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The Hanging Temple

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The Hanging Temple

悬空寺Xuán kōng Sì位于wèi yú北岳Běi yuè恒山Héng Shān脚jiǎo下xià的de金龙峡Jīn Lóng Xiá,距jù大同Dà tóng市shì约yuē80公里gōng lǐ,据说jù shuō是shì北魏Běi Wèi时shí一yī位wèi叫jiào了然Liǎo Rán的de和尚hé shang所suǒ建jiàn,距jù今jīn已yǐ有yǒu1400多duō年nián的de历史lì shǐ。

这里zhè lǐ山shān势shì陡峻dǒu jùn,两liǎng边biān是shì直立zhí lì百bǎi米mǐ、如同rú tóng斧fǔ劈pī刀dāo削xiāo一般yī bān的de悬崖xuán yá,悬空寺Xuán kōng Sì就jiù建jiàn在zài这zhè悬崖xuán yá上shàng,或者huò zhě说shuō像xiàng是shì粘贴zhān tiē在zài悬崖xuán yá上shàng似的shì de,给gěi人rén一yī种zhǒng可望而不可即kě wàng ér bù kě jí的de感觉gǎn jué。

抬tái头tóu望wàng上去shàng qù,但dàn见jiàn层层叠叠céng céng dié dié的de殿阁diàn gé,只zhǐ有yǒu十shí数shù根gēn像xiàng筷子kuài zi似的shì de木mù柱子zhù zi把bǎ它tā撑住chēng zhù。

俗语sú yǔ说shuō:“平地起高楼píng dì qǐ gāo lóu。

”可是kě shì,悬空寺Xuán kōng Sì却què反其道而行之fǎn qí dào ér xíng zhī。

虽然suī rán悬空寺Xuán kōng Sì给gěi人rén的de第dì一yī个gè印象yìn xiàng是shì一yī栋dòng危楼wēi lóu,但dàn出于chū yú好奇hào qí和hé探险tàn xiǎn的de冲动chōng dòng,谁shéi都dōu愿意yuàn yì鼓gǔ起qǐ勇气yǒng qì踏tà进jìn寺sì门mén。

踏tà上shàng那nà连接lián jiē殿宇diàn yǔ的de走廊zǒu láng,人们rén men会huì不约而同bù yuē ér tóng地de提tí起qǐ脚跟jiǎo gēn,屏住bǐng zhù呼吸hū xī,小心翼翼xiǎo xīn yì yì地de踩cǎi在zài木mù板bǎn上shàng,好像hǎo xiàng走zǒu在zài刚gāng结jié了le冰bīng的de河面hé miàn上shàng,生怕shēng pà脚jiǎo重zhòng,寺sì塌tā下来xià lái。

侧cè身shēn探tàn头tóu向xiàng外wài仰望yǎng wàng,但dàn见jiàn凌空líng kōng的de走廊zǒu láng只zhǐ有yǒu数shù条tiáo立lì木mù和hé横héng木mù支撑zhī chēng着zhe。

这些zhè xiē横héng木mù又yòu叫做jiào zuò“铁tiě扁担biǎn dan”,是shì用yòng当地dāng dì的de特产tè chǎn铁杉木tiě shān mù加工jiā gōng成为chéng wéi方fāng形xíng的de木梁mù liáng,深深shēn shēn插chā进jìn岩石yán shí里lǐ去qù的de。

据说jù shuō,木梁mù liáng用yòng桐tóng油yóu浸jìn过guo,所以suǒ yǐ不bù怕pà被bèi白蚁bái yǐ咬yǎo,还hái有yǒu防腐fáng fǔ作用zuò yòng。

其实qí shí,悬空寺Xuán kōng Sì之所以zhī suǒ yǐ能够néng gòu悬空xuán kōng,除了chú le借助jiè zhù“铁tiě扁担biǎn dan”之zhī力lì外wài,柱子zhù zi也yě立lì下xià了le汗马功劳hàn mǎ gōng láo。

这些zhè xiē柱子zhù zi,每měi个gè落点luò diǎn都dōu经过jīng guò精心jīng xīn计算jì suàn,以yǐ保证bǎo zhèng能néng把bǎ整zhěng座zuò悬空寺Xuán kōng Sì支撑zhī chēng起来qǐ lái。

据说jù shuō,有的yǒu de木柱mù zhù起qǐ承重chéng zhòng作用zuò yòng;

