【影片时间跨度近300年，以大唐帝国的权力中枢大明宫为主线，通过这一空前绝后的庞大宫殿群自建造、辉煌到毁弃的全过程，讲述初唐雄健、盛唐豪奢、晚唐衰落的历史风云。】
第一集 幻影迷城
Episode One · Enigmatic City
/2008年-陕西省西安市/
/2008AD - Xi’an, Shanxi Province/
西安，一个充满了传奇和荣耀的城市。公元前十一世纪，周王朝第一次在这里建都。
Xi’an, a legendary city with a long and glorious history, was the location where the Zhou Dynasty established its capital in the 11th century BC.
在随后的时间里，数以百计的帝王以西安为都城，统治中国长达一千多年。
Over the following millennium, this was to be the site where hundreds of emperors would base their capitals.
历史给这个城市留下了无与伦比的文化遗产。
History has left the city with an exceptionally rich cultural heritage.
在今天西安市的北部，有一个大型的文化遗址。
One important relic can be found to the north of present day Xi’an.
/大明宫遗址-陕西省西安市/
/Site of Daming Palace - Xi’an, Shanxi Province/
然而，很少有人知道，这里曾经耸立过一座世界上规模最大的砖木结构宫殿群。
Few people know that this was where the world’s largest palace made of brick and wood once sat.
它的面积相当于三个凡尔赛宫，四个紫禁城，十二个克里姆林宫，十三个卢浮宫，十五个白金汉宫。
Its size equaled that of three Versailles Palace, four Forbidden Cities, twelve Kremlins, thirteen Louvres, or fifteen Buckingham Palaces.
这就是大唐帝国的皇宫——大明宫。
This was the imperial palace of the Tang empire, Daming Palace.
这里不仅蕴藏着一个帝国湮没已久的秘密，也铭刻着整整一个时代的记忆。
It is the place that held the long forgotten secrets of an empire and the memories of an age.
/公元626年-长安城·玄武门/
/626 A.D. – Chang’an City Xuanwu Gate/
公元626年，大唐立国刚刚八年。在都城长安的玄武门，一场政变正在悄悄地准备。
In 626, eight years after the Tang Dynasty was founded, a coup was secretly planned near Xuanwu Gate in Chang’an.
“大哥，不能再犹豫了。”
Brother, you cannot hesitate any longer.
“我想秦王不会今天下手，等进宫见过父亲再做决定。”
I don’t think Prince Qin will take any action today. Let’s decide after talking to Father in the palace.
“大哥，情形不对。”
Brother, something’s wrong.
为了争夺至高无上的帝位，大唐皇室家族开始互相残杀。
To seize the throne, the Tang royal family commenced a merciless battle.
震惊帝国的政变持续了仅仅几个小时。
The coup lasted just a few hours.
在六月四日的这个黎明，大唐皇帝的第二个儿子李世民杀死了自己的哥哥和弟弟，取得了帝国的最高权力。
At dawn on June 4, Prince Li Shimin, the second son of the emperor, murdered his own brothers to seize the highest position in the empire.
玄武门之变，极大地影响了大唐帝国的历史。
The coup was a great turning point in Tang history.
它不仅造就了一位名垂千古的帝王，也为一座旷世宫殿的诞生埋下了种子。
It cleared the way for the emergence of a historic emperor and imperial palace of unprecedented grandeur.
/公元630年-太极宫·两仪殿/
/630 A.D. - Taiji Palace Liangyi Hall/
玄武门政变之后，开国皇帝李渊退位，儿子李世民登上帝位，这就是中国历史上赫赫有名的唐太宗。
In the wake of the coup, the founding emperor, Li yuan, abdicated the throne, clearing the way for his son Li Shimin,to assume the position of Emperor Taizong.
公元630年，北方的游牧民族全部归顺，尊唐太宗为天可汗。
In 630, northern China’s nomadic groups accepted Tang rule and started to revere Taizong as their “Heavenly Khan”.
在中国历史上，一个帝王被周边的游牧民族如此尊崇，非常罕见。
It is rare in Chinese history for a nomadic tribe to hold a Chinese emperor in such high esteem.
