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Tiantan Park The Temple of Heaven
Tiantan Park also called the Temple of Heaven has become the symbol of Beijing. The temple represents the perfection of the Ming Dynasty's architecture. Here shape, color and sound have symbolic importance. It was designed for the communion between heaven and earth. It is set in a 267-hectare park that has 4 gates, which are on the 4 compass points. There are two walls, which divides the ground into an interior and exterior area. The north walls are semi-circle and the southern walls are square. Aerial pictures of this vast temple show round buildings atop square bases. This is all from the Chinese traditional belief that Heaven was round and the earth square. Originally the Temple of Heaven was a place that the Son of Heaven came to pray for good harvests, seek divine advice and atone for the sins of the people. The ground was considered sacred and this was where the emperor would perform the major ceremonial rites for the year. Before the winter solstice the emperor and his officials walked down Qianmen Dajie to the Imperial Vault of Heaven in total silence. This procession included things such as elephant chariots, horse chariots and people such as the nobles, officials and musicians. All were dressed in their finest clothing for the times. The next day the Emperor would wait in a yellow silk tent located at the South Gate. While he waited, the officials would move the sacred tablets to the Round Altar. This is where the prayers and sacrificial rituals would take place. If there was any problems in this part of the proceedings it was believed that it was an ill omen and the nation's future was thus decided. Even though there were other ceremonies that took place this ceremony was considered the most important for the people of China at that time. Walking through this vast temple one is easily amazed at all the beauty and history that is entrenched in each stone. I was most taken with the Imperial Vault of Heaven, The Heart of Heavenly Stone,also known as the Heavenly Sound Stone and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. The following pages describe more detail about each one of these locations in the Temple of Heaven. I hope you find them as interesting as I do and enjoy them as I did.
Graphics and Photographs � Lorien Velasquez. All rights reserved. |
