Altar and Temple of Heaven - Amy Morris

Altar and Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China



General Description
The Altar and Temple of Heaven located in Beijing China is a Buddhist temple constructed during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries (Lazzari, 2005). Here, worshippers during the Ming and Quing dynasties prayed for favorable harvest (Luna). It was built to embody the harmony between man, nature and the divine which is one of the core elements within the Buddhist religion. The Altar and Temple of Heaven is surrounded by gardens and incorporates the use of strategic placing of the buildings along north and south axis and the use of fengshui showing Chinese beliefs and philosophies. Due to its architectural grandeur it was cited as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1998 (Committee, 1998).

Architectural Design
The Altar and Temple of Heaven were built according to strict Chinese philosophical requirements. The altars and temples face south with all structures symmetrical. They are enclosed by walls, railings, terraces, or gates, expressing the Chinese values of seclusion and order (Lazzari, 2005).

The Temple of Heaven is a wooden, cone shaped structure. Its main structure has three circular layers with a gold orb on its top. With a height of 125 feet and being 100 feet wide, surprisingly this building has no walls. Pillars support the roof, and latticework provides the illusion of walls with openings for doors. The temple sits on top of three terraces surrounded by carved white marble balustrades (Lazzari, 2005).

Harmony with Nature
As stated before one of the key elements of Buddhism is the harmony of man, nature and the divine. In the Temple of Heaven there are four central posts which represent the four seasons, with other columns representing the twelve months of the year, and the traditional twelve Chinese hours. The blue tiles on the roof represent the heavens. The geometrical symmetry using the forms of circles and squares were perfect representations of heaven and earth respectively. The colors used on the temple reflect the value of nature in this design. Foliage patterns of gold and blue are also used on the interior of the temple with green and white beams (Lazzari, 2005).

Symbolism and Sacred Objects
The semicircular shape of the outer walls represent heaven and the square shape of the buildings represent earth. The layout of the buildings along the north and south axis also allude to the harmony with nature. The southern axis represents the source of temperate weather and abundance hence the temples faced south. The north represents the source of evil influences. The temples were also placed relative to the forces of wind and water (fengshui) as mentioned before. Here the wind disperses the breath of life and must be stopped by water (Lazzari, 2005).

How it is used by Worshippers
It was used by worshippers to pray for favorable harvests. The emperor would use the temple to officiate ceremonies mostly dedicated to earth and crops by making sacrifices to heaven. The emperor and his court would perform special ceremonies taking care not to make the slightest mistakes in order to ensure prosperity for the people for the upcoming year (Wikipedia, 2010). People would use the temple to pray and to meditate in their search for knowledge and wisdom.

Sources
Committee, U. W. (1998, December 2). Retrieved April 7, 2010, from World Heritage: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/881

Lazzari, M. &. (2005). Exploring Art. Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth.

Luna, K. (n.d.). Beijing's Historical Wonders . Retrieved April 7, 2010, from Travel Channel: http://www.travelchannel.com/Places_Trips/Travel_Ideas/Art_Music_And_Culture/Museums_And_Culture/Beijings_Historical_Wonders

Wikipedia. (2010, March 24). Retrieved April 07, 2010, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Heaven