在李世民的苦心经营下，大唐开始走向兴盛之路。
Under the regin of Taizong, the empire embarked on a road toward prosperity.
帝国在蒸蒸日上，但这无法弥补父子之间感情的裂痕。
But such prosperity could not cover the cracks in the relationship between father and son.
退位之后的李渊成为太上皇，从此不问政事。
In retirement, Li Yuan washed his hands of all political affairs.
史书记载，晚年的太上皇郁郁寡欢，整日沉迷于琵琶弹奏当中。
According to historical records, he was unhappy in his later years when he did little else other than play the pipa, a Chinese four stringed musical instrument.
李世民曾经为建立大唐而浴血奋战，帝国又在他的统治下取得了辉煌的成就。
Taizong fought courageously to establish the dynasty and made a number of remarkable achievements while running the empire.
然而，退位的父亲使唐太宗的内心一直难以安宁。这是一个渴望完美的帝王，他不仅要建立一世功业，而且希望自己拥有一个孝子的声名。
However, he still felt uneasy at the thought of his father as he wanted to be not just a perfect emperor and great helmsman of the empire, but also a devout son.
/太极宫/
/Taiji Palace/
公元632年的夏天，当李世民出长安城避暑的时候，父亲却不愿意同行。
However, when Taizong retired from the city to escape the summer heat in 632, his father refused to follow.
大唐代隋而立，仍旧以隋帝国建造的太极宫为皇宫。但是，太极宫并不适合居住。
When the Tang Dynasty came into power, it continued to use the Taichi Palace built by the previous Sui Dynasty.
《周易》是中国最古老的经典之一，隋帝国以《周易》的乾卦理论为指导，建造了长安城。
The Zhouyi, or Book of Changes, is one of the oldest classic Chinese texts and it is from the astrological principles found in this book that the Sui empire built Chang’an.
古代中国人观察天象发现，紫微星位于北天中央，被众星环抱，尊贵的天帝就居住在那里。紫微星其实就是北极星。
The Chinese had known since ancient times that the Zi Wei, or North Star was located in the northern sky and surrounded by numerous other stars. That’s where they believed the Heavenly Emperor to live.
皇帝贵为天子，地上的君主和天上的星宿应该对应。
The emperor, the son of Heaven, was supposed to choose his residence accordingly.
皇帝居住的太极宫，也因此被安排在长安城北部中央的位置。
So the Taichi Palace was built in the central section of northern Chang’an.
然而，过于理想化的设计忽略了地形的缺陷，太极宫正处在长安城地势最低的一块洼地上。
The palace was beautifully designed, but sat in a depression.
长安的夏天经常下雨，温度又很高，太极宫因此潮湿而燥热。
It also rained frequently in the summer, making for a very damp atmosphere.
由于多年征战，李世民一身伤痛。每当夏天来临的时候，他都要出长安城避暑。
As a result, Emperor Taizong who suffered from numerous physical ailments after years of fighting had to leave Chang’an to cool off during the hotter months.
唐太宗避暑的一个地方叫九成宫，距长安三百里。
One of Taizong’s summer resorts was Jiucheng Palace, 150 kilometers west of Chang’an and built during the Sui Dynasty.
/九成宫/
/Jiucheng Palace/
九成宫是隋帝国建造的。史书记载，隋帝国的开国皇帝杨坚猝死于九成宫。
According to historical records, the founding Sui emperor died there unexpectedly.
长安城中流传，杨坚正是在九成宫被暴虐成性的儿子隋炀帝杨广所杀。
He was rumored to have been assassinated by this son, Yang Guang, who later took the title of Emperor Yangdi.
玄武门之变，一直是李渊心中挥之不去的痛苦。
The coup of Xuanwu Gate gnawed at Li Yuan.
因为争夺权力，儿子们相互残杀，父子之间也形同陌路。
Relations had become hostile and violent amongst the siblings and even between father and son all in the name of power.
这个年逾古稀的老人不愿意目睹父子反目为仇的是非之地。当李世民邀请父亲前往九成宫避暑的时候，李渊拒绝了。
Li Yuan couldn’t bear to set his eyes upon Jiucheng Palace after it had witnessed such a power struggle, so he refused to accompany Taizong to escape the summer heat.
