Page 196 - DK Eyewitness Travel Guides - The World's Must-See Places

194 ASIA Temple of Heaven, Beijing

Built during the Ming dynasty, Tiantan, commonly called
the Temple of Heaven, is one of the largest temple
complexes in China and a model of Chinese architectural
balance and symbolism. It was here that the emperor,
after a ceremonial procession from the Forbidden City,
would make sacrifices and pray to heaven at the winter
solstice. As the Son of Heaven, the emperor could
intercede with the gods on behalf of his people and
ensure a good harvest. Off-limits to the common people
during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Temple of
Heaven is situated in a large park that now attracts Gate to the Round Altar
LAYOUT OF THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN
The temple is replete with cosmological early-morning practitioners of Tai Chi.
significance. JIJI the major structures lie on the
HAll OF PRAYER FOR GOOD
favored north-south axis. The ancient Chinese
HARVESTS
saying "sky round, Earth square" is represented TEMPLE OF HEAVEN COMPLEX The Qinian Dian, or Hall of Prayer for
by the interplay of squares and circles. Heaven The main parts of the <Omplex are all connected by the Good Harvests, is the most famous
is suggested in the round, conical roofing and Red Step Bridge (an elevated ceremonial path) to form structure at the complex and is often
the blue tiles of the Hall of Prayer for Good the focal point of the park. The doorways at each triple thought to be the "Temple of Heaven."
gate are for the emperor (east), the gods (center), and
Harvests and the Imperial Vault of Heaven. In fact, Tiantan refers not to one
the officials (west). The circular Echo Wall is famous for its
The Round Altar symbolizes heaven, while supposed ability to carry a whisper from one end of the building, but to the whole complex.
Earth is there in its square enclosure. Also wall to the other.
important is numerology, with odd numbers
being the most fortunate, hence the triple Name Plaques
eaves of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests ~;- -· {H~ These often copied
and the Round Altar's three tiers. the calligraphy of
.. JIIIJ- ·~- an emperor .
. ... .
'
CEREMONIES AND RITES
The emperor would perform the ceremonies
Three door gates to the The Imperial Vault of The drcular
at the Temple of Heaven following natural Imperial Vault of Heaven Heaven, with the spirit roof symbolizes
disasters, which required the appeasement of tablets of the gods the sky
heaven, or to ensure rain and good harvests.
After fasting for three days, he would be
conveyed in a spectacular procession from the
Forbidden City to spend the night before the
sacrifice in the Palace of Abstinence. The next
day, before dawn, he would be ceremonially
robed. Then, proceeding north to south, with
sacred music and dance, he would ascend the Stone at the heart of
Round Altar to burn a freshly killed ox and the Round Altar
Red is the
bundles of silk before an array of wooden emperor's
spirit tablets (shenpai), including those of his <Oior
2 1 Hall of Prayer for Good HaiVests
ancestors, who were thus also "participating."
2 Red Step Bridge
3 Ech:> Wall
THE LAST CEREMONY
4 Imperial Vault of Heaven
Observed by China's emperors since the Zhou
5 Round Altar
dynasty (1100-771 BC), the winter solstice rites
at the Temple of Heaven were last performed
by the first president of the Republic of China,
General Yuan Shikai (1859-1916) Yuan had
helped modernize the Chinese army and, as Dragon and Phoenix Motifs
the head of such a force, could easily ask for Used inside and out, these represent
the emperor and empress.
positions of influence in return for his and the
army's support. Once he was made president,
he aimed to install himself as emperor andre- Temple of Heaven Complex
establish an imperial dynasty. He performed
the ceremony at the Temple of Heaven in 1914,
clearly asserting his imperial ambitions. How-
ever, despite donning the appropriate robes,
he failed to a chi eve the traditional majesty of
the occasion by arriving in an armored car.