該閣建(jian)于(yu)明洪武年間,為(wei)(wei)(wei)3層重(zhong)檐斗(dou)拱(gong)建(jian)筑(zhu),由36根(gen)高大(da)(da)的(de)圓柱支撐,頂(ding)部全是梁架半(ban)拱(gong),漸次往(wang)上收(shou)攏成八卦形,至(zhi)屋(wu)頂(ding)為(wei)(wei)(wei)太極圖。屋(wu)頂(ding)系金黃(huang)琉璃瓦鋪就,外觀(guan)飛(fei)檐翅角(jiao),看(kan)(kan)上去端莊大(da)(da)方,氣勢(shi)雄(xiong)偉。樓內有(you)(you)精美(mei)的(de)壁(bi)畫,泥塑和(he)浮雕,樓前有(you)(you)兩亭一(yi)臺(tai),還(huan)有(you)(you)3棵(ke)枝繁(fan)葉茂的(de)大(da)(da)青樹,旁邊有(you)(you)太清(qing)(qing)(qing)仙境、玄帝(di)觀(guan)、文昌宮等建(jian)筑(zhu),為(wei)(wei)(wei)保(bao)山的(de)八景之一(yi)。十分玄妙(miao)的(de)是,玉(yu)皇閣的(de)第二層掛有(you)(you)一(yi)塊匾,從(cong)正(zheng)面看(kan)(kan)是 “至(zhi)誠(cheng)無息”朱黃(huang)色(se)大(da)(da)字(zi);從(cong)左邊看(kan)(kan)是“龍飛(fei)鳳舞(wu)”紅綠色(se)大(da)(da)字(zi);從(cong)右邊看(kan)(kan)則是“海晏河清(qing)(qing)(qing)”褐紅色(se)大(da)(da)字(zi),實為(wei)(wei)(wei)奇中之奇,至(zhi)今無人能(neng)說得清(qing)(qing)(qing)其中的(de)奧妙(miao),充分反映了古代勞動人民的(de)聰明才智。
據《永(yong)昌府志》載,玉(yu)皇閣為(wei)明嘉靖二十(shi)四(si)(si)年(nian)(公元1545年(nian))郡人(ren)(ren)馮(feng)君魯在原毗盧(lu)閣廢址上(shang)所建(jian),現存大殿(dian)(dian)及大殿(dian)(dian)前(qian)(qian)丹墀兩(liang)側(ce)之(zhi)(zhi)鐘鼓二亭。大殿(dian)(dian)矗立(li)在鑲(xiang)嵌(qian)青石浮(fu)雕(diao)的高(gao)臺基座(zuo)上(shang),基座(zuo)平(ping)面(mian)(mian)401平(ping)方(fang)米,高(gao)闊(kuo)方(fang)直(zhi),呈(cheng)灰(hui)青色(se)調,給人(ren)(ren)以素雅博大之(zhi)(zhi)感(gan)。其上(shang)所承大殿(dian)(dian)為(wei)三(san)重(zhong)(zhong)檐歇山頂,早先(xian)曾塑(su)玉(yu)皇金身座(zuo)像(xiang)(xiang)和(he)四(si)(si)大真人(ren)(ren)巨型立(li)像(xiang)(xiang)。大殿(dian)(dian)面(mian)(mian)闊(kuo)5間(jian),23米;進深5間(jian),17米。下有六(liu)六(liu)三(san)十(shi)六(liu)根大柱舉架支(zhi)撐,中柱通(tong)高(gao)13.6米。明間(jian)和(he)次(ci)間(jian)之(zhi)(zhi)間(jian)采用(yong)移(yi)柱法將中柱后移(yi),以擴(kuo)寬(kuan)殿(dian)(dian)堂中央空間(jian);穹(qiong)頂呈(cheng)覆斗形(xing)八(ba)卦藻井,頂面(mian)(mian)繪太極圖;殿(dian)(dian)內壁(bi)畫飄逸多姿,一派仙家氣象;格子門勻雕(diao)有動(dong)物、花卉(hui),空靈娟秀(xiu)。殿(dian)(dian)頂通(tong)覆黃(huang)色(se)琉(liu)璃瓦,正脊飾以寶頂、禽獸、鴟吻,垂脊亦作花飾、尾吻,四(si)(si)角(jiao)懸以風鈴。三(san)重(zhong)(zhong)檐下均(jun)懸巨匾,尤其是二層檐口懸掛的四(si)(si)塊(kuai)木質(zhi)浮(fu)雕(diao)彩繪的單字匾引人(ren)(ren)注(zhu)目,正視為(wei)“至(zhi)誠無息”四(si)(si)個朱黃(huang)大字,右側(ce)(北)視為(wei)“龍飛鳳舞”四(si)(si)個紅(hong)(hong)綠(lv)色(se)大字,左側(ce)(南)視為(wei)“諸神參天”四(si)(si)個紅(hong)(hong)褐色(se)大字,一匾而三(san)用(yong),建(jian)筑師匠心獨(du)運,由此(ci)可見一斑。殿(dian)(dian)前(qian)(qian)兩(liang)側(ce)為(wei)鐘鼓二亭,昔(xi)時亭內懸鐘架鼓,朝暮為(wei)聲;大殿(dian)(dian)北鄰(lin)之(zhi)(zhi)會真樓,為(wei)徐(xu)霞客當年(nian)游歷保(bao)山下榻(ta)處所。
云南(nan)保(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)太保(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)門(men),太保(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)景(jing)區有玉(yu)(yu)皇閣、玉(yu)(yu)佛殿(dian)、角(jiao)亭龍雕、山(shan)(shan)頂戲樓、山(shan)(shan)頂武侯(hou)祠、石(shi)楠(nan)樹、印度榕、同心樹、二(er)十(shi)四節氣石(shi)刻等景(jing)點(dian)。玉(yu)(yu)皇閣位于太保(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)山(shan)(shan)門(men)不遠處,緊鄰玉(yu)(yu)佛殿(dian),始(shi)建于明代,經歷代修葺建設(she)終成今天的(de)(de)規模。保(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)太保(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)玉(yu)(yu)皇閣有麒麟、鐘鼓亭、金(jin)鑾寶殿(dian)、山(shan)(shan)神殿(dian)、三(san)官(guan)殿(dian)等景(jing)點(dian)。其(qi)莊嚴超(chao)拔的(de)(de)氣勢、精妙至極的(de)(de)建筑(zhu)工藝令人贊嘆,可謂古“西(xi)南(nan)絲綢之路”重鎮一(yi)顆(ke)光耀(yao)奪目的(de)(de)古建筑(zhu)瑰寶。玉(yu)(yu)皇閣曾(ceng)經是(shi)保(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)市博物館所在(zai)地(di)。后改為(wei)宗(zong)教(jiao)活(huo)動場所,現為(wei)隆(long)陽(yang)區道協所在(zai)地(di)。 2006年(nian)05月25日,保(bao)(bao)山(shan)(shan)玉(yu)(yu)皇閣作為(wei)明代古建筑(zhu),被國(guo)(guo)務院批準列入(ru)第六批全(quan)國(guo)(guo)重點(dian)文物保(bao)(bao)護單(dan)位名單(dan)。