltthe hallon a gigantic stone terrace .It is also to this end that nota singleplantwas grown inthe square. Onstairways oftriplemarble terrace there are 18 bronze tripods .The verandah isflankedby bronze tortoisesand cranes,which servedas symbolsof longevity .On the east is a sundia

35、l, an ancient timepiece.On the west thereis a grainmeasure suggestingthat the emperorwas just and equitable.In the front and on each flank ,there is a pair of gilt bronzevats (caldrons ) molded during the reign of Emperor Qianlongof the Qing Dynasty .Each of these weights2 tonsand is filledwithwater

36、 as a precautionin the eventof a fire.Thestructurein the very middle is the Hall of Supreme Harmony ,also knownas the throne hall. It is 64 meters in width and is 38 metersfrom entrancetorear.With terraceexclusive ,thehallis 26.92meters in heightand is 35.03 meters in all.Coveringand areaof2,377 squ

37、are meters, the Hall of Supreme Harmony is China slargest exiting wooden structure. The hall is supported by 6thick,roundpillarscarvedina designofcoilingdragons. Asthe holiestplace inthehall,theceilingand coloredpatternswere made of the finest material available at that time. The.throne was placed o

38、n a terrace and is flanked by statues ofelephants, Luduan (a unicorn which could travel 18,000kilometers a day and understand all languages), cranes andincense barrels .Over the throne there is the caisson ,orcovered ceiling ,which consists of a coiling dragon playingwith a ball in its mouth .This b

39、all is known as XuanyuanMirror ,and was supposedlymade by a Chinese emperor ofremotetimes to serve as a reminder that thee rulers to follow werehis hereditary heirs. The throne is made of nanmu and paintedin gold .Magnificently built and luxuriously decorated ,thishall did not serve as a place in wh

40、ich the emperor attended todaily affairs. He used his hall for major events such as hisbirthday, conferral of titleofempress or dispatchof generalsto war.Behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony ,there sits the Hall ofComplete Harmony. This structureis square in shape .Each sideis 24.15 meters. This was t

41、he place where the emperor relaxedand greeted his courtiers before proceeding to the hall ofsupreme Harmony to observerites.This was also theplacewherethe emperor prepared prayers or examined seeds and sowers before he attended ancestral sacrifices or participated in snowing ceremonies. A grand cere

42、mony was also held here once.every10 years forthe emperor to genealogizetheroyalblood.There are two sedan chairs on display in the hall. Behind theHall of Complete Harmony ,you will see the Hall of PreservingHarmony, which was used as a placewhere imperialexaminationswere held. The imperial examinat

43、ion was the hignest level ofcompeting formeritoriousappointmentunder the feudalsystemdating back to the Sui Dynasty. China s last imperialexaminationwas held in 1904 duringthe reign of Emperor GuangxuoftheQing Dynasty. To the rear ofhallthereisa marble rampcarved with cloud and dragon designs, the l

44、argest of its kindinthewhole country . Itis 16.57 meters in length,3.07 metersinwidth,1.7meters thickand weighs 250 tons.Itwas quarriedin Fangshan County in suburban Beijing. To bring this giantpieceofstonetoBeijingpeople poured water ontotheroad andapplied rolling blocks during the process.We are n

45、ow standing before the square of the Hall of HeavenPurity.Itservedas a divideseparatingthe forecourtfrom theinner court .This building is known as the Gate of HeavenlyPurity. Emperor Qianlong held court here. Proceeding furthernorth ,you can find three main rear halls ,i.e. the hall ofheavenly purit

46、y. the Hall of union and peace and palace ofearthlytranquility.The hallof heavenly purityif flanked on.either side by two gates named after the sun and moon .Insidethe enclosure there are 12 palaces and halls symbolizingconstellations.Allof the otherbuildingsare centered aroundthe Palace ofHeavenly

47、Purity, which was meant to suggest thatthe monarch s power was endowed by Heaven. The empress andconcubines lived in the inner court.The hall of heavenly purity was where the emperor lived andattended to daily affairs. Later the emperor moved to live inthe Palace of Mental cultivation. Looking up yo

48、u can see aplaque bearing the Chinese inscription "be open andabove-board,"a manifestotocourtstruggle.Behind the plaquea strongbox was stored containing a will bearing the name ofthe would -be royal successor. This approach of secretlyselectingthenext emperor was adopted by Emperor Yongzhe

49、ng ofthe Qing Dynasty. Two copiesof thewillwere prepared.One wasstashed by the emperor in person ,the other was placed insidethe strongbox behind the plaque.Afterthe death of the emperor,the two copies would be compared and successor would beannounced. Itwas inthisway thatEmperor Qianglong and other

50、shave ascended the throne.Behind theHall of heavenly purityyou willsee the hallof unionand peace ,which isindenticaltothe hallof complete harmony.It was there that the emperor received congratulations andtributesfromimperialofficialson majorcalenderoccasions ,A totalof 25 imperialseals are storedthe

51、re.In thehall,youwillsee a plaque withthe handwritteninscriptionof"we wei,"exhorting Taoist doctrines.Furthernorthward isthePalace of EarthlyTranquillity,whichonce served as thelivingroom oftheempresses . The hallwaslater converted into a sacrificial place .Through thewindowpanes on the ea

52、stern wall you can see the royal beddecorated with dragon and phoenix designs. This hall has alsoserved as the bridal chamber of monarchs.The Gate of EarthlyTranquilliityleadstotheImperialgarden(known to westernersas Qianlongs Garden ),whichwas used bythe emperor ,the empress, and the concubines. A magnificentstruc