就在这时候，一个叫马周的官员建议，在长安城为太上皇营建一所避暑行宫。
It was an official named Ma Zhou who suggested a summer palace be built in Chang’an for the former emperor.
“太极宫过于潮湿，太上皇的身体又每况愈下。朕真的很担心呐！”
It’s too damp in the Taichi Palace. The health of the former Emperor is deteriorating. I’m very worried.
马周认为，这件事可以昭告天下，皇帝一刻也没有忘记对父亲尽孝。
Ma Zhou suggested the matter be proclaimed throughout the country to show the sitting ruler’s respect for his father.
帝国日新月异，国库也逐渐丰盈，唐太宗听从了马周的建议，决定为太上皇修建避暑行宫。
As the empire advanced each passing day brought with it more revenue, Emperor Taizong adopted Ma Zhou’s proposal and decided to go ahead with the plan of building a summer palace for the former Emperor.
公元635年的春天，大批工匠汇集于长安城的东北方向，开始大兴土木。新宫殿称为永安宫，后更名为大明。
In the spring of 635, workers gathered in the northeastern part of Chang’an to begin construction of Yongan Palace, which was later renamed Daming, meaning Great Brightness.
李世民真心希望，大明宫可以成全自己的一片孝心。然而工程开始不久，李渊就离开了人世，大明宫的营建戛然而止。
However, shortly after construction started, Li Yuan passed away and the project was abandoned.
/步辇图-唐·阎立本绘/
/Emperor Tang Taizong Tang Meeting Tibetan Emissaries - Yan Liben/
在中国历史上，唐太宗是一个几乎完美的帝王。
Many Chinese historians consider Taizong to be the perfect emperor.
他心胸宽广，善于纳谏，任人唯贤，统治大唐二十三年期间，文治武功都取得了很高的成就。
During his 23-year reign, he remained a fair leader, appointing only competent officials at the same time successfully strengthening the nation.
公元630年，北方的突厥人全部臣服。
In the year 630, the Turks in the northern areas surrendered.
从公元640年开始，帝国的骑兵越过大漠，一路西进。
By 640, the empire’s cavalries were advancing further west through the desert.
/丝绸之路图-唐太宗时期/
/Map of Silk Road – Reign of Emperor Taizong/
公元648年，帝国将安西都护府迁至龟兹，西域重归大唐的版图。丝绸之路在经历了中原王朝三百多年的分裂之后，在大唐帝国的经营下又一次顺畅起来。
In 648, Taizong’s forces moved the Anxi Protectorate to Qiuci and reclaimed control over the Western Regions thereby, enabling the Silk Road to reopen after 300 years of division and chaos.
使节奔走，僧侣流动，商旅往来，东方和西方之间重新连接，长安的光辉开始照耀世界。
Envoys, monks, business people and travelers brought the East and the West ever closer, further spreading the influence of Chang’an.
/长安城-唐/
/Chang’an City - Tang/
路不拾遗，夜不闭户，唐太宗开创了最值得称道的治世贞观之治。
Society was so safe that families didn’t need to lock their doors at night Taizong’s ruling style was hailed as a model for future rulers.
但是，晚年的唐太宗并不愉快，内心一直处于煎熬当中。
However, Emperor Taizong was far from happy in his twilight years.
他不仅要处理繁忙的政务，也为帝国的传承耗尽了心血。
He was very busy conducting state affairs and working his heart out to ensure the future of the empire.
唐太宗由衷地期望，李氏家族的荣耀能够代代相传。
He hoped the Li family’s story would continue for generations to come.
公元649年，五十三岁的太宗皇帝病入膏肓，身边服侍的是他选定的继承人太子李治。
In 649, 53-year-old Taizong fell seriously ill. He was waited on by crown prince Li Zhi.
李治在端汤送药的时候，看见了风姿绰约的武媚娘，涉世未深的太子被深深地打动了。
While attending his father, Li Zhi became intoxicated by the elegance of Wumeiniang.
“你是武才人？”
You must be Lady Wu.
