北京故宫,旧称紫禁城，是明、清两代的皇宫, 也是我国现存最完整的古建筑群。当我们游览故宫时,不时会发现那一尊尊金属大缸。据《大清会典》记载，紫禁城内曾有大缸308尊。由于历史乱的变迁， 现还剩200余尊。大型景观铜缸大铜缸、纯铜紫铜铸造大铜缸、纯铜大缸铸造大铜缸

The Forbidden City in Beijing, formerly known as the Forbidden City, is the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is also the most complete existing ancient architectural complex in China. When we visit the Forbidden City, we will find that big metal cylinder from time to time. According to the Qing Dynasty meeting code, there were 308 VATS in the Forbidden City. Due to the chaotic changes of history, there are still more than 200 statues left.

故宫内的大缸, 按质量可分为铜鎏金吉祥缸、烧古青铜缸和铁铸大缸。一类铜鎏金吉祥缸，是比较贵重的,这种缸明代数量较少，到了清代多起来。在故宫内被俗称“金銮殿”的太和门前, 就陈列着这种宝贵的鎏金大铜缸，每尊高1.2米，直径1.63米，缸的上部表面均铭刻着大清乾隆年造的字款,大缸的两侧饰有兽面纹铺环耳。

According to the quality, the large VATS in the Forbidden City can be divided into copper gilded auspicious vats, ancient bronze burning vats and iron casting vats. A kind of copper gilded auspicious jar is more valuable. This kind of jar has less algebra in the Ming Dynasty and more in the Qing Dynasty. In front of the Taihe gate, commonly known as the "golden Luan hall" in the Forbidden City, there are such precious gold-plated large copper cylinders, each 1.2 meters high and 1.63 meters in diameter. The upper surface of the cylinder is engraved with words made in the year of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. The two sides of the cylinder are decorated with animal face patterns and ring ears.

明清为建造这些大缸耗费了相当大的物力、财力。拿鎏金铜大缸来讲，整个工艺非常复杂，其方法是首先在金属器物表面涂上金和水的合金，然后进行烘烤，使蒸发，将黄金滞留下来，目前故宫中尚存18口鎏金铜缸，虽说已经遭到了部分的破坏，但个个仍然金光灿烂，光彩夺目，华美无比。

The Ming and Qing Dynasties spent a lot of money and resources to build these tanks. Take the gold-plated copper VAT as an example. The whole process is very complex. The method is to first coat the metal ware surface with an alloy of gold and water, and then bake it to evaporate and retain the gold. At present, there are 18 gold-plated copper VAT in the Forbidden City. Although they have been partially damaged, they are still brilliant, dazzling and gorgeous.

至于鎏金铜缸的造价，乾隆年间《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，共计需铸造费至少白银1500两。作为防火救灾的工具，铜大缸又被称之为“吉祥缸”、“太平缸”。

As for the cost of the gilded bronze cylinder, it was recorded in the play sales file during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. The gilded copper cylinder with a diameter of 1.66M weighs about 1696kg. The manufacturing of copper cylinder alone is about more than 500 liang of silver. Plus 100 liang of gold on the copper cylinder, the total casting cost is at least 1500 liang of silver. As a tool for fire prevention and disaster relief, the large copper cylinder is also known as "auspicious cylinder" and "peace cylinder".