Temple of Heaven
Built between 1406 and 1420, the Temple of Heaven served as the prayer site for the emperors of the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties in China. Every year, on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the emperor would come to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest (Qi Nian Dian) to pay homage to Heaven and pray for a good harvest. He would pay homage to his ancestors as well, because he was also regarded as the Son of Heaven. In early winter, the emperor would come again to thank Heaven for the good harvest. If a drought plagued China during the summer, the emperor would also come to the temple to pray for rain.
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest was built with much symbolism. Of the twenty-eight pillars that support the domed structure, the four large ones represent the four seasons, the twelve inner pillars represent the months in the lunar calendar, and the twelve outer pillars represent the twelve two-hour time periods of a day. The hall, 32 meters high and 24.2 meters in diameter, is also a masterpiece of traditional Chinese architecture. The Taiji Stone—on the Circular Mound Altar—and Echo Wall are sites where Chinese architects demonstrated their mastery of acoustics. The Temple of Heaven became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.
Further Reading
Yu Chen, ed. (1999) Great Sites of Beijing. Beijing: Beijing Arts and Crafts Publishing House.
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven in Tiantan Park, Beijing. (DEAN CONGER/CORBIS)This is the complete article, containing 254 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
