未央宮由漢高祖命令丞相蕭何監造，自惠帝開始，未央宮就成為皇帝的住處，地位冠絕其他漢代宮闕，既是天子主要作息之地，也是帝國權力的中心。

Weiyang Palace was constructed under the supervision of Chancellor Xiao He at the order of Emperor Gaozu. As the residence of the emperor since the reign of Emperor Hui, Weiyang Palace had an illustrious status among all the Han dynasty palaces – it was where the emperors lived and rested, and the centre of power of the empire.

根據《三輔黃圖》記載，位於未央宮中央的前殿是以香木為椽，門扇嵌有玉石，鋪首鎏金，裝飾極為奢華。

According to the records of The Yellow Plans of the Three Capital Commanderies, the Front Hall in the middle of the Weiyang Palace was built with an incense wood rafter. The doors were adorned with jade and gilded animal mask door knockers. The palace was opulently decorated.

椒即花椒，椒房殿是皇后的住處，據說花椒結果甚多，有子孫繁衍的寓意，加上把花椒研碎塗抹在牆上會產生香氣，故此這個宮殿可配合皇后的身份。

Jiao means Sichuan pepper. Jiaofang Hall was the residence of the empress. It was said that Sichuan peppers bear many fruits, and therefore imply generations of offspring. Crushed Sichuan peppers are fragrant. This palace was, therefore, a good match for the empress' role.

少府掌管從山海池澤徵收的稅項，也是管理皇室事務的機構。樂府隸屬少府，在漢初主要負責供宮廷觀賞享樂的各種音樂。

Shaofu, or Chamberlain for the palace revenue, oversaw collection of taxes on natural resources; it also looked after miscellaneous affairs of the imperial court. Yuefu was an affiliate bureau of Shaofu (Chamberlain for the palace revenue). It was responsible for the various genres of music for imperial enjoyment and entertainment during the early Han period.

中央官署為管理兵器生產的地方。當時中央官署中收藏的器物（主要是弩和弓）的標籤，其內容對研究西漢時期的工官設置、中央倉儲及武器管理制度都具有重要價值。

Zhongyang Guanshu is a place to manage weapon production. Bone labels, could be labels of implements, stored in the Zhongyang Guanshu. The contents on bone labels are significant for studying the organisation of the Office of Workmen, the contents of the central repository and the system for managing weapons during the Western Han dynasty.

丞相蕭何建未央宮時，於北宮門和東宮門外修築高大闕樓。(《 漢書•高帝紀》)

Tall watchtowers were built outside the north and east palace gate when the Chancellor Xiao He supervised the construction of Weiyang Palace. (Annals of Emperor Gaozu, The Book of Han)