Is this the most beautiful building in the world? - Stephanie Honchell Smith

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Zoe Walmsley

It’s 1631 in Burhanpur,

1631 年，布爾漢普爾，

and Mumtaz Mahal, beloved wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan,

蒙兀兒帝國皇帝沙‧賈漢的 愛妻── 慕塔芝‧瑪哈

is giving birth to their 14th child.

正在分娩他們的第十四個孩子。

A healthy girl is born, but not without difficulty.

雖然難產，她生下一個健康的女嬰。

Shah Jahan rushes to Mumtaz’s side, but he cannot save her.

沙‧賈漢趕到瑪哈身邊，卻救不了她。

Sobbing uncontrollably,

在無法控制的啜泣中，

the emperor decides to build a tomb worthy of his queen:

皇帝決定要建造 一座配得上他的皇后的陵墓：

an earthly replica of Paradise to embody their perfect love

一個地球上的天堂， 象徵他們完美的愛，

and project the power of the Mughal Empire for all time.

同時象徵蒙兀兒帝國的權勢。

Construction of the Taj Mahal began roughly seven months later.

泰姬瑪哈的工程大約在七個月後展開。

Royal architects worked to bring Shah Jahan’s vision to life

皇家建築師負責打造沙‧賈漢的願景，

at a site chosen by the emperor in the bustling imperial city of Agra.

皇帝選擇的地點位於 熙攘的帝國都市阿格拉。

The Yamuna riverfront was already dotted with exquisite residences,

亞穆納河的水岸原先就有 精緻大宅、花園及陵墓，

gardens, and mausoleums.

But when complete, the Taj Mahal would be the most magnificent structure of all.

泰姬瑪哈一旦完工， 必定是其中最宏偉的建築。

In addition to housing Mumtaz’s mausoleum, the plans included a garden, mosque,

除了慕塔芝的陵墓， 工程還包含了花園、清真寺、

bazaar, and several caravanserais to house visiting merchants and diplomats.

市集及數間供外地商人 及外交官使用的客棧。

Together, this complex would seamlessly blend

最終，這整個建築計畫會將 波斯、伊斯蘭、

Persian, Islamic, Indian, and European styles,

印度及歐洲等不同風格完美地融合，

establishing the Taj Mahal as the culmination

將泰姬瑪哈推上蒙兀兒建築的巔峰。

of Mughal architectural achievement.

The entire compound was laid out on a geometric grid,

整個建築計畫以幾何格線鋪排，

incorporating meticulously planned bilateral symmetry.

周密地規劃出完美的左右對稱。

To further establish an atmosphere of balance and harmony,

為了進一步打造出平衡及和諧的氛圍，

the architects divided the complex into two spheres,

建築師們把整個計畫分成兩區，

representing the spiritual and earthly domains.

分別代表靈界和塵世。

Most of the structures were made of brick and red sandstone,

建築主要以磗塊及紅色的沙岩構成，

with white marble accents.

再以白色大理石裝飾。

This was a common motif in Mughal architecture,

這是當時常見的蒙兀兒建築風格，

inspired by ancient Indian traditions

源於印度的傳統──

associating white with spiritual purity and red with warriors and royalty.

白色象徵著靈性的純潔， 紅色代表戰士及忠誠。

But the central mausoleum took more inspiration from the Islamic tradition.

但中央的陵墓則有許多 源自伊斯蘭傳統的靈感。

Framed by four minarets,

周圍有著四座尖塔，

the structure was covered entirely in white marble

整座建築外表的白色大理石

from quarries over 400 kilometers away.

來自於四百公里外的採石場。

Its main dome towered above the skyline,

主穹頂高聳於天際線上，

and those within the cavernous chamber experienced

站在其洞穴般的寬廣空間中的人

an otherworldly echo lasting almost 30 seconds.

能聽到長達三十秒之久、 超脫塵世的的回音。

Perfecting the Italian stone-working technique, pietra dura,

義大利的「彩色硬石鑲嵌」工藝 在此有淋漓盡致地發揮，

craftsmen used all manner of semi-precious stones to create intricate floral designs

工匠使用各式各樣的半寶石 做出繁複細緻的花卉設計，

representing the eternal gardens of Paradise.

象徵天堂的永恆花園。

Calligraphers covered the walls with Quranic inscriptions.

書法家在牆上刻滿可蘭經文。

And because the Islamic depiction of Paradise has eight gates,

也由於伊斯蘭教的描述中 天堂有八個門，

the mausoleum’s rooms were designed to be octagonal.

