故宫铜缸，又被称为“吉祥缸”、“太平缸”，在故宫里的一些大殿前、庭院中都摆放着一个个这样腹宽口收、容量极大，而且装饰精美，两耳处还加挂着兽面铜环的金属缸。这些大铜缸除了有装饰作用外，其主要功能为储水防火。

The copper vat of the Forbidden City, also known as "auspicious VAT" and "peaceful VAT", are placed in front of some large halls and courtyards of the Forbidden City. They have a wide belly, a large capacity, and are beautifully decorated. Metal vat with animal face copper rings are also hung at both ears. In addition to the decorative function, these large cylinders are mainly used for water storage and fire prevention.

据《大清会典》记载，宫中共有大缸308口。但世事沧桑，由于各种原因，如今只剩下231口了。这些大缸共分为铁、铜和鎏金铜三种。一般来讲，铁缸是明代时铸造的；铜缸有明代的，也有清代的；鎏金铜缸则均是清代铸造的。其实故宫里的大缸分为三类，铁的、铜的和鎏金的，一般来说，明朝时一般用铁做的大缸，清朝时开始用铜质和鎏金的。

According to the Qing Dynasty meeting code, there are 308 large VATS in the palace. However, due to various reasons, there are only 231 people left. These large cylinders are divided into iron, copper and gilded copper. Generally speaking, the iron cylinder was cast in the Ming Dynasty; The copper jars are from the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty; The gilded copper cylinders were all cast in the Qing Dynasty. In fact, the large VATS in the Forbidden City are divided into three categories: iron, copper and gilded. Generally speaking, the large VATS made of iron in the Ming Dynasty and copper and gilded in the Qing Dynasty.

故宫里大小的缸共有308口，其中铁缸是明朝铸的，铜缸是清朝铸的。而鎏金铜缸是清朝乾隆时期铸造的，现尚存18口，每口重2吨，鎏金（镏金）100两。至于鎏金铜缸的造价，乾隆年间的《奏销档》曾有过记载。口径1.66米的鎏金铜缸约重1696公斤，仅铜缸制造约合白银500多两，再加上铜缸上的100两黄金，铸造费共计至少白银1500两。

There are 308 large and small VATS in the Forbidden City, of which the iron VATS were cast in the Ming Dynasty and the copper VATS were cast in the Qing Dynasty. The gilded copper jar was cast during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. There are still 18, each weighing 2 tons and gilding (gold plating) 100 Liang. As for the cost of the gilded bronze cylinder, it was recorded in the "playing sales file" during the reign of Qianlong. The gilded copper cylinder with a diameter of 1.66 meters weighs about 1696 kg. Only the copper cylinder is made of more than 500 liang of silver. Plus 100 liang of gold on the copper cylinder, the casting cost is at least 1500 liang of silver.

铜缸 有祈福祛灾的吉祥作用，又称“门海”、“福海”、“吉祥缸”。同时，大 缸也是一个循环的“小五行”：金生水、水克火！紫禁城中最豪华的鎏 金铜缸摆置在象征皇权的太和殿东西两侧，据说每次鎏这种规格的大铜 缸要用去3公斤黄金。

The copper jar has the auspicious function of praying for blessings and eliminating disasters. It is also known as "Menhai", "Fuhai" and "auspicious jar". At the same time, the big cylinder is also a circular "small five elements": Gold generates water, water conquers fire! The most luxurious gilded copper jars in the Forbidden City are placed on the East and west sides of the Taihe hall, a symbol of imperial power. It is said that three kilograms of gold are used for gilding large copper jars of this specification each time.