漲姿勢:從清朝文物看古代宮廷消暑良方
Nowadays, air conditioning and electric fans help people beat the summer heat. But in ancient times, without such appliances, how did people find relief? Some cultural items collected at the Palace Museum in Beijing can help us figure out how Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) royal families, who lived inside the Forbidden City, spent their summer days.
現代人用空調、電扇等消暑，但古時候沒有這些，人們又是如何抵擋暑熱的呢？這期樂學我們就借北京故宮博物院裏的若干文物，講一講清朝時紫禁城裏的消夏良方。Summer food and drinks in the royal court were mainly various kinds of melons and fruits, as well as tribute tea from around the country. When the emperors met officials, read books or memorials, they drank green tea, scented tea or milk tea. These drinks are refreshing and offer respite from the summer heat.
皇家在夏季的主要食物和飲品是各色瓜果，以及各地進奉的上等好茶。皇帝接見羣臣或理政讀書時，或飲綠茶、或飲花茶、或飲奶子茶，既提神，又解暑。
Iceboxes made of wood were widely used in the Qing royal court. Due to the weak conductivity of heat, lead or tin was put inside the box to extend the hours for preserving the natural ice. Many historical materials record emperors, empresses and imperial concubines using such a box to keep food like melons and fruits cool on hot summer days.
清代宮廷已經普遍使用木製"冰箱"，其採用導熱性較弱的鉛或錫爲裏，以延長天然冰的使用時間。史書多有記載，清朝的皇帝皇后及后妃用"冰箱"儲存瓜果，讓其在炎炎夏日變得清涼可口。
Clothing for Qing Dynasty emperors was complicated and can be categorized according to different purposes, such as ritual clothes, auspicious clothes, traveling clothes and rain suits. And according to season, there were winter clothes and summer clothes.
清代皇帝的服裝極爲繁複，根據穿着用途有禮服、吉服、常服、行服和雨服等之分。根據季節則有冬夏之分。Summer costumes for the royals were mainly made of fabrics like yarn and silk. The materials are permeable, which keep the wearer cool.
皇室成員夏季服裝的面料以紗和絹爲主，穿上透氣性好，涼爽宜人。
Many features of the architecture in the Forbidden City helped relieve summer heat. The Zhizhai window, or hung and removable window, was a great invention. The upper part can be pulled up for ventilation, while the lower part can be removed to allow more light in.
爲了避暑，紫禁城建築上採取的降溫措施很多，如宮殿的支摘窗就是一種很不錯的發明，它上部可以支起通風，下部可以摘下透光。The royal family could even enjoy an air-conditioned room in ancient times. As the iceboxes often had air holes, it could be used to cool the temperature of the room.
此外，清朝皇室已經開始享用"空調屋"——就是在"冰箱"上鑽孔，讓室溫下降。The fan was another necessity for royals on summer days. Fans at the royal court varied widely. Exquisitely made, they were more than a tool for cooling people down; they were extraordinary works of art.
皇家還有一種消暑神器不得不提，那就是扇子。清代宮廷中的扇子，多種多樣，用料上乘講究，除了帶給人們清風徐來的實際功用，儼然已是藝術品。
