Shenyang Imperial Palace 沈阳故宫

沈阳故宫始建于公元1625年，是清朝入关前清太祖努尔哈赤、清太宗皇太极创建的皇宫，又称盛京皇宫，清朝入主中原后改为陪都宫殿和皇帝东巡行宫。沈阳故宫经过多次大规模的修缮，现已辟为沈阳故宫博物院。北京、沈阳两座故宫构成了中国仅存的两大完整的明清皇宫建筑群。
First built in 1625 AD, Shenyang Imperial Palace was the royal palace of founding emperors Nurhachi and his son Abahai (Huangtaiji) before they entered the hinterland China. It was also called Shengjing Palace and after they settled in the central plain it was renamed into Co-capital Palace and Eastward Inspection Palace. Having undergone several times of significant innovation and decoration, it became what is now Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum. Shenyang Imperial Palace and The Imperial Palace in Beijing constitute the only two complete royal palace complex of Ming and Qing Dynasties now exiting in China.
沈阳老城内的大街呈“井”字形，故宫就设在“井”字形大街的中心，占地6万平方米，现有古建筑114座。沈阳故宫按照建筑布局和建造先后，可以分为3个部分：东路为努尔哈赤时期建造的大政殿与十王亭；中路为清太宗时期续建的大中阙，包括大清门、崇政殿、凤凰楼以及清宁宫、关睢宫、衍庆宫、启福宫等；西路则是乾隆时期增建的文溯阁等。整座皇宫楼阁林立，殿宇巍峨，雕梁画栋，富丽堂皇。
The streets in the old city of Shenyang were in the shape of Chinese character Jing (well) and Shenyang Imperial Palace is right situated in the middle of the streets, with an area of 60,000m2 and 114 ancient buildings (today). In terms of architectural layout and time of construction, the palace can be divided into three sections: on the east side are the Palace of Great Affairs Ten Kings Pavilion built during the reign of Nurhachi; in the middle lies the Dazhong Palace constructed during the reign of Abahai (Huangtaiji), including Daqing Gate, Chongzheng Palace, and Phoenix Tower as well as Qingning Palace, Guanjiu Palace, Yanqing Palace, and Qifu Palace; on the west side stands the Wensu Pavilion further constructed during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. The whole palace is full of buildings and pavilions that tower around grandiosely, with carvings and paintings on beams that are overwhelmingly magnificent.
大政殿是一座八角重檐亭式建筑，正门有两根盘龙柱，以示庄严。大政殿用于举行大典，如皇帝即位，颁布诏书，宣布军队出征，迎接将士凯旋等。十王亭则是左右翼王和八旗大臣办事的地方。这种君臣合署在宫殿办事的现象，历史上少见。从建筑上看，大政殿也是一个亭子，不过它的体量较大，装饰比较华丽，因此称为宫殿。大政殿和成八字形排开的10座亭子，其建筑格局乃脱胎于少数民族的帐殿。这11座亭子，就是11座帐篷的化身。帐篷是可以流动迁移的，而亭子就固定起来了，显示了满族文化发展的一个里程。
Dazheng Palace is an octagonal pavilion, with two dragon-circling pillars on both sides to suggest the stately atmosphere. It is a place for holding grand ceremonies like enthroning, announcing imperial edicts, military expedition and welcoming triumphant troops while the Ten Kings Pavilion is wher the dukes of Right and Left Wings and ministers of the Eight Banners used to hold council, which is also a phenomenon rarely happening in history. In terms of architecture, Dazheng Palace is actually a grand pavilion, which is only so big and magnificent that it is called a palace. So far as the layout is concerned, Dazheng Palace and the ten pavilions branching out curly are still modeled after tent of ethnic minorities. In fact, the 11 pavilions are, to some extent, 11 grand “tents”. As a tent is somewhat mobile while a pavilion seems to be fixed in a place, the palaces have also served as a milestone for the development of Manchu culture.
崇政殿在中路前院正中，俗称“金銮殿”，是沈阳故宫最重要的建筑。整座大殿全是木结构，五间九檩硬山式，辟有隔扇门，前后出廊，围以石雕的栏杆。殿身的廊柱是方形的，望柱下有吐水的螭首，顶盖黄琉璃瓦镶绿剪边；殿柱是圆形的，两柱间用一条雕刻的整龙连接，龙头探出檐外，龙尾直入殿中，实用与装饰完美地结合为一体，增加了殿宇的帝王气魄。此殿是清太宗日常临朝处理要务的地方，公元1636年，后金改国号为大清的大典就在此举行。崇政殿北首的凤凰楼，三层，是当时盛京城内最高的建筑物。
Standing in the center of front court in the middle of the streets, Chongzheng Palace is generally known as Jinluan Palace, the most important building of Shenyang Imperial Palace. The whole palace is a wooden structure comprising five rooms, nine beams and solid supporting walls, with partition doors, front and back corridors, and carved stone railings surrounding them. The corridor columns of the palace are square with water flowing from hornless dragon heads under them while the roof is yellow glazed tiles with dark green sides; the palace columns are circular and connected with a whole stone dragon between each two, the dragon heads extending outside while the tails inside. It is really a perfect combination of practicality and decoration, adding to the royal grandeur of the palace. This palace is wher Emperor Abahai (Huangtaiji) used to handle state affairs in Qing Dynasty and wher the Jin to Qing state-renaming ceremony was held in 1636 AD. The Phoenix Tower, which is three-storeyed, on the north side of Chongzheng Palace, was then the highest-rising buildings within the Shengjing City.
沈阳故宫博物院不仅是古代宫殿建筑群，还以丰富的珍贵收藏而著称于海内外，故宫内陈列了大量旧皇宫遗留下来的宫廷文物，如努尔哈赤用过的剑等。
Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum is not only an old royal palace complex, but also a treasure house renowned at home and abroad, including a wealth of relics of royal court of the old palace now on display (e.g. the sword of Emperor Nurhachi).