用英语说中国旅游华北地区 06：天坛自然概况2

特别提醒

Ancient Chinese believed that the sky was round and the earth was square，therefore the two shapes were frequently used in the temple Its inner and outer walls，for instance， are round above but square below. The three tiers of Circular Mound are round，but its two outer walls are low and circular inside while square outside. Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and its base are round，but its surrounding wall is square. Such format is not hard to find elsewhere in the temple.

古代中国人相信天圆地方之说。在天坛，圆与方的形象被大量运用。天坛内外两道围墙是上圆下方;圜丘三层平台皆为圆形，而其外两层矮墙是内圆外方;祈年殿建筑与台基为圆形，而其外院墙为方形。此种方圆手法，在天坛里许多地方都可见到。

Moreover，the number‘9”and its multiples are repeatedly encountered in the temple. Hall of Prayers for Good Harvest is related with agriculture，therefore the numbers found here are connected with farming:“4”for the year seasons,"12"for the months and“24" for the solar terms.

天坛里”九“这个数字及其倍数被反复使用。祈年殿是祈求丰年之地，所用数字多与农业有关。如象征一年四季的“四”、一年十二个月的”十二”。二十四节气的”二十四“，在天坛里也被反复使用。