Temple of Heaven (China World Heritage Cultural Tourism Series)

Author: Wu Caijun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features: The Temple of Heaven was built in the mid-15th century and is located within a royal garden, surrounded by ancient pine trees. It is a well-preserved complex of temple and altar buildings. Both its overall layout and individual structures reflect the relationship between heaven and earth, which holds a central position in ancient Chinese cosmology. At the same time, these buildings also demonstrate the unique role of emperors and high-ranking officials in this relationship. In the southeastern part of Beijing's urban area lies a vast green space, at the center of which stands a magnificent, tall building with blue tiles and a golden roof. This magnificent structure is the famous Temple of Heaven, often referred to as the Altar of Heaven by many. In reality, the Temple of Heaven is only the main building of the Altar of Prayer for Good Harvests in the Temple of Heaven complex, serving as a temple where the emperor prayed for bountiful crops in the spring. The altar where the emperor held the grand winter solstice ceremony for worshipping heaven is a circular, three-tiered white marble altar located to the south of the Temple of Heaven. This white marble altar was completed in 1530, and in 1533, Emperor Shizong of the Ming Dynasty issued an edict naming this circular white marble altar the Temple of Heaven.