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BEIJING - CHINA -
TEMPLE OF HEAVEN
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The fascinating
Temple of Heaven unfortunately and surprisingly is not on all the tourist
itineraries. We had to make a special trip by taxi to visit it while the rest
of the tour group went elsewhere. It is located southeast of the Southern Gate
of Beijing City in an extensive garden park . When viewed from above the
northern part is circular and the southern part is square in conformance with
geomancy (circular sky and square earth - supernatural heaven and low earth -
blue heaven and yellow earth).There is a stone paved road through it north to
south. Toward the southern side is the circular mound platform of the Altar of
Heaven (Jitiantai). Toward the north is the circular blue tile roofed Hall of
Prayer for Good Harvestss. In between, on the central axis is the Imperial
Vault of Heaven set inside another circular walled enclosure. To the left and
right are service buildings, kitchens. and palaces. The gardens and parks
contain thousands of pine and cypress trees. All together this is the largest
architectural complex in the world dedicated to the worship of heaven
(Tiantan). The temple includes an area of 273 hectares. The Temple was begun
during the 18th year of the reign of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty - that
was 1420 by our calendar. It was the specially sacred location for Ming and
Qing dynasty emperors to offer sacrifices to Heaven for good harvests (both in
anticipation and in thanksgiving afterwards).
The main buildings are the Great Hall for Saqcrificial Rituals (dasidian), and
the Fasting Palace (Zhaigong). In the 9th year of the reign of Ming dynasty
Emperor Jiajing (1530), people offered sacrifices to heaven and earth
separately so the Circular Mound Altar (Yuanqiu) was built south of the Great
Hall for Sacrificial Rituals so the latter was then used only for sacrifices to
heaven. The Hall of Memorial Tablets (Shenbandian) was built north of the
Circular Mound Altar and leter renamed as the Imperial Vault of Heaven
(Huangqiongyu). In the 21st year of the reign of Emperor Jiajing (1542) the
Great Hall for Sacrificial Rituals was demolished and then in 1545 The Great
hall for Offering Sacrifices (Daxiangdian) was built on that site. The Great
Hall for Offering Sacrifices was round with a cone-shaped building with triple
eaves. The base fo the ahll was a triple tiered marble terrace. Other major
buildings in addition to the Circular Mound Altar were also roundin shape and
symmetrical from north to south. The Imperial Vault of Heaven in the center is
trasitional being round with double eaves and an enclosing wall. The northern
hall is higher than the southern and they are connected by the 360-meters-long
Red Stairway Bridge (Danbi Bridge).
In the 32nd year of the reign of Emperor Jiajing (1553) the southern part of
the outer city of Beijing City was extended so that the Temple of Heaven then
was enclosed within the city. The new city southern gate (Yongding Gate) was on
the direct south axis from the Imperial Palace, resulting in the Temple of
Heaven being to the east of the central city axis. To balance it the Altar of
the God of Agriculture (Xiannongtan) was to the west of this axis. At this
point the Temple of Heaven was enclosed by the extensive wall. Thus the two
worship places faced each other on either side of the central Heavenly
Thoroughfare (Tiantan).
During the reign of Emperor Qianlong the Temple of Heaven was rebuilt and
extended. In the 14th year (1749) the ircular Mound Altar was extended, thge
Imperial Vault of Heaven was rebuilt, The greagt Hall for OfferingSacrifices
was renamed as the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the triple -colored
tiles were changed to a unified grey color. These changes were to make the
Temple conplex more holy and pure, and stronger in symbolic meaning. In the
19th year (1754)_another gate was built to the south of the outer walls of the
West Gate and named the Gate of Circular Mound Altar (Huaanqiutanmen) and the
former West Gate was renamed (Gate of Altar of Prayer for Grain (Qiguatanmen).
And thus the overall layout remains to this day.
The emperors would set out from the Forbidden City traveling southward through
the Souther Gate street, then turned eastward and entered the temple enclosure
to perform the sacred rites. The procession was itself full of ritual and
imperial protocol. There was a huge escort of the imperial guard of honor.
First came the guide and then the 'treasured' elephants covered with blue
cloths The treasured elephants carried special huge bottles.. Then came the
Minwei - the official civilian minster in charge of military affairs. Then came
musicians (mostly drums and pipes) and after them five chariots. These were
followed by the armed escort carrying many large banners and flags. Then the
eight gold pieces used by the emperor and the nine-dragon yellow canopy. The
imperial carriage was of jade - a sedan chair carried by 36 attendants.
Following were hundreds of court officials, civil servants and military
officers.
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The south entrance gate into the grounds of
the Temple of Heaven - the circular Altar of Heaven is seen through the gate.
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The entrance into the gate to the inner court
of the Temple of Heaven
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The entrance into the gate to the inner court
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The Circular Mound Altar - Altar of Heaven
1530 Ming Dynasty (9th year of the reign of Emperor Jiajing. - enlarged in
1749. It is marble and was the location for the prayers at the Winter Solstice.
It has three levels and each has four entrances with staircases. The surface is
paved with Artemisia leave grey marble. The size and shape conform to Chinese
philosophy. In the center of the upper terrace is the raised round marble, the
Heavenly Center Stone or Supreme Ulimate Stone. When one stands of this stone
and speaks there is an accoustic resonance as if one is communicating with god.