有的yǒu de是shì用来yòng lái平衡píng héng楼阁lóu gé的de高gāo低dī;

有的yǒu de要yào有yǒu一定yī dìng重量zhòng liàng加jiā在zài上面shàng miàn,才cái能够néng gòu发挥fā huī它tā的de支撑zhī chēng作用zuò yòng,如果rú guǒ空无一物kōng wú yī wù,它tā就jiù无所借力wú suǒ jiè lì而ér身不由己shēn bù yóu jǐ了le。

悬空寺Xuán kōng Sì在zài建jiàn寺sì时shí因地制宜yīn dì zhì yí,充分chōng fèn利用lì yòng峭壁qiào bì的de自然zì rán状态zhuàng tài来lái布置bù zhì和hé建造jiàn zào寺庙sì miào的de各gè部分bù fen建筑jiàn zhù,设计shè jì非常fēi cháng精巧jīng qiǎo。

比如bǐ rú,寺sì中zhōng两liǎng座zuò最zuì大dà的de建筑物jiàn zhù wù之一zhī yī的de三官殿sān guān diàn,就jiù应用yìng yòng了le向xiàng岩壁yán bì要yào空间kōng jiān的de道理dào lǐ,殿diàn前面qián miàn是shì木mù制zhì的de房子fáng zi,后面hòu miàn则zé在zài岩壁yán bì上shàng挖wā了le很多hěn duō石窟shí kū,使shǐ殿堂diàn táng变得biàn de非常fēi cháng开阔kāi kuò。

悬空寺Xuán kōng Sì的de其它qí tā殿堂diàn táng大dà都dōu小巧xiǎo qiǎo玲珑líng lóng,进深jìn shēn都dōu较jiào小xiǎo,殿diàn内nèi的de塑像sù xiàng形体xíng tǐ也yě相对xiāng duì缩小suō xiǎo。

