Temple of Heaven: Royal Altar: Royal Altar

Author: Wei Wei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: For those who travel to Beijing specifically for tourism, almost none skip the Temple of Heaven. And for those who visit Beijing for business, some may not have been to the Great Wall, but as long as they have time, they always visit the ancient altar nestled closely to the south of the Imperial City with a mix of curiosity and reverence—the solemn and spacious sacred altar that stands majestically in the center of the ancient city. The Temple of Heaven Park is located on the east side of Yongdingmen Nei and South Tianqiao Street. Built in 1420, it was originally the place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped heaven and prayed for a bountiful harvest. Covering an area of 2.73 million square meters, it is the largest ancient sacrificial complex remaining in China. The Temple of Heaven has both inner and outer walls, with the southern wall round and the northern wall square, symbolizing "the sky is round and the earth is square." The Temple of Heaven was designed in the fourth year of the Yongle reign (1406 AD) and completed in the 18th year of the same reign (1420 AD). From the eighth year of the Qianlong reign (1743 AD), it underwent over a decade of renovations, making this magnificent suburban temple even more perfect. In 1918, it was opened to the public as a park. After the liberation, the Temple of Heaven underwent large-scale, well-planned and step-by-step renovations, restoring its original spiritual charm and appearance.
The Temple of Heaven is renowned both at home and abroad for its five unique structures:
1. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (also known as the Hall without Beams);
2. The Echo Wall;
3. The Three Sound Stones;
4. The Dialogue Stones;
5. The Altar of Heaven (also known as the Circular Mound Altar).
The main building of the Temple of Heaven, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, is where emperors prayed for the five grains to be abundant. It is a triple-eaved circular hall, 38 meters high with a diameter of 32.72 meters, covered in blue glazed tiles, and entirely made of brick and wood without large beams or girders. It relies entirely on 28 wooden pillars and 36 brackets for support, showcasing exceptional artistic value in its architectural design. The four central "dragon well pillars" represent the four seasons, the 12 pillars in the middle layer symbolize the 12 months, the 12 pillars in the outer ring represent the 12 hours of the day, and the 24 pillars on the inner and outer eaves represent the 24 solar terms. The design is exquisite, and the symbolism is unique.
The Echo Wall is a high circular wall surrounding the courtyard of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, measuring 3.72 meters high, 0.9 meters thick, and 61.5 meters in diameter. The wall is made of gray bricks, polished to fit tightly together, creating a smooth and seamless surface. If two people stand at the base of the inner walls on the east and west sides, and one speaks quietly against the wall, the sound will travel along the wall to the other end, as if making a phone call, with the other person hearing it clearly. Hence, it is also known as the "Sound-Conducting Wall." It is listed as the first of China's four great echo structures.
The Three Sound Stones are the third paving stone on the imperial road in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. If you clap your hands while standing on this stone, you will hear one echo; on the second stone, you will hear two echoes; and on the third stone, you will hear three or more echoes, which is quite magical. Today, the "Three Sound Stones" add much charm to the ancient Temple of Heaven Park, bringing joy to visitors.
The "Heavenly Heart Stone" (also known as the Dialogue Stone) is inscribed with the phrase "Countless blessings follow." If you speak or make a sound while standing on the central round stone of the upper level of the Altar of Heaven, you will hear pleasant echoes coming from all directions, as if to awaken a sense of mystery in people's minds, immersing their entire souls in the of the sound. The Altar of Heaven uses the number "nine," an auspicious odd number, to represent the celestial phenomena. At the same time, it is built exceptionally high. From the top of the Altar of Heaven, you can see only the distant blue sky in all directions, with white stone lattices standing around. The stone surface beneath your feet appears as if you are in the void, further enhancing the feeling of being connected to the heavens.
Today, in the green groves west of the Altar of Harvests, several exquisite pavilions and towers have been added. On the north side is the "Double Ring Ten Thousand Years of Longevity Pavilion," with a cross-section resembling nested rings. The pavilion consists of two double-eaved round pavilions joined together, showcasing a delicate and novel structure, rarely seen in China's wooden architecture. Each wing of the "Ten Thousand Years of Longevity Pavilion" has a small square pavilion named the "Square Victory Pavilion." Corridors connect the pavilions, and the beams and brackets of the pavilions and corridors are adorned with landscape paintings, figures, flowers, and scenes of West Lake. South of the Ten Thousand Years of Longevity Pavilion is a fan-shaped building named the "Fan Pavilion," with a gray roof and Suzhou-style paintings, exuding elegance and uniqueness. To the southeast of the Ten Thousand Years of Longevity Pavilion is a hexagonal painted pavilion named the "Hundred Flowers Pavilion," which is in harmony with the Ten Thousand Years of Longevity Pavilion, Square Victory Pavilion, and Fan Pavilion, creating a dazzling and picturesque scene.
The Rose Garden in the Temple of Heaven Park has over 600 varieties, making it one of the largest rose gardens in China. There are also more than 3,800 ancient cypresses in the park, the most concentrated collection of ancient cypresses in Beijing. The Temple of Heaven, with its exquisite design, clever construction, unique style, and remarkable application of advanced technology, stands out among the world's classical buildings, enjoying a long-standing reputation, and has become a famous tourist destination both domestically and internationally.