The Imperial Vault of Heaven
皇穹宇
North of the Circular Mound Altar is the Imperial Vault of Heaven, which was originally built in 1530 and rebuilt 1752. Its structure is made from wood and brick with a blue tiled roof that is top with a gilded ball. It is 19.5 meters high and 15.6 meters in diameter. From a distance, the Imperial Vault of Heaven looks like a small version of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest.
皇穹宇位于圜丘坛北侧，初建于1530年重建于1752年。它是由砖木结构，蓝色的屋顶,顶部有一个镀金的球。殿高19.5米,直径15.6米。从远处看,皇穹宇拱顶看起来像一个小版本的祈年殿。
As you can see, the building does not have any horizontal beams as support. The entire building is supported by 8 pillars and a span work of bars, laths and brackets, which is in complete conformity with the principles of dynamics. The decorative painted appear fresh because they were retouched in 1974.
如您所见,建筑没有任何横梁支持。整个建筑由8根柱子众多的钢筋、金属丝和斗拱支托,这是完全符合力学原理。装饰漆看起来新鲜,是因为在1974年重新涂刷了。
In the center of the Imperial Vault of Heaven stands the shrine where the tablets of the emperors eight ancestors were kept. During each winter solstice, these tablets were placed in a small pavilion like cage and removed to the Circular Mound for the Worshipping Heaven ceremony. After the ceremony, the tablets were returned to the stone platforms.
在皇穹宇中心放着皇帝的八个祖先牌位。在每个冬至,这些牌位放置在一个像笼子的小何里，移送到圜丘坛进行拜天仪式。仪式结束后,牌位回到石头平台。
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