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Vocabulary 266 words

ChinesePinyinEnglish
悬空寺 Xuán kōng SìXuankong Temple or Suspended Temple near Yanyuan in Shanxi
位于 wèi yúto be located at / to be situated at / to lie
北岳 Běi yuèMt Heng 恆山|恒山 in Shanxi, one of the Five Sacred Mountains 五嶽|五岳
恒山 Héng ShānMt Heng in Shanxi, northern mountain of the Five Sacred Mountains / Hengshan district of Jixi city, Heilongjiang
脚 jiǎofoot / leg (of an animal or an object) / base (of an object)
下 xiàdown / downwards / below
的 depossessive particle (of; 's) / modifying particle (used after an attribute to modify a noun or to form a nominal expression)
金龙峡 Jīn Lóng XiáJinlong Gorge; a place name, the gorge at the foot of Mount Heng where the Hanging Temple is located.
距 jùto be at a distance of ... from; to be apart from
大同 Dà tóng(Confucianism) Great Harmony (concept of an ideal society)
市 shìcity / municipality (administrative unit)
约 yuēapproximately
公里 gōng lǐkilometer
据说 jù shuōit is said that; reportedly
是 shìto be (followed by substantives only)
北魏 Běi WèiWei of the Northern Dynasties (386-534)
时 shío'clock / time / hour / season / period
一 yīone / single / a (article)
位 wèiclassifier for people (honorific)
叫 jiàoto be called
了然 Liǎo RánLiao Ran, a monk said to have built the Hanging Temple
和尚 hé shangBuddhist monk
所 suǒparticle introducing a relative clause or passive
建 jiànto establish / to found / to set up / to build / to construct
今 jīnnow / the present time
已 yǐalready
有 yǒuto have; there is
多 duō(after a numeral) ... odd
年 niányear
历史 lì shǐhistory
这里 zhè lǐhere
山 shānmountain; hill / (coll.) small bundle of straw for silkworms to spin cocoons on
势 shìpower / influence / potential / momentum / tendency / trend / situation / conditions / outward appearance / sign / gesture / male genitals
陡峻 dǒu jùnprecipitous / high and steep
两 liǎngtwo / both / some / a few
边 biānside / edge / margin / border / boundary
直立 zhí lìerect / upright / vertical
百 bǎihundred
米 mǐuncooked rice / meter (unit of length) / (slang) Chinese yuan
如同 rú tónglike / as
斧 fǔhatchet
劈 pīto hack / to chop / to split open / (of lightning) to strike
刀 dāoknife; blade; single-edged sword; cutlass / (slang) (loanword) dollar
削 xiāoto peel with a knife / to pare / to cut (a ball at tennis etc)
一般 yī bānsame
悬崖 xuán yáprecipice / overhanging cliff
就 jiùmerely; nothing else but; simply; just; precisely; exactly
在 zài(of sb or sth) to be (located) at
这 zhèthis; these
上 shàng(noun suffix) on; above
或者 huò zhěor
说 shuōto speak; to talk; to say
像 xiàngto resemble / to be like / to look as if
粘贴 zhān tiēto stick / to affix / to adhere / to paste (as in "copy and paste")
似的 shì deseems as if / rather like
给 gěito give
人 rénperson; people
种 zhǒngclassifier for types, kinds, sorts
可望而不可即 kě wàng ér bù kě jívisible but out of reach; attainable only in appearance, not in reality
感觉 gǎn juéfeeling; impression; sensation
抬 táito lift / to raise / (of two or more persons) to carry
头 tóuhead / the top / end / beginning or end / chief / boss / side / aspect
望 wàngto hope / to expect / to visit / to gaze (into the distance) / to look towards
上去 shàng qùto go up
但 dànmerely; only; just
见 jiànto see / to meet / to appear (to be sth) / to interview
层层叠叠 céng céng dié diélayer upon layer; overlapping in many layers
殿阁 diàn gépalace buildings; halls and pavilions
只 zhǐonly; merely; just
十 shíten / 10
数 shùseveral; a few
根 gēnclassifier for long slender objects
筷子 kuài zichopsticks
木 mù(bound form) tree / (bound form) wood
柱子 zhù zipillar
把 bǎ(used to put the object before the verb: 把[ba3] + {noun} + {verb})
它 tāit
撑住 chēng zhùto support; to hold up; to prop up
俗语 sú yǔcommon saying / proverb / colloquial speech
平地起高楼 píng dì qǐ gāo lóuto build something rapidly from nothing; to rise abruptly from a low base
可是 kě shìbut; however
却 quèbut / yet / however / while / nevertheless / even though
反其道而行之 fǎn qí dào ér xíng zhīto do the very opposite / to act in a diametrically opposite way
虽然 suī ránalthough; even though
第 dì(prefix indicating ordinal number)
个 gèclassifier for people or objects in general
印象 yìn xiàngimpression (sth that stays in one's mind) / a memory
栋 dòngclassifier for houses or buildings
危楼 wēi lóu(literary) tall building / dangerous building; one that is at risk of collapse
出于 chū yúdue to
好奇 hào qíinquisitiveness / curiosity
和 héand; together with
探险 tàn xiǎnadventure
冲动 chōng dòngimpulse / urge
谁 shéiwho
都 dōuall; both; entirely
愿意 yuàn yìto wish / to want / ready / willing (to do sth)