“回禀太子殿下，我叫媚娘。”
Yes, Your Highness. My name is Meiniang.
武媚娘是太宗的妃子，已经二十六岁。
26-year-old Wumeiniang was one of Taizong’s concubines.
没有人知道，武媚娘和未建成的大明宫有什么关系。也没有人想到，这个女人将主宰大唐帝国整整半个世纪的命运。
At that time no one imagined that this woman would become closely related to Daming Palace and eventually rule the Tang Empire for half a century.
/公元650年-长安城/
/650 A.D. - Chang’an City/
就在这年的夏天，唐太宗撒手人寰。
Emperor Taizong died in the summer of 649.
作为先皇的妃子，武媚娘被送往长安城西北的一座寺院。
As his concubine, Wumeiniang was moved to a temple northwest of Chang’an.
根据大唐的律法，皇帝驾崩之后，没有生育过的嫔妃必须出家，或进入道观，或皈依佛门。
The laws of Tang stipulated that after an emperor’s death, the concubines without children must move to a Taoist or Buddhist temple.
唐太宗死后，才人武媚娘被迫成为尼姑。
Wumeiniang was thus forced to become a nun.
青灯做伴，武媚娘似乎只能在孤独中度过余生。
It seemed that Wumeiniang was in danger of spending the rest of her life alone.
寂寞的武媚娘用一首情诗表达了自己的心情：看朱成碧思纷纷，憔悴支离为忆君。不信比来常下泪，开箱验取石榴裙。
She composed verses to express her sorrow,“Absent-minded, I mistake red for green; I am haggard because I miss you so much. If you don’t believe I shed tears for you, open my trunk; and you’ll see the tear stains on my gown.”
武媚娘希望这首情诗能够拯救自己的命运，她无法忍受如花的生命在寂寞中枯萎。
Wumeiniang hoped the verses would change her fortunes. This was a woman who fought fate to avoid spending the rest of her life alone.
武媚娘知道，只有那个拥有最高权力的人才能拯救自己。
She knew that only the new emperor had the power to save her.
武媚娘的情诗最终送到了太极宫。
The verses eventually found their way to Taichi Palace.
昔日的太子已成大唐的高宗皇帝，绵绵的情思使李治久久不能释怀，他始终无法忘记这个曾经属于父亲的女人。
The crown prince had already been enthroned as Emperor Gaozong. But Li Zhi found himself unable to forget the woman that had belonged to his father.
/太极宫/
/Taji Palace/
唐太宗死后不久，武媚娘又回到了日思梦想的皇宫。
Shortly after Emperor Taizong died, Wumeiniang returned to the imperial palace that she missed deadly.
李氏皇族有北方游牧民族的血统，在游牧民族看来，父亲的女人嫁给儿子不是什么过分的事情。
For nomadic people, it was acceptable for the father’s woman to marry the son.
公元655年，先皇的妃子成为大唐的新皇后。
In 655, the former concubine became the new empress.
在中国历史上，这是一个空前绝后的女人，她集美貌和智慧于一身，又拥有超常的胆识和气魄。
She was an extraordinary woman in Chinese history, possessing a combination of beauty, wisdom and courage.
但是她身上真正独一无二的是对权力无边无际的渴望，无以言说的命运给了武皇后千载难逢的机会。
But her insatiable hunger for power was what really made her stand apart, and she was blessed with many opportunities to exert her influence.
史书记载，唐高宗身体羸弱，患有严重的风痺症。
According to historical records, Emperor Gaozong was in poor health and suffered from serious “Fengbi”, the main symptoms being dizziness and blurred vision.
根据一些学者的推测，风痺之症很可能是李氏皇族的遗传性疾病。
Some scholars believe it was a hereditary disease of the royal family.
多病的唐高宗为武皇后通向权力之路创造了条件，也直接促成了大明宫的重建。
Emperor Gaozong’s poor health created the opportunity for Empress Wu to rise to power and the construction of Daming Palace was resumed.
太极宫不仅潮湿，而且过于朴素，被疾病折磨的唐高宗再也不愿居住在潮湿的太极宫。
Suffering from this chronic disease, Emperor Gaozong could no longer live in the damp and spartan Taichi Palace.
