建筑哲学第 15 课

In the end, the emperor Yongle conceded failure, 永乐大帝最后只有承认失败
but he had many other grand building projects in mind, 但他仍策划了 其他许多大型建筑
and, as we see from this rock, Yongle, never did anything in a small way. 从这块石头看来 永乐做什么都大手笔
Because he had wrested the throne away from a rightful heir, 永乐当年自正统嗣子手中夺取皇位
he took pains to show filial piety. 因此极力表现孝心

And so for his mother he built the famous porcelain pagoda of Nanjing. 他为母亲建了南京著名的瓷塔
Destroyed in the last century; 该塔虽于上世纪毁坏
it is still remembered today as one of the great wonders of the world during the middle ages. 至今仍遗留人心堪称中世纪世界奇景之一
Its fame inspired countless imitations in European gardens, 欧洲花园出现无数瓷塔的仿作
like this pagoda in the royal gardens at Kew in England. 如这个位于英国 克由皇家花园的塔

When Yongle moved his capital to from Nanjing to Beijing, 永乐将首都自南京迁往北京
he envisioned a magnificent shining city rising out of the plain, 他想像一个炫丽宏伟的城市 自平地升起
built on the spot where Khubilai Khan had set his winter capital. 建在忽必烈定为冬都之处

At its center would be the imperial city, facing south, 城市中央将是面南的宫廷
and just south of the city would be a fabulous temple at which he could pray to heaven. 宫廷之南是壮丽的祭天之坛

Countless workers and artisans turned Yongle's dream into reality. 永乐动用无数工人与工匠将美梦化为事实
Craftsmen from throughout the land came to adorn the city with symbolic detail, 全国各地的工匠前来 添加象征性细部
such as nine rows of nine knobs on all the doors,
如每扇门上9行9列的凸点

screens of nine dragons, 雕有9条龙的墙面
and pairs of lions to guard important halls. 重要大殿前有一对狮子看守
Again we see the symbolic importance of the number nine - 我们再度看到9的重要性
the largest odd integer, representing the emperor. 个位数中最大的9代表皇帝
After Yongle, twenty-three emperors spanning nearly five hundred years ruled from this palace 永乐之后的5百年间 有23位皇帝在这座宫殿里治国
and worshipped at this altar. 在这座天坛祭天

Yongle named his palace the purple forbidden city - 永乐将宫殿命名为紫禁城
alluding to the purple pole Star, 紫指的是紫微星
which we have seen is a celestial metaphor for the emperor's pivotal role
皇帝在人间的地位 相当于紫微星在天庭的地位
in the terrestrial world.

But this is his masterpiece: 然而这才是他的旷世杰作
the Temple of Heaven. 天坛
The whole park was designed to create a dialogue between man and heaven; 整个天坛的设计是为人与天的沟通
a dialogue transmitted through the emperor with his Mantle and mandate of Heaven. 由负有天命的皇帝负责传达