“藻井”是我国传统木构建筑的顶部装饰，在中国古代的宫殿、寺庙等建筑中多次出现，有较为重要的地位。
The "caisson" is the top decoration of the traditional wooden buildings in China, which has an important position in ancient Chinese palaces, temples and other buildings.
张衡《西京赋》释“藻井”：“藻井当栋中，交木如井，画以藻文”，“井”加上藻文饰样，取“藻饰于井”之义，故称为“藻井”。
Zhang Heng's Ode to Xijing explains that "the caisson": "the caisson should be in the building, and the wood should be like the well, and the painting should be written in algal script". "The well" plus the algal script pattern means "the algae is decorated in the well", so it is called "the caisson".
中国的传统建筑多为木构，防火为造屋之必须井中有水，水能克火。富有想象力的古人便把“井”搬上了屋顶，连水中的莲花、水藻，都一荣俱荣长上了屋顶，瑰丽绮美，所以藻井还有一个极美的名字——绮井。
The traditional buildings in China are mostly wood structures. Fire prevention is a must for building houses. Water can overcome fire. The imaginative ancients put the "well" on the roof, and even the lotus and algae in the water all grew on the roof. It is magnificent and beautiful, so the caisson has a very beautiful name - Qijing.
藻井通常位于室内的上方，呈伞盖形，由细密的斗拱承托，象征天宇的崇高，藻井上一般都绘有彩画、浮雕。据《风俗通》记载：“今殿作天井。井者，东井之像也。菱，水中之物。皆所以厌火也。”东井即井宿，二十八宿中的一宿，古人认为是主水的，在殿堂、楼阁最高处作井，同时装饰以荷、菱、莲等藻类水生植物，都是希望能借以压服火魔的作祟，以护祐建筑物的安全。
The caisson is usually located at the top of the room, in the form of an umbrella, supported by a fine arch, symbolizing the loftiness of the sky. Generally, the caisson is painted with colorful paintings and reliefs. According to the "General Customs", "This hall is a courtyard...
魏晋南北朝时期随着佛教的传入，藻井上出现了一些具有西域特色或者佛教风格的新纹饰，穹顶上的符号述说着不同时代的宗教文化，具有一种“从人间通向天庭”的象征意义。
During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, with the introduction of Buddhism, some new decorative patterns with Western characteristics or Buddhist style appeared on the caisson. The symbols on the dome described the religious culture of different times, with a symbolic meaning of "from the world to the heaven".
敦煌藻井简化了中国传统古建层层叠木藻井的结构，中心向上凸起，四面为斜坡，成为下大顶小的倒置斗形。主题作品在中心方井之内，周围的图案层层展开。由于藻井处于石窟内中央顶部，使石窟窟顶显有高远深邃的感觉。
Dunhuang caisson simplifies the structure of traditional Chinese ancient buildings, with the center protruding upward and the four sides sloping, forming an inverted bucket shape with a large bottom and a small top. The theme works are in the central square well, and the surrounding patterns are unfolded layer by layer.
藻井与普通天花一样都是室内装修的一种，但藻井只能用于最尊贵的建筑物，像神佛或帝王宝座顶上。唐代就有明确规定，非王公之居，不得施重拱藻井。
Like ordinary ceilings, the caisson is a kind of interior decoration, but it can only be used for the most noble buildings, such as the Buddha or the crown of the throne. It was clearly stipulated in the Tang Dynasty that no arched caisson was allowed unless it was the residence of a prince.
无数古代的建筑者，在藻井这片面积上，绘满精美绝伦的图案与华丽富贵的雕饰。 仰望那令人炫目的藻井，颇有些“天外有天”的意境，是否也是古人对于通向天庭之路的向往与想象呢？
Countless ancient builders painted exquisite patterns and ornate and rich carvings on the area of the caisson. Looking up at the dazzling caisson, there is an artistic conception of "heaven beyond heaven". Is it also the ancient people's yearning and imagination for the road to heaven?