到高宗时代，大唐立国将近半个世纪，威望日隆的帝国也急需一座与之匹配的皇宫。
The Tang empire, which was little over half a century old, needed a more magnificent palace to reflect its increasing prosperity and strength.
在停工多年之后，帝国决定重新建造大明宫。
So it was decided to resume construction of Daming Palace after years of delay.
公元662年的春天，数以万计的工匠第二次汇集到长安城的东北方向，规模浩大的皇家工程开始了。
In the spring of 662, tens of thousands of workers and craftsmen flocked to northeastern Chang’an to resume the massive project.
大明宫开始重建，但规模已非往日可比。
The palace was now much larger than originally planned.
它不再是皇家避暑的离宫别殿，而是大唐最尊贵的建筑，帝国的新皇宫。
It was no longer a summer resort, but the new imperial palace, the empire’s most exalted structure.
唐代诗人李华记载了大明宫的建筑盛况：涉碛砾而登崔嵬，择一干于千木。
Here’s how Li Hua, a Tang poet, described the construction site, “Workers crossed rocks on the riverbed, and climbed mountains to select one trunk out of a thousand.”
这些栋梁之材来自于遥远的南方，伐木的声音曾经响彻山谷。
The huge pillars came from remote southern China, where the sound of falling trees echoed in the deep valleys.
经过长达半年的运输，这些巨木才能到达大明宫的工地现场。
It took up to six months for the trunks tobe transported to the construction site of the new palace.
大唐的皇后在大明宫重建上扮演了举足轻重的角色。
The queen of Tang played an important role in the construction.
武媚娘进宫以后，精心策划，不但囚禁了皇帝宠爱过的萧淑妃和皇帝的原配王皇后，而且将她们折磨至死。
After returning to the imperial palace, Wumeiniang employed a clever trick to make the queen and another concubine fall out of favor with the emperor. She then had them imprisoned and tortured to death.
据宋代的史料记载，披发沥血的冤魂经常出现在皇后的梦中。
According to historical records, Wu Zetian (Wumeiniang’s new name) was haunted by ghosts in her dreams.
被噩梦折磨的武皇后期盼着大明宫早日建成，逃离不堪回首的太极宫。
She yearned for the early completion of Daming, so she could escape from Taichi Palace.
这是大唐开国以来规模最大的建筑工程。
This was the largest project undertaken since the founding of the Tang Dynasty.
在中国历史上，如此宏伟的工程，大概只有秦始皇没有完工的阿房宫可以相比。
The unfinished E’pang Palace built by China’s first emperor Qinshihuang might be the only structure in Chinese history that can compete with it in scale.
从有限的史料推算，参与大明宫营建的工匠很可能达到数十万人。
It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of skilled workers were involved in the project.
如此浩大的工程，确实需要巨额的人力和财力。
Such a massive undertaking requires huge manpower and financial resource.
为了迅速建成大明宫，国库划拨了帝国十五个州的赋税收入，又停发了长安各级官员一个月的俸禄。
The state set aside tax revenues from 15 provinces and drew one-month salaries from officials at all levels in Chang’an.
依靠以往四十五年的不断积累，帝国日益富足，规模空前的工程才能够有条不紊地进行。
The ever-increasing wealth of the empire made the completion of Daming Palace possible.
根据史料记载，皇家工程的监造者是一个叫梁孝仁的官员。
Historical records show that Liang Xiaoren was the supervisor of the project.
梁孝仁是帝国的司农少卿，主管农业，由于精明干练而被任命为大明宫建筑工程的总指挥。
The senior agriculture official obtained the position out of merit.
在隋帝国修建长安城之后，还没有什么人有过这种百年难遇的机会。
Nobody had been given such a rare opportunity since the Sui empire built Chang’an.
可以想象，为了大明宫的落成，司农少卿梁孝仁费尽了心血。
One can imagine Liang Xiaoren spared no efforts in order to complete the palace.
