該(gai)閣建于明(ming)洪武年間,為3層(ceng)重檐斗拱(gong)建筑,由36根(gen)高大(da)的(de)(de)圓柱支(zhi)撐(cheng),頂(ding)部全是梁(liang)架半(ban)拱(gong),漸次往上(shang)收攏成八卦形(xing),至屋(wu)頂(ding)為太極圖。屋(wu)頂(ding)系金黃(huang)(huang)琉璃瓦鋪就,外觀(guan)(guan)飛(fei)檐翅角,看(kan)(kan)上(shang)去端莊大(da)方,氣(qi)勢雄(xiong)偉。樓(lou)內(nei)有精美的(de)(de)壁畫,泥塑和浮雕,樓(lou)前有兩亭一臺,還有3棵枝繁葉茂(mao)的(de)(de)大(da)青樹,旁邊有太清(qing)仙(xian)境、玄(xuan)帝觀(guan)(guan)、文昌(chang)宮等(deng)建筑,為保山的(de)(de)八景之一。十分(fen)玄(xuan)妙的(de)(de)是,玉皇閣的(de)(de)第二層(ceng)掛(gua)有一塊(kuai)匾(bian),從正面(mian)看(kan)(kan)是 “至誠無息”朱黃(huang)(huang)色(se)(se)大(da)字;從左邊看(kan)(kan)是“龍飛(fei)鳳舞”紅綠色(se)(se)大(da)字;從右(you)邊看(kan)(kan)則是“海晏河清(qing)”褐紅色(se)(se)大(da)字,實為奇中(zhong)之奇,至今無人(ren)能說(shuo)得清(qing)其(qi)中(zhong)的(de)(de)奧妙,充(chong)分(fen)反(fan)映了古代勞(lao)動人(ren)民的(de)(de)聰明(ming)才(cai)智(zhi)。
據《永昌府志》載,玉皇(huang)閣(ge)為明嘉靖二(er)十(shi)四(si)(si)年(公元1545年)郡人馮君魯在(zai)原毗(pi)盧閣(ge)廢址(zhi)上(shang)所(suo)建,現存大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)及大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)前丹墀兩(liang)側(ce)(ce)之(zhi)鐘鼓二(er)亭(ting)(ting)。大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)矗立在(zai)鑲嵌(qian)青(qing)石(shi)浮雕的(de)高(gao)臺基(ji)(ji)座上(shang),基(ji)(ji)座平面(mian)401平方米(mi)(mi),高(gao)闊方直,呈(cheng)灰(hui)青(qing)色調,給人以(yi)(yi)素雅博大(da)(da)之(zhi)感。其上(shang)所(suo)承大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)為三(san)重檐(yan)歇山(shan)頂(ding)(ding),早先曾塑(su)玉皇(huang)金(jin)身座像(xiang)和(he)四(si)(si)大(da)(da)真人巨型立像(xiang)。大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)面(mian)闊5間(jian),23米(mi)(mi);進(jin)深5間(jian),17米(mi)(mi)。下(xia)(xia)有六六三(san)十(shi)六根大(da)(da)柱(zhu)舉架支撐,中(zhong)(zhong)柱(zhu)通高(gao)13.6米(mi)(mi)。明間(jian)和(he)次間(jian)之(zhi)間(jian)采(cai)用(yong)移柱(zhu)法將中(zhong)(zhong)柱(zhu)后移,以(yi)(yi)擴(kuo)寬(kuan)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)堂中(zhong)(zhong)央空間(jian);穹頂(ding)(ding)呈(cheng)覆斗形(xing)八卦藻井,頂(ding)(ding)面(mian)繪太極圖;殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)壁畫飄逸多姿,一派仙家(jia)氣象(xiang);格(ge)子(zi)門(men)勻(yun)雕有動(dong)物(wu)、花卉,空靈娟秀。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)頂(ding)(ding)通覆黃(huang)色琉璃瓦,正(zheng)脊飾以(yi)(yi)寶頂(ding)(ding)、禽獸(shou)、鴟吻,垂脊亦作花飾、尾吻,四(si)(si)角懸(xuan)以(yi)(yi)風鈴。三(san)重檐(yan)下(xia)(xia)均懸(xuan)巨匾(bian),尤其是二(er)層(ceng)檐(yan)口懸(xuan)掛的(de)四(si)(si)塊木(mu)質(zhi)浮雕彩繪的(de)單(dan)字(zi)(zi)匾(bian)引人注目,正(zheng)視(shi)為“至誠無(wu)息”四(si)(si)個(ge)朱黃(huang)大(da)(da)字(zi)(zi),右側(ce)(ce)(北)視(shi)為“龍飛鳳舞”四(si)(si)個(ge)紅綠色大(da)(da)字(zi)(zi),左側(ce)(ce)(南)視(shi)為“諸(zhu)神參天”四(si)(si)個(ge)紅褐(he)色大(da)(da)字(zi)(zi),一匾(bian)而三(san)用(yong),建筑師匠心獨運,由(you)此可見一斑。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)前兩(liang)側(ce)(ce)為鐘鼓二(er)亭(ting)(ting),昔時亭(ting)(ting)內(nei)懸(xuan)鐘架鼓,朝(chao)暮(mu)為聲(sheng);大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)北鄰之(zhi)會真樓,為徐霞客(ke)當年游(you)歷(li)保山(shan)下(xia)(xia)榻處所(suo)。
云南保(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)太保(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)山(shan)門(men),太保(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)景(jing)區(qu)有玉(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)皇(huang)閣(ge)、玉(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)佛(fo)殿(dian)(dian)、角亭龍雕、山(shan)頂(ding)戲樓、山(shan)頂(ding)武侯(hou)祠、石楠(nan)樹、印度榕(rong)、同心樹、二十四節氣(qi)石刻等景(jing)點(dian)。玉(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)皇(huang)閣(ge)位于太保(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)山(shan)門(men)不遠處,緊鄰(lin)玉(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)佛(fo)殿(dian)(dian),始建(jian)(jian)于明代(dai),經歷(li)代(dai)修葺建(jian)(jian)設終(zhong)成(cheng)今天的(de)規(gui)模(mo)。保(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)太保(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)玉(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)皇(huang)閣(ge)有麒麟、鐘鼓亭、金鑾寶殿(dian)(dian)、山(shan)神殿(dian)(dian)、三(san)官殿(dian)(dian)等景(jing)點(dian)。其(qi)莊嚴(yan)超拔的(de)氣(qi)勢(shi)、精妙至極(ji)的(de)建(jian)(jian)筑工藝令人贊嘆(tan),可謂古(gu)“西(xi)南絲綢之路”重(zhong)鎮一顆光(guang)耀奪目(mu)的(de)古(gu)建(jian)(jian)筑瑰(gui)寶。玉(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)皇(huang)閣(ge)曾經是保(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)市(shi)博物館所在地。后改(gai)為(wei)(wei)宗教(jiao)活動場所,現為(wei)(wei)隆陽區(qu)道協(xie)所在地。 2006年(nian)05月25日,保(bao)(bao)(bao)山(shan)玉(yu)(yu)(yu)(yu)皇(huang)閣(ge)作為(wei)(wei)明代(dai)古(gu)建(jian)(jian)筑,被國務院批準列入(ru)第(di)六批全國重(zhong)點(dian)文物保(bao)(bao)(bao)護單(dan)位名(ming)單(dan)。