中国范儿 71 故宫“地暖”：冬日里的温度

White snow, descending like broken jade, covers the red walls. After a snow day in the cold winter season, the Palace Museum looks extraordinarily beautiful and frigid. According to some historical materials, China once experienced extremely cold weathers during the Ming and Qing dynasties, which witnessed temperature dropped to 20 or 30 Celsius degree below zero.

故宫，这座经过600多年历史冲刷的宫殿，是如何温暖的度过一个又一个寒冬的呢？

How did the Palace Museum, as a witness to more than 600 years of history, survive those frigid winter days then?

今天我们游览故宫，会发现一些殿堂中都设有套间暖阁。比如养心殿的东暖阁，是历代皇帝在新年举行开笔仪式的地方。为何叫暖阁呢？这就是皇宫里取暖的奥妙了——火地取暖。宫人们在室内地面之下事先用砖石砌好循环的烟道。在室外的地炕口内烧火，用烧炭所产生的热气来烘暖地面，热气由下向上徐徐上升，沿着主烟道、支烟道分流到各个房间，产生热循环，室内温度上升，达到御寒的目的。由于灶口、排烟道均在室外，可避免烧烟火污染室内空气，安全卫生同时也更实用。

Today, when on a tour of the Palace Museum, we can see warm housesadjacent to some halls. For example, the Yangxin Hall has a warm house called DongnuanGe, where emperors used to hold the First Writing Ceremony on the New Year day. Where did the name "warm house" come from then? The answer has something to do with the heating system in the royal palace: the underfloor heating. Royal servants built a brick-made circuit flue beneath the floor. The fireplace, installed outside, burns coal and produces heat that will warm up the floor inside the hall. The heat will ascend from the beneath and reach out to every room through the underfloor circuit flue. The circulation of heat will raise the temperature indoors and help people fend off the coldness as a result. Since the fireplace and chimney got installed outside, this heating system can avoid polluting the air indoors. It is safe, clean, and effective.

据考古研究考证，这种火地取暖的技术在中国已存在逾千年的历史。至明清两代，其材料、方式、制度都已非常完善，设有专门负责冬季“供暖”事务的机构。在今年9月，故宫博物院养心殿进行大修，挖开殿内地砖，一套完整又复杂的“地暖”系统首次展现在世人面前，令人惊叹。

According to some archaeological surveys, the underfloor heating system has existed in China for more than 1000 years. The materials and design of the underfloor heating system were highly standardized during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The royal court even established an ad hoc organization charged with heating-related issues during the winter season. Yangxin Hall of the Palace Museum received a massive renovation this September. When the workers dug out the floor bricks of the hall, a sophisticated underfloor heating system surfaced for the first time. Everyone marveled at it.

除了“地暖”，室内还有炭盆。铜质、掐丝珐琅熏炉更显高贵。将点燃的木炭放入盆中，盆上加罩，镂空花纹，既美观又便于热量发散。当然，炭盆最大的弊端在于，炭火处理不当可能会引发中毒或是火灾。因此，宫廷在使用炭盆时都是万分小心，有专人负责。

Apart from the underfloor heating system, royal members also used the charcoal braziers indoors. Bronze and cloisonne braziers are particularly elegant and cherished. People put the burning charcoal into the brazier and then covered it with an engraved mantle. Such a brazier was both warm and eye-catching. To be sure, charcoal braziers are not problem-free: the burning charcoal could result in gas poisoning or fire if improperly handled. That is why the royal families were very cautious when using the charcoal braziers and they asked specialized personnel to take care of them.

其次，取暖用的小物件也是不可或缺的，手炉脚炉精致小巧，使用的同时也是值得收藏的工艺品。

Some small heaters were also imperative for the winter season. Delicate hand warmers and feet warmers are also artworks worthy of collection.

手炉分外壳和内胆两层。外壳多用漆器、铜器、珐琅等材质制作和装饰，造型多变、花纹考究。内胆为铜制，以备燃碳。口沿上设镂空盖通风换气。通过内外两层的空气传导，使手炉暖而不烫。炉内选用“红螺炭”坚硬耐烧，无烟无味，专供宫廷使用。

A hand warmer has both outer and inner layers. Its outer layer, having very diverse styles and fabulous laces, is made of and decorated with japan, bronze, and enamel etc. Made with bronze, its inner layer is designed to contain the burning charcoal. A hand warmer has an engraved cover on the top for ventilation purpose. The ventilation effects of both the outer layer and the inner layer help keep the hand warmer warm but not too hot. The charcoal exclusively used by the royal families is called Hongluo Charcoal, which is hard, fire-resistant and free of smoke and ardor.

有了这些保暖举措，居住在宫中的皇帝及嫔妃们想必可以温暖过冬了。

With all these measures to keep warm, emperors and the royal families should have been at ease in the palace for the winter season.

故宫历经600年的风风雨雨，一砖一瓦皆有来历，一宫一阙都是古人智慧的凝结，值得后人继续探究及挖掘。

The Palace Museum witnessed over 600 years of history. Every brick and tile here has some untold stories. Every hall and building mirrors the wisdom of the ancient Chinese. All these secrets are awaiting explorations by later generations.

来源：中国网

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