至高无上的皇家工程不仅需要一个兢兢业业的监造者，而且需要一个才华横溢的设计师。大明宫的设计者又是谁呢？
The royal project needed not only a diligent supervisor, but also a creative architect. So who was the architect of Daming Palace?
令人惊奇的是，史书中没有任何相关的记载。
Surprisingly, there are no records that have anything to say about this.
大明宫营造期间，一个叫阎立本的人正担任帝国的将作大匠。
During Daming’s construction, the celebrated painter Yan Liben held the position of designer and launcher of imperial projects.
阎氏一家深谙工艺之学，父亲阎毗曾为隋帝国营造宫室，兄长阎立德先后担任大唐的将作大匠和工部尚书。
The Yan family were skilled architects. The father Yan Pi built palaces for the Sui Dynasty. The elder brother Yan Lide was Court Architect and Minister of Works.
阎立德死后，弟弟阎立本接任将作大匠一职。将作大匠专门负责皇家工程的设计和营造。
Yan Liben became Court Architect after Yan Lide’s death, responsible for designing and launching imperial projects.
我们有理由推测，大明宫的设计者就是声名显赫的大画家、步辇图的作者阎立本。
So it’s not unreasonable for us to guess that he was the Daming architect.
举足轻重的皇家宫殿，必定是帝国最杰出的艺术家智慧的结晶。
Such a royal palace would have been based on the expertise of the most outstanding artists of the empire.
/长安城-唐/
/Chang’an City – Tang/
公元663年六月五日，这是大唐历史上非常重要的一天。
June 5, 663, was a significant date in Tang history.
大明宫尚未完全竣工，迫不及待的皇室就准备搬迁了。
Daming Palace was not yet complete, but the imperial family was ready to move in.
宫女和太监到处奔走，为搬家而忙碌。
Maids and eunuchs were busy preparing for the move.
从太极宫的北门到大明宫的南门，皇家卫队已经戒严。
The royal guards imposed a curfew on the road from Taichi Palace to Daming.
搬迁宫室不仅是皇家的私事，也是帝国的大事，容不得半点差错。
The move was far from a private matter ofthe royal family. It was a significant state event that could not afford the slightest mishap.
立国四十五年之后，大唐的皇室终于离开了太极宫。
From then on, the center of power moved to Daming Palace.
从此，帝国的权力中心从太极宫转移到大明宫。从长安城的中轴线一直往北，越过皇城和太极宫之后向东，就是大明宫的南门丹凤门。
Follow the median line and go north turn east after through the imperial court and Taichi Palace, and you will see Danfeng Gate, the southern and front gate of Daming Palace.
/大明宫·丹凤门/
/Danfeng Gate/
丹凤门是大明宫的正门，一般的城门只有三个门道，而丹凤门有五个门道。
Normal city gates usually have three doorways, but Danfeng had five.
宽大的门道，高耸的墩台，雄伟的阙楼，丹凤门很可能是中国历史上规模最大的门。
With its huge doorways, towering platforms and grand towers, Danfeng Gate was probably the largest gate in Chinese history.
今天，我们已经很难想象这样庞大的宫门。
It’s hard to envisage the construction of such a huge gate today.
丹凤即朱雀，意思是红色的凤凰。
The front gate of Daming Palace was called Danfeng, which means “red phoenix”.
丹凤门的命名究竟来自何人，史料已不可查，但它与武皇后似乎存在着某种不可思议的联系。
It is no longer traceable who named Danfeng Gate, but it may somehow be to Empress Wu.
中国古代典籍中说：天下安宁太平，凤凰就会降世。
In Chinese culture it is said the phoenix alights in times of peace.
或许，历史果真如预言那样，在冥冥之中潜藏着难以言说的玄机。
History may have hidden mysteries just like the prophesy goes.
在公元663年的夏天即将到来的时候，大唐的皇后就像一只火红的凤凰，降落于刚刚建成的大明宫。
As summer approached in 663, the empress arrived in Daming Palace, just like a fire phoenix.
在丹凤门的后面，就是唐高宗和武皇后日思夜想的大明宫。
Behind Danfeng Gate lay the palace Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu had yearned for.
丹凤门的背后，究竟又是一个怎样的世界呢？
But what exactly was it like?