鼓 gǔto drum / to strike / to rouse / to bulge / to swell
起 qǐverb suffix, to start / starting from (a time, place, price etc)
勇气 yǒng qìcourage
踏 tàto tread / to stamp / to step on / to press a pedal / to investigate on the spot
进 jìnto go in / to enter / to put in / to submit / to take in / to admit
寺 sìBuddhist temple / mosque / government office (old)
门 méngate / door / gateway / doorway / opening / valve / switch / way to do something / knack / family / house / (religious) sect / school (of thought) / class / category / phylum or division (taxonomy) / (suffix) -gate (i.e. scandal; derived from Watergate)
那 nà(specifier) that; the; those / (pronoun) that (referring to persons, things or situations)
连接 lián jiēto link; to join; to connect
殿宇 diàn yǔ(literary) halls (of a palace or a temple)
走廊 zǒu lángcorridor / aisle / hallway / passageway / veranda
人们 rén menpeople
会 huìto be likely to; to be sure to
不约而同 bù yuē ér tóng(idiom) (of two or more people) to take the same action without prior consultation; (usu. used adverbially) all (or both) of them, independently; as if by prior agreement
地 de-ly / structural particle: used before a verb or adjective, linking it to preceding modifying adverbial adjunct
提 títo carry (hanging down from the hand) / to lift / to put forward / to mention / to raise (an issue)
脚跟 jiǎo gēnheel
屏住 bǐng zhùto hold in; to suppress temporarily (especially breath)
呼吸 hū xīto breathe
小心翼翼 xiǎo xīn yì yì(idiom) cautious; careful; prudent
踩 cǎito step on / to tread / to stamp / to press a pedal / to pedal (a bike) / (online) to downvote
板 bǎnboard / plank / plate / shutter / table tennis bat / clappers (music) / accented beat in Chinese music
好像 hǎo xiàngas if
走 zǒuto walk / to go / to run / to move (of vehicle) / to visit / to leave / to go away / to die (euph.) / to change (shape, form, meaning)
刚 gāngjust / barely / exactly
结 jiéto tie / to bind / to check out (of a hotel)
了 le(completed action marker) / (modal particle indicating change of state, situation now)
冰 bīngice / (slang) methamphetamine
河面 hé miànsurface of a river
生怕 shēng pàafraid / extremely nervous / for fear that / so as not to
重 zhòngheavy / serious
塌 tāto collapse / to droop / to settle down
下来 xià lái(after verb of motion, indicates motion down and towards us, also fig.)
侧 cèto incline towards / to lean
身 shēnbody / the main part of a structure or body
探 tànto explore / to search out / to scout / to visit / to stretch forward
向 xiàngtowards / shortly before / formerly / always / all along
外 wàioutside / external
仰望 yǎng wàngto look up at / to look up to sb hopefully
凌空 líng kōngbe high up in the sky
条 tiáoclassifier for long thin things
立 lìto stand / to set up / to establish / to lay down / to draw up
横 hénghorizontal / chaotic / (in fixed expressions) harsh and unreasonable / violent
支撑 zhī chēngto prop up / to support
着 zheaspect particle indicating action in progress or ongoing state
这些 zhè xiēthese
又 yòualso
叫做 jiào zuòto be called; to be known as
铁 tiěiron (metal) / arms / weapons
扁担 biǎn dancarrying pole / shoulder pole
用 yòngto use; to make use of; to employ / (coverb) with; using
当地 dāng dìlocal
特产 tè chǎnspecial local product / (regional) specialty
铁杉木 tiě shān mùhemlock wood; timber from hemlock trees
加工 jiā gōngto process
成为 chéng wéito become; to turn into
方 fāngsquare / upright / honest / fair and square
形 xíngform / shape
木梁 mù liángwooden beam; timber beam
深深 shēn shēndeep / profound
插 chāstick in / pierce
岩石 yán shí(geology) rock
里 lǐlining / interior / inside
去 qù(after a verb of motion) movement away from the speaker; (after certain verbs) detachment or separation
桐 tóngtree name (variously Paulownia, Firmiana or Aleurites)
油 yóuoil / fat / grease / petroleum
浸 jìnto immerse / to soak / to steep
过 guo(experienced action marker)
所以 suǒ yǐtherefore / as a result / so
不 bùno; not so
怕 pàto be afraid / to fear / to dread / to be unable to endure
被 bèiused to indicate passive voice (placed before the doer of the action like "by" in English passive-voice sentences, or, if the doer is not mentioned, before the verb) / (sarcastic or jocular) used to indicate that the following word should be regarded as being in air quotes
白蚁 bái yǐtermite / white ant
咬 yǎoto bite / to nip
还 háiin addition, also, else, even
防腐 fáng fǔrotproof / antiseptic / anti-corrosion
作用 zuò yòngaction; function; activity / impact; result; effect
其实 qí shíactually; in fact; really
之所以 zhī suǒ yǐ(after a noun N and before a predicate P) the reason why N P
能够 néng gòuto be capable of / to be able to
