1 Faith and vanity, throughout the centuries, have often been the qualities that have inspired men to build. The majestic (宏伟壮丽的) TaiMahal, however, is a notable exception. The famous domed (穹顶) building is a memorial to the deep love of Shah Jahan, the fifth King of the Mogul empire, for a cherished wife, who died in childbirth. 2 Indeed, since its construction in the mid-17th century, the shimmering monument of white marble, set among peaceful gardens and pools, has attracted many tourists and pilgrims (朝圣者). Visitors are as moved by the many legends surrounding its creation as they are interested by its serene elegance... 3 Begun in 1631, the mausoleum (陵墓) took some 20,000 workmen 22 years to build at a cost of 40 million rupees. 4 Shah Hahan was apparently so pleased with the elegant mausoleum that he beheaded his chief architect, cut off the hands of the architect's assistants, and blinded the draftsmen, so that they would never be able to create a building better than it.