Humanistic craftsmanship - The Frozen philosophy of the Universe
The architecture of the Temple of Heaven is not merely a simple house; rather, it is a physical symbol of the ancient people's cosmology and philosophy.
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests: The ultimate sanctuary for dialogue with Heaven
- Symbolic Analysis: As the most renowned symbol of the Temple of Heaven and even Beijing, every design of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is rich in meaning. The triple-eaved blue glazed tile dome symbolizes the sky. The 28 golden-threaded nanmu pillars inside the hall are even more exquisite: the four "Longjing Pillars" in the center represent the four seasons of the year. The 12 golden pillars in the middle layer symbolize the twelve months. The 12 eave columns on the outer layer symbolize the twelve hours of a day. The total of the 24 pillars inside and outside represents the 24 solar terms. This is the place where the grand ceremony of praying for a bountiful harvest in early Spring was held, where the emperor prayed for a bountiful harvest of five grains.
The Circular Mound Altar: The Ultimate Application of the number "Nine"
The core of the Heaven Worship Ceremony: This is a three-story white open-air circular altar. Every Winter Solstice, the emperor holds the most solemn Heaven worship ceremony here. Its design takes the number "nine" (the number of the anode) to the extreme: each layer of balustrade and step is nine or a multiple of nine. Standing on the Tianxin stone at the center of the altar and Shouting, the voice was loud and deep due to the reflection of the balustrade, as if it could truly resonate with the heavens.
The Imperial Dome and the Echo Wall: An Astonishing acoustic Wonder
- Heavenly Treasury and Echoes: The Imperial Vault is the hall where the sacrificial amulets of the Circular Mound Altar are stored. The circular wall around it is the world-famous Echo Wall. The walls are smooth and have regular arcs. Two people stand behind the east and west side halls respectively, close to the walls and whispering to each other. Their voices can be clearly transmitted along the walls, which can be regarded as a masterpiece of ancient architectural acoustics. The three-tone stone on the imperial path in front of the hall, when you stand on it and clap your palm, you can hear multiple echoes, which is equally wonderful.
Danbi Bridge: The "Divine Path" Leading to the Heavenly Court
- Connecting the north and south: This 360-meter-long, 4-meter-high corridor, which links the Altar of Heaven and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, serves as the axis of the Temple of Heaven. When the emperor walked on it, it was called "walking in the sky". Under the bridge, there is a "Ghost Gate" passage for livestock to pass through, which reflects a strict hierarchy of etiquette.
The Zhai Palace and the Kagura House: Solemn and dignified supporting buildings
- Place of Fasting: The emperor was required to fast here for three days before offering sacrifices to Heaven. Its main building is a beamless hall with a brick arch structure, using no nails or wood to prevent fires, which reflects strict etiquette and wisdom.
The Ritual and Music Center: The Divine Music Bureau is an institution that practices the music of the Shaoxing in sacrificial ceremonies and is known as the "Music Academy of the Temple of Heaven", which shows the significant position of ritual and music in ancient sacrificial ceremonies.
Natural creation - a solemn and verdant ecological backdrop
The landscape of the Temple of Heaven is far more than just its architecture; its ecological environment is the key to creating an atmosphere of "harmony between man and nature".
Thousand-year-old Berlin: The Guardian of Time
The inner and outer altars of the Temple of Heaven are dotted with ancient cypresses that are hundreds of years old, with a total number exceeding 3,600. These vigorous and tall ancient trees remain evergreen throughout the four seasons, creating the solemn, dignified and peaceful atmosphere that the altar needs. Walking through it is like traveling through a time tunnel.
Seasonal flowers: Ancient yet vivid embellishments
Besides the ancient cypresses, the Temple of Heaven also has the largest lilac forest in Beijing (located to the west of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests), which is filled with the fragrance of flowers in spring. In addition, the rose garden, the hundred Flowers garden and the golden ginkgo trees in autumn all add vivid colors and seasonal changes to the solemn altar and temple.
Photography Tipts:
The best panoramic shooting position: At the glazed door on the south side of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, use the door frame as the foreground to capture the full view of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.
The iconic perspective: Shooting the Hall of Prayer for a Good Year from the Danbi Bridge to the north can reflect its grandeur and the imposing presence of the axis.
Details and Light and Shadow: In the afternoon, the setting sun gilds the blue tiles and golden roof of the Imperial Dome and the walls of the echo Wall with golden edges, making it an excellent opportunity to capture the architectural details and light and shadow.
Ancient Cypress portraits: With ancient cypresses of various shapes as the background, shooting silhouettes of people or ancient-style portraits is full of a sense of story.
