An exotic country that attracts guests with an abundance of architectural and natural monuments is not in vain called a true treasury of sights left over from the oldest world civilization. The oldest state with a rich culture, rooted in the distant past, is proud of a unique building with strong energy - the embodiment of the greatness of the craftsmanship of architects and deep astrological knowledge, which China has always been famous for.
Temple of Heaven in Beijing (Tiantan) is a cult object of China. Protected by UNESCO, it is recognized as the most popular tourist attraction in the country. This is the only religious building that has a rounded shape, the roof of which is covered with blue tiles, and not red. The Tiantan architectural complex is located in the southeast of the state capital. And its location is based on the ancient knowledge of two energies - Yin (female power) and Yang (male).
Teaching about harmony
Confucian teaching says that the ruler is of divine origin. The Temple of Heaven in Beijing, the construction of which was begun by the order of Emperor Yong Le in 1406 and completed 14 years later, was a religious building, where twice a yearofferings were made so that sunny days would last as long as possible or it would finally rain. The ruler was obliged to observe the laws of the universe so as not to disturb the natural course of things, and honor them in the same way as the precepts of his father, showing the highest degree of virtue and respect for the ancestors. The Chinese believed in the perfect balance of nature and knew that in case of violation of harmony, various cataclysms should be expected.
The Monarch asked that all elements unfavorable for people occur at the right time, providing the necessary balance. If heat or cold comes in time, then the land gives a good harvest, and a powerful empire only prospers. The Laws of Heaven are the recurring cycles of nature, birth and death.
A sacred place where Chinese ideas about the world were embodied
After a hundred years later, a new religious building named after the Earth appeared, the religious complex with an area of about 267 hectares was renamed the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The architecture of the building has its own characteristics: the northern sector is made in the form of a semicircle, and the southern one is a square. The architects used various forms to deliberately divide the masterpiece into two parts.
The device, architecture, and symbolism of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing make it possible to perceive it as the main shrine in which the Chinese ideas about the world were embodied: they believed that the earth has the shape of a square, and the sky, helping people, looks like a circle.
Restored and open to the public masterpieceworld architecture
The most beautiful monument, where Heaven is connected to the Earth with the help of man, has undergone several reconstructions over the course of six hundred years, but its appearance has remained unchanged. It will take at least three hours to get around the historical complex open to the public. On its territory, surrounded by a century-old cypress forest, you can meet both locals walking in the parks and admiring tourists from all over the world.
The Temple of Heaven in Beijing, which is described in the article, was restored in 2006, and the authorities spent more than six million dollars on its restoration. At the beginning of the last century, after the overthrow of the last emperor, the religious monument, where the entrance to ordinary people was closed, was controlled by the state. Despite all the prohibitions, believers got inside the sacred structure, and already in 1918 it was opened to the public.
Important ceremony for the monarch and residents
The magnificent Temple of Heaven (Beijing), stretched from north to south, was the place where the rulers of China communicated with the gods. Only the emperor, who was considered the son of Heaven, could ask the higher powers for prosperity and well-being for the country. He went with his courtiers at the solstice to a sacred object to pray and make sacrifices.
Naturally, such an important ceremony was held in complete solitude, and ordinary people were forbidden to observe the actions of their monarch under pain of death. Residents eagerly awaited news of how the ceremony went. It was believed that if the emperor did notwill be able to receive support from higher powers, which means that Heaven does not trust him, and in the event of a crop failure, his reign may be in jeopardy.
In historical chronicles there are records that 23 emperors of the Celestial Empire performed almost seven hundred sacrifices here, strengthening their power. And only in 1911, by order of the government, the bloody rite was canceled, and seven years later the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, whose photos convey its amazing beauty, was open to all visitors.
Temperance Palace (Seclusion)
However, before performing the ceremony, the emperor was obliged to prepare for it and spend up to five days in the Temperance Palace, where he fasted and constantly meditated, purifying his soul. The huge complex, decorated with images of dragons, symbolizing the power of power, was surrounded by a deep moat filled with water and powerful stone walls. This was done in order to preserve the peace of the ruler, who daily prayed to higher powers.
Now there is a museum displaying items from the Qing era used for blood sacrifices.
Altar of Heaven
Three-tiered structure of round shape, during the construction of which cement and iron were not used, is a round pyramid with a diameter of about 67 meters. The altar has an amazing sound effect: even whispered words, heard in all corners of the altar, seem to ascend to Heaven, reflecting from the plates with multiple echoes. It is believed that, like sound, the strongest energy of an amazing place is concentrated here, therefore it is recommendedcome here at the very opening, when there are not so many people, to be alone with yourself and reflect on important topics.