悬空 xuán kōngto hang in the air
除了 chú leapart from; besides; in addition to
借助 jiè zhùto draw support from
之 zhī(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5])
力 lìpower / force / strength / ability
也 yěalso; too; as well; (not ...) either
汗马功劳 hàn mǎ gōng láowar exploits / (fig.) heroic contribution
每 měieach / every
落点 luò diǎnthe point where something lands or is placed; a support/contact point
经过 jīng guòto pass / to go through
精心 jīng xīnwith utmost care / fine / meticulous / detailed
计算 jì suànto calculate; to compute / to consider; to think over / to plot; to scheme
以 yǐby means of / according to / in order to / because of / at
保证 bǎo zhèngto guarantee / to ensure / to safeguard / to pledge
能 néngcan / to be able to / might possibly
整 zhěng(bound form) whole; complete; entire; (before a measure word) whole; (before or after number + measure word) exactly / (bound form) in good order; tidy; neat
座 zuòclassifier for large immovable objects
起来 qǐ láiindicating the beginning and continuation of an action or a state / indicating an upward movement / indicating completion / expressing preliminary judgment
有的 yǒu de(there are) some (who are...) / some (exist)
木柱 mù zhùwooden pillar; timber post
承重 chéng zhòngload-bearing (wall, pillar etc)
用来 yòng láito be used for
平衡 píng héngbalance / equilibrium
楼阁 lóu gébuilding / pavilion
高 gāohigh / tall / above average / loud
低 dīlow
要 yàowill; shall; about to / need to; should / if
一定 yī dìnga certain ...; a given ...
重量 zhòng liàngweight
加 jiāto add / to increase; to augment
上面 shàng miànon top of
才 cáithen and only then
发挥 fā huīto display / to exhibit / to bring out implicit or innate qualities / to express (a thought or moral) / to develop (an idea) / to elaborate (on a theme)
如果 rú guǒif; in case; in the event that
空无一物 kōng wú yī wùempty; having nothing at all
无所借力 wú suǒ jiè lìhave nothing to rely on for support; be unable to exert force or control
而 érand so / (indicates causal relation)
身不由己 shēn bù yóu jǐ(idiom) (of one's circumstances) beyond one's control; unable to do anything about it; (of one's actions) not subject to conscious control (i.e. done in spite of oneself)
因地制宜 yīn dì zhì yí(idiom) to use methods in line with local circumstances
充分 chōng fènfully / to the full
利用 lì yòngto exploit / to make use of / to use / to take advantage of / to utilize
峭壁 qiào bìcliff / precipice
自然 zì ránnatural
状态 zhuàng tàicondition; state; state of affairs
来 lái(between two verbs) in order to
布置 bù zhìto put in order / to arrange / to decorate / to fix up / to deploy
建造 jiàn zàoto construct; to build
寺庙 sì miàotemple / monastery / shrine
各 gèeach / every
部分 bù fenpart; portion; piece
建筑 jiàn zhùbuilding
设计 shè jìdesign; plan
非常 fēi chángvery; really
精巧 jīng qiǎoelaborate
比如 bǐ rúfor example; for instance; such as
中 zhōngwithin; among; in
最 zuì(before an adjective or verb) to the highest degree; (the) most ...; -est
大 dàbig; large; great / older (than another person) / eldest
建筑物 jiàn zhù wùbuilding / structure / edifice
之一 zhī yīone of (sth) / one out of a multitude / one (third, quarter, percent etc)
三官殿 sān guān diàna temple hall dedicated to the Three Officials/Three Purities deities
应用 yìng yòngto put to use; to apply
岩壁 yán bìa rock cliff; a steep rock face
空间 kōng jiānspace; room
道理 dào lǐreason / argument / sense / principle / basis / justification
殿 diànpalace hall
前面 qián miànahead / in front / preceding / above
制 zhìto manufacture / to make
房子 fáng zihouse / building (single- or two-story) / apartment / room
后面 hòu miànbehind; near the end; at the back / later; afterwards
则 zé(literary) (conjunction used to express contrast with a previous clause) but; then
挖 wāto dig / to excavate / to scoop out
很多 hěn duōmany; a lot of
石窟 shí kūrock cave / grotto / cliff caves (often with Buddhist statues)
使 shǐto make / to cause / to enable
殿堂 diàn tángpalace / hall / temple buildings
变得 biàn deto become
开阔 kāi kuòwide / open (spaces)
其它 qí tā(adjective) other
小巧 xiǎo qiǎosmall and exquisite / delicate / fine (features) / compact / nifty
玲珑 líng lóng(onom.) clink of jewels / exquisite / detailed and fine / clever / nimble
进深 jìn shēn(of a house or room) distance from the entrance to the rear; depth
较 jiào(before an adjective) relatively; comparatively; rather
小 xiǎosmall / tiny / few
内 nèiinside / inner / internal / interior
塑像 sù xiànga statue created through such a process
形体 xíng tǐfigure / physique / form and structure
相对 xiāng duìrelatively
缩小 suō xiǎoto reduce; to decrease; to shrink