上海博物馆展出一件“透光镜”，它是西汉时期的珍品，直径为11.5厘米。这面铜镜与普通铜镜一样，背面有图案，还有铭文。
In Shanghai Museum, one finds a treasure of the Western Han period, the "penetrative bronze mirror", measuring 11. 5 cm in diameter. Like ordinary bronze mirrors, it bears patterns and inscriptions on the back.
奇怪的是，当一束光线照到镜面，反射投影在墙壁上，墙上的光亮圈内竟出现铜镜背面的图案和文字，好像是从镜背“透”过来的，故称“透光镜”。
But what amazes people is that when a bundle of rays is projected onto the surface of the mirror, which, in turn, reflects the light onto the wall, the patterns and inscriptions on the backside are shown in the ring of the light, as if they had penetrated the whole thickness of the mirror. Hence the name of the mirror.
对于这种现象，在过去很长的时间里，科学家们都感到惊奇，人们把它称作“魔镜”。
For a long time in the past, even scientists were so puzzled at the phenomenon that it was called a "magic mirror."
今天，我国已可仿制出售，作为旅游纪念品，很受外国游客的欢迎。我国古代常把铜镜当作随葬品。
Today, reproductions of this mirror are being made and sold as souvenirs and they appeal very much to tourists. In ancient times, bronze mirrors were very often used as sacrificial objects.
在古墓中，往往发现铜镜放置在死者的头顶或胸侧。有时把铜镜和木梳一起放在漆匣内或小荷包里。
In the ancient tombs, one can always expect to find bronze mirrors placed on top of the head or beside the chest of the dead. Sometimes, bronze mirrors and combs were put together in lacquer boxes or small pouches.
在发掘古墓时，还发现有的铜镜放在墓顶上方，据说这是为了“辟邪”和“降妖”。(245字)
In unearthing ancient tombs, bronze mirrors were sometimes discovered on the inner topsides, in order to keep away evil spirits and subdue demons, so it was said.
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