百年前的秘密
Recently, the tourism and travel industry compiled a list of the 23 most unique or romantically beautiful churches in Taiwan.
日前旅遊業整理出全台23座最具特色或美麗浪漫的教堂。
compile(v.)彙整;整理
It is evident from this compilation that the more historical value a church possesses; the more its design is reflective of the architectural style of medieval Europe, especially the Renaissance period.
其中發現越有歷史價值的老教堂，越是披蓋著歐洲中古世紀，尤其是文藝復興時期的薄紗。
evident(adj.)顯然的=clear=apparentcompilation(n.)匯編;編纂;編輯;編製be reflective(adj.) of~反映出=reflect(v.)
Most of these churches have drawn inspiration from Gothic architecture.
它們多數帶有仿哥德式的風格。
draw inspiration from~從…當中汲取靈感Gothic(adj.)哥德式的
As we pull back the mysterious shrouds on the graceful facades of these churches, we gain a glimpse of the rich trove of historical memories that they guard.
掀開優美神秘的外衣，我們發現底下埋藏的歷史記憶。
shroud(n.)幕;面紗=veilfacade(n.)(建築物)正面a glimpse of~一瞥;窺見guard(v.)守衛;保守(秘密);遮掩
Before the Han Chinese migrated to Taiwan, nine aboriginal peoples made up most of the Taiwanese population.
在漢人尚未移民來台前，台灣的人口結構以原住民九族為主。
migrate(v.)移民;遷徙aboriginal(adj.)原住民的=native=indigenous
They were mostly of the Protestant or Catholic faith due to Dutch and Spanish colonialism in the 17th century.
而他們的主要宗教信仰為基督教與天主教，起源於十七世紀的荷蘭與西班牙殖民。
Protestant(n.)新教徒(adj.)新教的Catholic(n.)天主教(徒)colonialism(n.)殖民主義
In that era, religion was the guiding force in the world, exerting great influence on politics and economy. It is easy to see how missionary work played a huge role in colonialism.
當時世界由宗教力量來主導政治、經濟，可見傳教在殖民環節所占重要性。
guiding force主導力量exert influence on~對…發揮影響力play a... role in~扮演......的角色
In the early stages of colonialism, the language barrier between the colonizers and the natives presented a significant hurdle. Hence, churches were constructed and used as distribution centers for missionaries to hand out foodstuffs, such as milk powder and rice, to the aboriginal peoples, as part of the missionary work.
殖民初期語言不通，殖民者藉興建教堂，發放奶粉、米等食糧來貼近當時的原住民，以達傳教目的。
language barrier語言障礙hurdle(n.)阻礙=obstacledistribution(n.)分配
Today, the significance of these churches has gone way beyond religious faith, for they are also places where the aboriginal peoples can learn about and establish their cultural and ethnic identities.
至今，這些美麗建築下賦予的不單只是宗教信仰，還已成為原住民族認識與建立文化和族群認同的場所。
significance(n.)重要性go way beyond~遠遠超過了…ethnic(adj.)民族的、種族identity(n.)身份;認同
For instance, the natives celebrate Christmas as their new year and Thanksgiving Day as their harvest festival.
如聖誕節成為原住民族新年，教會的感恩節變成豐年祭。
commemorate(v.)紀念=markharvest(n.)收成;豐收harvest festival豐年祭
In these beautiful chapels sitting on the hills, there remain the moving stories of nameless and selfless missionaries who, more than a century ago, left their homes to fulfill their calling.
在山上的美麗教堂，其實後面隱藏著百年前，有一群默默無名的傳教士們，他們離鄉背井，無私奉獻的感人故事。
chapel(n.)(基督教)小教堂;禮拜堂selfless(adj.)無私的=altruisticcalling(n.)(通常具有社會價值的)責任感;使命感