BEIJING’S TEMPLE OF HEAVEN(1)

2007-09-10 14:38:34 [ Big Normal Small ]    　Comment

“The ultimate masterpiece of Chinese architecture.” This is Dr Kevin-john McIntyre’s description of Beijing’s Temple of Heaven. As he demonstrates in his illuminating. Discovery Channel program, a true appreciation of this Beijing landmark requires some understanding of the traditional role accorded the Chinese emperors and their symbols. The emperor was thought to be the “Son of Heaven” who administered earthly-not just Chinese-matters on behalf of heavenly authority. This “mandate of heaven” brought with it many responsibilities and none was more important than that the emperor pay homage to heaven through prayer and sacrifice. The critical date fell on the winter solstice when the emperor would report to heaven on the state of the realm and pray for a good harvest. Indeed the emperor’s own fate was also at stake as a bad harvest could be taken by the populace as an omen that he had had fallen out of favor with heaven- a serious matter given the emperor’s pivotal terrestrial role.

When Emperor Yongle moved his capital from Nanjing to Beijing he built the great palace compound now known as the Forbidden City which is currently being systematically restored. http://english.china.com/zh_cn/tourism/news/11020847/20070910/14332042.html Just south of this he built the temple where he could pray to heaven.

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