The third and final altar visited by the emperor during his ritual was the Round Mound, 皇帝参拜的最后一个坛为环丘 a simple and magnificent design consisting of three ascending tiers of white marble. 简单壮观的构造 由3层白色大理石构成
After fasting and donning special robes the emperor ascended the nine steps up to the altar stand alone before Heaven.皇帝斋戒更衣后 爬上9级台阶独自面对上天
Kneeling in a circle in the middle of nine slabs and prostrating himself nine times, 在9块石板围成的中心圆圈中 下跪并叩首9次 he offered his report on the state of the empire and asked for guidance and blessings. 向天庭报告国家近况 并乞求指引与庇佑
The acoustics at the center of the mound created an echo, like a voice from heaven, 传声效果在中央形成回音宛如天庭之声 that only the emperor standing at the center could hear. 唯有立于中央的皇帝可听得见
In Yongle's magnificent temple of Heaven the ancient traditions of the pagoda 传统佛塔与中国建筑象征主义 and of Chinese architectural symbolism had found their grandest expression. 在永乐大帝的天坛中 做了最宏伟的展现
So even for an imported structure like an Indian stupa, 即使是建造印度 堵波等 舶来建筑 the Chinese used their own construction techniques and symbolism. They made it thoroughly their own. 中国人仍运用了自己的建筑技巧与象征手法宝塔成了道地的中国建筑 In a pagoda we see the Chinese concept of the universe exemplified as we do for instance in this vase or in this old Chinese coin: earth square, heaven round. 中国的宇宙观表现在宝塔中也表现在这个花瓶或古铜钱中天圆，地方
Classic Chinese architecture is an elegant and practical building system. 中国古典建筑既典雅又实用 But its other purpose was to use symbols to impart meaning to man's environment.此外还要传达象征意义 给人类世界
Both by the way they selected sites and built buildings, 无论是挑选建地 或是在建筑过程中 the ancient Chinese filled their world with structured which physically embodied and articulated their understanding of the universe.中国人都在建筑中 体现他们的宇宙观