因此陵墓的房間設計成八角形。

The garden in front of the mausoleum was split into four parts

陵墓前的花園以波斯風格 分成四個部分，

in the Persian style,

but its flora reflected the Mughals’ nomadic Central Asian heritage.

其中的花卉反映出 蒙兀兒的中亞遊牧傳統。

Flowers and trees were carefully selected to add color,

精挑細選的花草樹木 除了增添色彩、香氣，

sweet scents, and fresh fruit to be sold in the bazaar.

還為市集提供新鮮水果。

Masons built intersecting walkways, pools, and channels of water

石匠鋪設縱橫交錯的步道、 建造水池及渠道，

to weave through the lush greenery.

迂迴穿梭於蒼翠蔥鬱的植物間。

Even before its completion,

早在完工之前，

沙‧賈漢就已在泰姬瑪哈舉行 慕塔芝的忌日悼念儀式，

Shah Jahan used the Taj to host the annual commemoration of Mumtaz’s death,

celebrating her reunification with the Divine.

慶祝她重回天神懷抱。

Directly across the river, Shah Jahan built another sprawling garden

在河的正對面，沙‧賈漢 建了另一個廣闊的花園，

with a central pool that perfectly reflected the mausoleum.

正中央有個完美倒映出陵墓的水池。

Building this intricate complex took 12 years

打造這個精細繁雜的建築 花了十二年的時間，

and employed thousands of skilled craftsmen and artisans,

僱用了數千名 技術精良的工匠和技工，

from masons and bricklayers to masters of pietra dura and calligraphy.

從石匠及泥水匠 到硬石鑲嵌及書法大師。

After the Taj was completed in 1643,

1643 年，泰姬陵完工，

Shah Jahan retained some of these craftsmen for routine repairs,

沙‧賈漢留下一些工匠 做例行性的維修，

and hired Quran reciters, caretakers, and other staff to maintain the complex.

也僱用了可蘭經吟誦者、 看守人等負責建築維護。

He paid these workers by establishing a vast endowment for the Taj—

他設了一個龐大的基金， 用來支付工人的薪水，

a system which remained in place until the early 19th century.

那系統一直沿用到十九世紀初。

Since its completion, Shah Jahan’s grand memorial has drawn travelers

完工以來，沙‧賈漢的宏偉建築

吸引了來自世界各地的旅客。

from around the world.

And every time a visitor is awed by the mausoleum,

每次，每個訪客看到陵墓後的震撼，

the emperor’s goal is achieved anew.

都再次肯定皇帝當年的目標。

Unfortunately, after 15 years of presiding over Mumtaz’s memorial,

不幸的是，在花了十五年 主持慕塔芝的紀念碑工程後，

Shah Jahan fell ill and a war of succession broke out between his sons.

沙‧賈漢病了，

他的兒子間爆發了一場繼承之戰。

While Shah Jahan eventually recovered, his son, Aurangzeb,

雖然沙‧賈漢最終康復了，

但他的兒子奧朗則布 已經繼位成為皇帝。

had already emerged as the new emperor.

For the last eight years of his life,

他在世的最後八年，

Shah Jahan lived under house arrest in Agra’s Fort,

沙‧賈漢被軟禁在阿格拉堡，

where he could see the Taj glimmering in the distance.

從那裡他只能遠眺泰姬陵閃爍的微光。

When he died in 1666, he was buried next to Mumtaz,

1666 年，沙‧賈漢過世，

他被埋葬在慕塔芝旁邊，

his grave breaking the complex’s symmetry,

他的墳墓雖不符合建築原有的對稱性，

so that his wife could remain at the Taj’s center for all eternity.

卻能讓他的妻子永遠 長眠在泰姬陵的正中心。

This video was made possible with support from Marriott Hotels.

這支影片由萬豪集團贊助完成。

With over 590 hotels and resorts across the globe,

萬豪在全球有超過 590 家 飯店及渡假酒店，

Marriott Hotels celebrates the curiosity that propels us to travel.

萬豪集團支持及鼓勵 驅使大家旅行的好奇心。

Check out some of the exciting ways TED-Ed and Marriott are working together

歡迎查看萬豪與 TED-Ed 有哪些令人興奮的合作案，

and book your next journey at Marriott Hotels.

並為你的下一趟旅行 預訂萬豪酒店的房間！