3.4 Complex of Hue Monuments—Old City Crossed by Perfume River顺化历史建筑群——香江岸上的古城

古代顺化曾为中国故地，东晋以后不再为中国所有。14世纪，玄珍公主下嫁占城王，得乌州和哩州为聘礼，次年改为顺州和化州。黎圣宗时期首次使用“顺化”这个名字。顺化城修建在香江岸边的狭长平原上，紧靠植物富饶的山峦——玉屏山。气候为热带季风气候，风景秀美宜人。

顺化城被横穿市区的香江分为北区和南区，钱场铁桥把南北两区又连接在一起，交通方便，南北铁路和两条公路相交在此。作为越南的古都，顺化有诸多的名胜古迹。顺化皇城，又名“大内”，是阮氏王朝皇宫，也是越南现存最大且较为完整的古建筑群。1687年奠定雏形，1805年模仿北京的故宫开始修建，历时数十年时间才建成现存规模。顺化皇陵有嘉隆陵、明命陵、绍治陵，嗣德陵、建福陵、同庆陵和启定陵，均效仿中国明清帝陵修筑。天姥寺是越南著名古刹，又名灵姥寺。香江是顺化自然景观的重要组成部分，风光富有诗情画意，被誉为“顺化的灵魂”。玉屏山是顺化名山，与香江同为顺化富有诗情画意的自然景观。岘港至顺化一带被美国《国家地理杂志》评为“一生中必须看一次的50个地方之一”。

Complex of Hue Monuments lies along the Perfume River in Hue City and some adjacent（邻近的）areas of Thua Thien Hue Province. Hue City constitutes the cultural, political and economic center of the province, and was the old imperial city of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945.

Since 1306, after the wedding of the princess Huyen Tran of the Tran Dynasty with Che Man, the Cham King, the territories of Chau O and Chau Ly took the name of Thuan Hoa. In the second half of the 15th century, under the reign of King Le Thanh Tong, the name of "Hue" appeared for the first time. In 1636, the residence of the Nguyen Lords was settled at Kim Long (Hue). In 1687, it was transferred to Phu Xuan—where is the Citadel today. Early in the 18th century, Phu Xuan became the political, economic and cultural center of the southern part of Vietnam. Then, from 1788 to 1801, it became the capital of the Tay Son Dynasty.

From 1802 to 1945, Hue was the capital of unified Vietnam under the reign of the 13 Nguyen Kings. During these years, architectural works of a high cultural and historic value were built: the Citadel, especially the Imperial City (including 253 constructions), 7 Royal tomb compound of 9 kings of the Nguyen Dynasty, the Esplanade（海滨大道）of Nam Giao, the Ho Quyen arena（竞技场）and the Hon Chen Temple.

The complex of royal architecture represents and demonstrates the power of the Nguyen Dynasty's centralism（中央集权制）. Contained in this complex are Kinh Thanh Hue (the Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (the Royal Citadel or Imperial City) and Tu Cam Thanh (the Forbidden Citadel) clustered together, symmetrically placed along the longitudinal（纵向的）axis and facing to the south.

The system of walls combines sophisticatedly both eastern and western architectural styles placed in natural harmony with Ngu Binh Mount, Perfume River, Gia Vien and Boc Thanh islets. Even people implicitly（绝对地，毫不怀疑地）consider these natural landscapes as a part of the complex.

Surrounded by a square wall, almost 600 meters in length on each side, the Imperial City has four gates, of which the south gate (Ngo Mon) is most typical in construction and is widely seen and recognized as the symbol of Hue Citadel. It served not only as the main entrance but was also the place where important events of the dynasty took place. Within the area of the Imperial City, the Forbidden Citadel was the area reserved（保留）for daily activities of the royal family.

The main north-south axis, called Than dao (miraculous road), runs through the three walls of the Hue Capital Citadel, Imperial City and Forbidden Citadel and was marked with the important constructions of Hue Citadel. Hundred of small and large buildings were built symmetrically（匀称地）along this axis in harmony with their natural surroundings gives one a feeling of gentle and serenity. These buildings include Nghinh Luong Pavilion (Pavilion for Fresh Air), Phu Van Lau (or the Pavilion of Edicts, was the building where Emperor's edicts and lists of successful candidates of Thi Hoi (National Examination) and Thi Dinh (Court Examinations) were publicized), Ky Dai (Flag Tower), Ngo Mon Gate (the main entrance), Thai Hoa Palace (The Throne Palace, or Palace of the Supreme Harmony, was the building for great court's meetings), Can Chanh Palace (the place for every day working of Emperors), Can Thanh Palace (Emperor's Private Palace), Khon Thai Residence (Queen's Private Apartment), Kien Trung Pavilion (the place for daily activities of Emperors)...

In the distance, to the west of the Capital Citadel, along the Perfume River, are the famous royal tombs and temples, masterpieces in landscape architecture built by the Nguyen Dynasty. Each royal tomb aimed at creating a living place for royal pleasure before becoming an eternal resting place after the king's death. This resulted in the architecture of royal tombs in Hue being distinguished（著名的）by unique characteristics.

Each tomb reflects its owner's life and character:the magnificence of Gia Long's tomb in the immense（无边无际的）landscape of mountains and jungles represents the spirit of a general in war; the symmetry and majesty of Minh Mang's tomb combines both man-made and natural mountains and lakes and reveals the powerful will and solemn（庄严的）nature of a talented politician who was also an orderly poet; the peaceful and somber（忧郁的）qualities of Thieu Tri's tomb reflects the innermost（内心的）feelings of an outstanding poet who made few achievements in political life; the romance and poetic atmosphere of Tu Duc's tomb evoke the elegant and subtle tendency of a poet rather than the strong characteristic of a politician.

In addition, place-names that embellish（修饰，润色）for the beauty of the Complex of Hue Monuments can be named as: Huong River, Ngu Binh Mountain, Thien Mu Pagoda, Bach Ma Mountain, the Thuan An and Lang Co Beaches...

用英语畅谈Complex of Hué Monuments黄金句

☺ Hue City constitutes the cultural, political and economic center of the province, and was the old imperial city of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945.顺化城是该省的文化、政治和经济中心，而且是1802年到1945年间阮朝统治时期的老皇城。

☺ In the second half of the 15th century, under the reign of King Le Thanh Tong, the name of “Hue” appeared for the first time.在15世纪下半叶，黎圣宗统治时期，“顺化”这个名字第一次出现。

☺ It served not only as the main entrance but was also the place where important events of the dynasty took place.它不仅是主要入口，也是这个朝代重大事件发生的地方。

☺ In the distance, to the west of the Capital Citadel, along the Perfume River, are the famous royal tombs and temples, masterpieces in landscape architecture built by the Nguyen Dynasty.在远处，皇城的西边，香江沿岸是著名的皇陵和寺庙，它们都是阮朝园林建筑中的杰出代表。

☺ The magnificence of Gia Long's tomb in the immense landscape of mountains and jungles represents the spirit of a general in war.壮观的嘉隆陵位于无尽的高山丛林之中，代表了战场上元帅的大将之风。

用英语畅谈Complex of Hué Monuments