Tiers made of white marble symbolize several elements - not only heavenly and earthly, but also human. People who are able to bring the most unusual ideas to life and create something new connect them. And this trinity was embodied in the architecture of the altar, in which, after many centuries, not a single crack appeared.
Wish-granting stove
From the four cardinal directions, gates lead to it, and each of the stairs consists of nine steps. In the center of the altar, where the ruler performed the rite of sacrifice to the gods, there is a huge stone slab on which the emperor knelt, entering the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and communicated with higher powers.
There is a belief that it fulfills the most cherished dreams, and therefore tourists who make wishes must stand on it. The plate is surrounded by a ring consisting of nine platforms, and in the ninth ring there are already 81 of them. The number 9 is the number of the ruler, which denotes the nine levels of the sky.
Hall of Sacrificial Prayers (Harvest)
A three-tiered wooden structure, built without the use of cement or nails, was rebuilt after being struck by lightning. It is considered the main attraction of the religious complex called the Temple of Heaven (Beijing). In the hall where the emperor prayed to the gods for a good harvest, there are wooden columns symbolizing 12 months, four seasons and 28 constellations. Herselfthe design of the hall shows the correct celestial order that should be on earth.
The top of the cone-shaped structure with a six-meter marble terrace, made in the shape of a circle, is crowned with a golden ball. The interior decoration strikes with amazing luxury, and the ceiling decorated with elegant carvings, which you want to admire, is especially delightful. Tour guides claim that the hall is decorated with 5,000 images of dragons that retain their vibrant colors, which is why it is so popular with photographers who take spectacular pictures.
Hall of the Firmament (Majesty)
The small hall covered with blue tiles, where the emperor addressed the heavenly powers, is a bit like the temple of the Harvest. It was designed to store ancient tablets with the inscribed names of the ancestors of the clan of the great emperor of China and the names of natural elements. If you stand on the stone slabs in front of its entrance and shout, you can hear multiple echoes. This is due to the reflection of sound waves from a circular wall surrounding a small room.
True, as tourists say, there are always a lot of people trying to verify this statement in practice, and therefore there is a terrible rumble in which nothing can be distinguished.
What else to see?
The Temple of Heaven in Beijing, which is impossible to describe briefly, is rich in famous sights, but there are enough places of interest for tourists on its territory. So, here are the secondary halls, where services to the gods were previously held, and now inthere are souvenir shops.
Covered galleries, whose ceilings display scenes from Chinese history and views, are incredibly popular: they not only guide visitors along a given route, but also save them from the heat. Here you can rest after an exciting journey, refresh yourself, enjoy the wonderful scenery and just chat with other tourists.
There are also cozy pavilions, next to which stones of bizarre shapes are scattered randomly.
Temple of Heaven in Beijing: how to get there?
You can visit the world masterpiece of architectural art as part of an organized tour or on your own. An amazing religious complex is located in the very center of the capital of China, on the territory of the park of the same name - Tiantan Park. You can get to it by city buses, which follow to the entrance to one of the four gates. To the north there are routes numbered 6, 34, 35, 36, 106, 707, 743, to the south - 36, 120, 122, 800, 803, 958, to the west - 2, 7, 15, 17, 20, 105, 707, 729, 742, 744, Eastern - 6, 34, 35, 36, 39, 41, 43, 60, 116, 610, 706.
For those who like to travel around a foreign city by taxi, you should know that the road from the main Tiananmen Square to the temple will cost three to three and a half dollars. If you do not speak Chinese, you can show the driver a photo of the object, and he will take you to the right place.
You can also get to the business card of Beijing by subway, in which case you need to get off at the Tiantan East Gate station (line 5),take exit A to the east gate.
Opening hours and fees
The majestic Temple of Heaven (Beijing) is located in the park, which is open from 6 am to 10 pm. However, the architectural masterpiece is open from 8.00 to 17.00 in winter and 17.30 in summer. But the ticket office closes quite early - at 16.00, so it's best to come here in advance in order to slowly get acquainted with the main attractions.
Ticket prices in the high (April-October) and low (November-March) seasons differ slightly and amount to 35 and 30 yuan, respectively. This amount includes a visit to the park and the shrine.
Now the Temple of Heaven (Beijing) is a public place to relax and have a good time. Citizens gather here, musicians sing and play, and various exhibitions are held in the buildings. Arriving in China, you should definitely visit the building with incredible energy, where Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang are connected.
