Susan's Shanghai Blog - Week 14 - Beijing Temple of Heaven

We ended up walking from the North Gate of the Forbidden City all the way to the Temple of Heaven. I have no idea how far that actually is, but it seemed like about 15 miles. The Temple of Heaven is an ancient garden complex on the south side of Beijing. It was built in 1420 and was the sacred altar for emperors in the Ming and Qing dynasties to offer sacrifices to Heaven and pray for a great harvest.

When we got the the North Heaven Gate, which has 3 arches, there were musicians on both of the outer arches playing.

And then you walk down the main path towards the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, which is the largest building in the complex. It has it's own set of massives stairs and a gate.

Once you get through the gate, you get to see the actual hall. Most people who know anything about the Temple of Heaven, or see pictures of it, this is the building that is pictured and is what most people thing is the Temple of Heaven, although it really is the whole complex. The hall itself sits on top of a 3-layered white marble round altar, each layer surrounded by a marble balustrade. The 3-tiered hall topped by dark blue glazed tiles. It is supported by 28 wooden columns: 4 columns which represent the 4 seasons, 12 columns which represent the 12 months of the year and 12 columns which indicate the 12 division fo day and night (well, I don't know that I understand that one). These last 24 columns also indicate the 24 divisions of the solar year in the traditional Chinese calendar, and the 28 columns represent the 28 constellations.

There are additional buildings and gates.

There were a few of these "ovens" where supposedly they did sacrifices.

This is the Imperal Vault of Heaven and the Echo Wall. Supposedly if you face north and speak toward the wall, the sound wave will echo along the smooth round wall. We didn't try.

And finally, the Circular Mound Altar near the Zhaoheng (or South) Gate. The Altar has 3 levels or terraces, each with 4 entrances on each side. In the center of the upper terrace is the "Havenly Center Stone". They say that if you stand on this stone and speak, that there is a strange effect of acoustic resonance, as if you are communicating with gods. I stood on top, but the gods werent' listening!









Continue to the Lama Temple and Temple of Confucius