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View from the top of the Altar of Heaven
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View from the top of the Altar of Heaven
northward toward the Temple of Heaven
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View from the top of the Altar of Heaven
northward toward the Imperial Vault of Heaven and beyond it is the larger Hall
of Prayer for Good Harvests
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In forground the top of the gate out of the
Altar of Heaven - beyond it is the gate into the grounds of the Imperial Vault
of Heaven - the top of that Vault is seen above the gate - and behind it is
part of the larger Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.
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In forground the top of the gate out of the
Altar of Heaven - beyond it is the gate into the grounds of the Imperial Vault
of Heaven - the top of that Vault is seen above the gate - and behind it is
part of the larger Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.
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Detail of some of the blue tile and a
decorative head that adorns so much of the buildings in the Temple of Heaven
complex.
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The entrance gate into the enclosure around
the Imperial Vault of Heaven
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Decription of the Imperial Vault of Heaven
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The Imperial Vault of Heaven built in 1530
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The Imperial Vault of Heaven
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One of the support buildings in the enclosure
around the Imperial Vault of Heaven - note the circular wall - called the Echo
wall since when one speaks next to it the sound carries for quite a distance
along it.
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A support building in the enclosure of the
Imperial Vault of Heaven
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Detail of the building next to the Imperial
Vault of Heaven
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Stele boxes and candle holders inside the
Imperial Vault of Heaven - these were used in the worship ceremonies.
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Detail of the upper part of the Imperial
Vault of Heaven
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Detail of another section of the overhang
above the doors of the Imperial Vault of Heaven
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One of the support buildings within the 'echo
wall' that encloses the Imperial Vault of Heaven
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The next wall and triple gate - between the
walk way to the Hall for Prayer for Good Harvests
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The next wall and triple gate - between the
walk way to the Hall for Prayer for Good Harvests
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Ceiling in the Imperial Vault of Heaven
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Worship articles in the Imperial Vault of
Heaven
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Inside the Imperial Vault of Heaven
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Column inside the Imperial Vault of Heaven
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Gate into the enclosure of the Hall of Prayer
for Good Harvest seen over the gate from the Imperial Vault of Heaven
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Another support building inside the wall
around the Imperial Vault of Heaven
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The rear side of the Imperial Vault of Heaven
seen from below
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Detail of decorated tiles at the Imperial
Vault of Heaven
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Stele boxes and braziers used in religious
ceremonies
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Entrance gate into the enclosure around the
Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest
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The rear of the Imperial Vault of Heaven from
outside its enclousing circular wall.
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The rear of the Imperial Vault of Heaven from
outside its enclousing circular wall.
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The Chengzhen Entrance gate
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View back through the Chengzhen entrance gate
looking at the Imperial Vault of Heaven
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Detail of the guardian figures on one corner
of the roof of the Chengzhen entrance gate
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The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest seen in
the distance behind its entrance gate - with support buildings on either side.
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Close up of the entrance into the Hall of
Prayer for Good Harvest. The Hall was built according to Chinese philosophy and
astronomic knowledge. The hall is high above while the altar is below. One
needs to understand that the altar is the entire marble platform on which the
hall is centered (not some western altar inside). The altar is about5.2 meters
high in three levels. The upper level is 68 meters in diameter, the middle
level is 80 meters and the lowest level is 91 meters in diameter. Each layer is
surrounded by a marble balustrade. The top level has spiral dragon with its
head emeerging from the water face. The middle level has columns decorated with
the painting of phoenix's head emerging from water surface and the bottom layer
columns are adorned with patterns of clouds coming out of the water surface. On
the south-north axis there are three huge white marble red steps with stone
carvings. The top level is engraved with patterns of dragons, the middle level
with patterns of phoenix, and the lowest level with patterns of mountains, sea
and clouds.
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Telephoto view of two costumed re-enactors
depicting an emperor - standing in front of a support building near the Hall of
Prayer for Good Harvest.
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The enrance gate
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View through the outer entrance gate and
through the inner gate with a part of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest
beyond.
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Now approaching the inner gate into the
enclosure around the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest - seen through a doorway
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Passing through the entrance gate we see the
full glory of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest - A Chinese guide is waving
his flag to assemble his group
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Here is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest
on its 3 tiered platform
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Detail of the decorative sections between the
stair cases leading up to the Hall
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The ceiling inside the Hall of Prayer for
Good Harvest with four supporting columns
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A ink on paper rendition of the Hall of
Prayer for Good Harvest
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This cutaway model of the Hall is behind
glass in one of the support buildings
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Close-up of the east side of the Hall -
entrance seen on the left.
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The interior of the Hall of Prayer for Good
Harvest seen through the doorway
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Close-up of several columns and items in the
interior of the Hall
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Close-up view of the west side of the Hall of
Prayer for Good Harvest
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One of the support buildings near the Hall
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The gate on east side of the Hall that leads
to the Long Corridor to the Divine Kitchen and Butcher house - Those buildings
were the place at which sacrifical food was prepared and then brought to the
Hall at the proper moment.
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Another view of the Hall of Prayer for Good
Harvest seen from close to the triple platform
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View of interior of the Hall
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Detail of wall and roof
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Detail of building and enclosure wall tiles.
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The Temple of Heaven grounds are a large park
which is a favorite spot for many musicians who live in the vicinity. Here are
two gentlemen playing the Chinese violin and a lady singing to their
accompanyment.
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Another local musician enjoying the park
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The north gate and wall around the Temple of
Heaven
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A lovely flower display beside the walkway
north of the Temple of Heaven
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