The Temple of Heaven Interior is a complex of ancient sacrificial buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing. The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. It has been regarded as a Taoist temple, although Chinese Heaven worship, especially by the reigning monarch of the day, predates Taoism.
Architecture
The Temple of Heaven interior is divided into two parts. The northern part is semi-circular in shape, representing Heaven, and the southern part is square, representing the earth. The northern part is higher than the southern part. It is connected to the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Circular Mound Altar. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is a three-tiered wooden structure, built on a three-level marble terrace. It is 38 metres high and has four inner, twelve middle and twelve outer pillars. These represent the four seasons, twelve months and twelve traditional Chinese hours respectively. The ceiling is decorated with a central round pattern and four sets of 28 patterns, which symbolize the 28 lunar mansions.
The Circular Mound Altar
The Circular Mound Altar is a three-tiered terrace with a circular altar in the centre. It is surrounded by a balustrade and there are four sets of stone stairs, one at each of the cardinal points. It was used for the emperor to offer sacrifices to Heaven. On the altar, there are four flagpoles, representing the four seasons and twelve stone tablets, representing the twelve months.
Imperial Vault of Heaven
The Imperial Vault of Heaven is a single-gabled circular building, built on a single level of marble stone base. It is surrounded by a smooth circular wall, which has a door on each side. The building is connected to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests by a raised walkway. Inside the vault is a stone platform, which is believed to be the place where the Emperor prayed for good harvest. The ceiling is painted with a picture of the sun, moon and stars.
Other Structures
In addition to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Circular Mound Altar and the Imperial Vault of Heaven, there are several other structures in the Temple of Heaven interior. These include the Echo Wall, which is a curved wall that allows sound to travel along it; the Imperial Star Watching Platform, where the emperor observed the stars; and the Three Echo Stones, which are three stones arranged in a triangle that produce three different tones when struck.
Symbolism
The Temple of Heaven interior is filled with symbolism. The structures are arranged in a precise pattern, with the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests in the centre, surrounded by the Circular Mound Altar and the Imperial Vault of Heaven. This is thought to represent the relationship between Heaven and Earth. The number of pillars in the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is also symbolic. The four inner pillars represent the four seasons, the twelve middle pillars represent the twelve months and the twelve outer pillars represent the twelve traditional Chinese hours. The colours of the buildings are also symbolic, with blue and yellow representing Heaven and Earth respectively.
Conclusion
The Temple of Heaven interior is a complex of ancient sacrificial buildings located in Beijing. It is filled with symbolism, from the arrangement of the structures to the colours of the buildings. It was used by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest. It is a place of great beauty and historical importance, and is a must-see for anyone visiting Beijing.