Altar and Temple of Heaven - Lauren Smith

General Description
The Altar and Temple of Heaven are part of a complex. This complex is located in Beijing, China. The temple is a Buddhist temple. The temple was built between 1406-1420 during the time of the emperor Yongle. The temple is shaped like a tree. “The complex is located south of the palace and is surrounded by a four mile wall”(Lazzari 258). The complex where the temple and altar are located also consists of three of structures called the hall of prayer for good harvest, imperial vault of heaven and the earthly mount. The complex was built for the use of political and religious ceremonies in regards to “offering sacrifices to heaven and pray for good harvests. (Kinabaloo)” The temple and altar complex was originally called the Temple of heaven and Earth. The temple of heaven was built first back in the early 1400’s and then during the 16th century, the emperor Jiajing built the complex.

Architectural Design
As stated earlier, the Temple was originally built is the early 1400’s and restored in 1754. “The temple is a three-tier pagoda, a cone shaped structure distinguished by its layers of eaves and gilded orb on top” (Lazzari 258). The temple is said to be 125 feet high and 100 feet wide. Shelter is said to be provided from the sun and rain by the wide eaves in the temple. The roof has 28 posts that support it from the interior. The roof consists of blue tile that curves. The walls on the outside of the temple are red with bands of gold. The interior of the temple has many different warm colors decorated throughout. There are four central posts also within the temple. The center of the temple has a stone floor that is made of marble that depicts a design of a dragon and a phoenix. The 3 terraces that provide a greater appeal to the large ornate temple surround the outside of the temple. The Altar of Heaven is located at the southern end of the complex and was constructed in 1530. “It consists of three tiered plinth that rises 5 meters from a square yard” (Kinabaloo). It was rebuilt in marble in 1740.

Harmony with Nature
The round shape in Chinese society symbolizes the heavens and the square shape represents the earth. This articulates they built why the temple round and the complex in a square shape. The direction the temple and altar face are south which represents “temperature of the weather and abundance”, which is very important to the Chinese in regards to their harvests and fortune in life. (Lazzari 258) The direction of the north represents to the Chinese as evil. All the structures in the altar and temple are symmetrical. They are enclosed by some sort of walls or railing that reflects the Chinese values of “seclusion and order” (Lazzari 258).

Symbolism and Sacred Objects
The temple is viewed as heaven on earth. The temple had four central posts that represent the four seasons of the year. There are also columns that depict the month of the year as well as the representation of night and day. The blue tiles on the roof of the temple depict the heaven and the sky. It is said that the temple of heaven helps link the emperors to the religious as well as the political aspects of their dynasties. The symbolism seen in the altar of heaven is seen by the strong influence of numerology that the Chinese have. This reflected in the number of stones in the tiers of the altar. They have to be multiples of 3 or 9.

How it is used by Worshippers
Originally, the altar and temple of heaven was not open to the public and Chinese citizens. It was only open to the emperor and his dynasty. The emperor would worship the many gods like the god of earth, water, and agriculture. The emperor also performed rituals and sacrifices. The outcomes of these rituals and sacrifices weighed a lot upon Chinese society in regards to if the had good harvest and fortune after each ritual or sacrifice. In the early 1900’s, the citizens of China were finally a loud to visit the altar and temple and see the procession of the emperor that took place. The altar and temple of Heaven, today, is used as a park and a popular tourist place.

Sources

Lazzari, Margaret and Schlesier, Dona. Exploring Art. A global, thematic approach.
2nd ed. Belmont, Ca: Thomson Wadsworth, 2005.

www.kinabaloo.com/temple of heaven

Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/altar_of_heaven