{short description of image}  
 

BEIJING - CHINA - TEMPLE OF HEAVEN

 
 

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.

 
{short description of image}

The south entrance gate into the grounds of the Temple of Heaven - the circular Altar of Heaven is seen through the gate.

 
{short description of image}

The entrance into the gate to the inner court of the Temple of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

The entrance into the gate to the inner court

 
{short description of image}

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.

 
{short description of image}

View from the top of the Altar of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

View from the top of the Altar of Heaven northward toward the Temple of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

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

 
{short description of image}

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.

 
{short description of image}

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.

 
{short description of image}

Detail of some of the blue tile and a decorative head that adorns so much of the buildings in the Temple of Heaven complex.

 
{short description of image}

The entrance gate into the enclosure around the Imperial Vault of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

Decription of the Imperial Vault of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

The Imperial Vault of Heaven built in 1530

 
{short description of image}

The Imperial Vault of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

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.

 
{short description of image}

A support building in the enclosure of the Imperial Vault of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

Detail of the building next to the Imperial Vault of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

Stele boxes and candle holders inside the Imperial Vault of Heaven - these were used in the worship ceremonies.

 
{short description of image}

Detail of the upper part of the Imperial Vault of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

Detail of another section of the overhang above the doors of the Imperial Vault of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

One of the support buildings within the 'echo wall' that encloses the Imperial Vault of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

The next wall and triple gate - between the walk way to the Hall for Prayer for Good Harvests

 
{short description of image}

The next wall and triple gate - between the walk way to the Hall for Prayer for Good Harvests

 
{short description of image}

Ceiling in the Imperial Vault of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

Worship articles in the Imperial Vault of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

Inside the Imperial Vault of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

Column inside the Imperial Vault of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

Gate into the enclosure of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest seen over the gate from the Imperial Vault of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

Another support building inside the wall around the Imperial Vault of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

The rear side of the Imperial Vault of Heaven seen from below

 
{short description of image}

Detail of decorated tiles at the Imperial Vault of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

Stele boxes and braziers used in religious ceremonies

 
{short description of image}

Entrance gate into the enclosure around the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest

 
{short description of image}

The rear of the Imperial Vault of Heaven from outside its enclousing circular wall.

 
{short description of image}

The rear of the Imperial Vault of Heaven from outside its enclousing circular wall.

 
{short description of image}

The Chengzhen Entrance gate

 
{short description of image}

View back through the Chengzhen entrance gate looking at the Imperial Vault of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

Detail of the guardian figures on one corner of the roof of the Chengzhen entrance gate

 
{short description of image}

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest seen in the distance behind its entrance gate - with support buildings on either side.

 
{short description of image}

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.

 
{short description of image}

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.

 
{short description of image}

The enrance gate

 
{short description of image}

View through the outer entrance gate and through the inner gate with a part of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest beyond.

 
{short description of image}

Now approaching the inner gate into the enclosure around the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest - seen through a doorway

 
{short description of image}

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

 
{short description of image}

Here is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest on its 3 tiered platform

 
{short description of image}

Detail of the decorative sections between the stair cases leading up to the Hall

 
{short description of image}

The ceiling inside the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest with four supporting columns

 
{short description of image}

A ink on paper rendition of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest

 
{short description of image}

This cutaway model of the Hall is behind glass in one of the support buildings

 
{short description of image}

Close-up of the east side of the Hall - entrance seen on the left.

 
{short description of image}

The interior of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest seen through the doorway

 
{short description of image}

Close-up of several columns and items in the interior of the Hall

 
{short description of image}

Close-up view of the west side of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest

 
{short description of image}

One of the support buildings near the Hall

 
{short description of image}

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.

 
{short description of image}

Another view of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest seen from close to the triple platform

 
{short description of image}

View of interior of the Hall

 
{short description of image}

Detail of wall and roof

 
{short description of image}

Detail of building and enclosure wall tiles.

 
{short description of image}

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.

 
{short description of image}

Another local musician enjoying the park

 
{short description of image}

The north gate and wall around the Temple of Heaven

 
{short description of image}

A lovely flower display beside the walkway north of the Temple of Heaven

 

Return to Xenophon