The Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven is located in the southeastern part of Beijing. This compound is one of the largest parks in the city, covering 273 hectares, two times the size of the Palace Museum. The Temple of Heaven was built in 1420. Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties came here to pray for a good harvest in spring and for rain in summer, and to offer sacrifices to heaven in winter.
A bird's view shows that the park can be divided into a northern and a southern section. The northern, semi-circular section corresponds to the old Chinese image of a vault-shaped heaven. The southern, square section symbolizes the earth. Three important structures, laid out on a north-south axis, can be viewed: to the north the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, south of it, the Imperial vault of Heaven and southernmost Circular Mound Altar. Each year the emperor came here at the time of the winter solstice in his capacity as the Son of Heaven to pray for a good harvest and to render homage to the heavens. This tradition was kept up until the fall of the dynasty in 1911. Yuan Shikai was the last one to hold a ceremony here in 1913.
The Temple of Heaven is composed of the Western Heavenly Gate, the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, the Echo Wall, the Circular Mound Altar, the Hall of Abstinence, and the East Gate.
Heavenly Centre Stone
As the surface of the uppermost terrace of the circular mound is paved with nine concentric rings of stone slab, the round stone slab in the center is called the Heavenly Centre Stone. It is surrounded by 9 stones in the first ring, 18 stones in the second, up to 81 in the ninth ring, symbolizing the nine heavens. If one speaks standing on the Heavenly Centre Stone, one's voice will become particularly resonant and sonorous (imposing or impressive in effect or style).
The Celestial Warehouse
Both the East and the West Annex Hall of the Celestial Warehouse were built in 1530 (the 9th year of Ming Emperor Jiajing). In each of the halls there stand two ston Xumeru pedestals upon which were kept the devine tablets. The West Annex hall was used to house the devine tablets of such gods as The Nocturnal Brightness (the moon) and the gods of Cloud, Rain, Wind, and Thunder.
The East and West Annex Halls
The East and West Annex, as well as the Celestial Warehouse, are surrounded by a circular wall. The hard and smooth wall in a perfect circumference creates an excellent reflecting body for the sound waves which travel along the wall surface. By continuous refelections of two persons standing by the wall behind the East Annex Hall and the West Annex Hall respectively and speak facing towards north, they can hear each other's voice clearly. Calls and responses constitute a wonderful conversation.
Interesting Links:
China Vista: Temple Of Heaven
Beijing Travel Association: Temple Of Heaven
Tian Tan: Temple Of Heaven
Window into China: Temple Of Heaven