In ancient China, they believed that the emperor was the messenger of heaven, so there must be a special connection between them, which was carried out through the annual solemn prayer on the day of the winter solstice in one of the most architecturally perfect Chinese temples - in the Temple of Heaven.
It was built in 1420 and originally had the name "Temple of Heaven and Earth", but a hundred years later a separate temple was erected to worship the Earth. Everything here embodies the relationship between these two opposites, every detail is symbolic. Particularly indicative in this regard is the prayer hall - the main one in the entire temple complex. It is located in a rounded building with a roof made of blue (like the sky) tiles. The roof consists of three tiers, and twenty-eight rather massive pillars support it.
Their number is not at all accidental - in the middle there are four pillars, symbolizing the seasons, then there is another row of twelve columns, symbolizing the months of the year, and behind them is another similar row, symbolizing twelve hours. In addition, each of the twenty-eight columns corresponds to the constellations in the night sky. The altar of the temple is also unique; it consists of several tiers made of marble slabs, the number of which is invariably a multiple of nine, since this figure symbolizes the highest power in Chinese philosophy. Moreover, if you stand in the middle of the top plate and say something, there is a strong resonance, and even whispered words sound majestic. Also, the temple complex includes a special hall in which the emperor prepared for prayer, there are two separate buildings where objects for rituals are stored, as well as ancient musical instruments.
The Huangqunyu temple is located a little apart, it contains special tablets with the names of absolutely all Chinese rulers, but the main feature of the temple is the wall with which it is surrounded, its unique design allows it to be a conductor of sounds, which is why it is also called the "talking" wall.
The Temple of Heaven is surrounded by a beautiful park. Previously, only members of the imperial family had access here, but today the entrance is open to absolutely everyone. It is especially crowded here in the early morning, when the Chinese come here to practice various types of gymnastics, martial arts and aerobics.
The Temple of Heaven is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00, the entrance fee varies depending on the season from 10 to 35 yuan.
It was built in 1420 and originally had the name "Temple of Heaven and Earth", but a hundred years later a separate temple was erected to worship the Earth. Everything here embodies the relationship between these two opposites, every detail is symbolic. Particularly indicative in this regard is the prayer hall - the main one in the entire temple complex. It is located in a rounded building with a roof made of blue (like the sky) tiles. The roof consists of three tiers, and twenty-eight rather massive pillars support it.
Their number is not at all accidental - in the middle there are four pillars, symbolizing the seasons, then there is another row of twelve columns, symbolizing the months of the year, and behind them is another similar row, symbolizing twelve hours. In addition, each of the twenty-eight columns corresponds to the constellations in the night sky. The altar of the temple is also unique; it consists of several tiers made of marble slabs, the number of which is invariably a multiple of nine, since this figure symbolizes the highest power in Chinese philosophy. Moreover, if you stand in the middle of the top plate and say something, there is a strong resonance, and even whispered words sound majestic. Also, the temple complex includes a special hall in which the emperor prepared for prayer, there are two separate buildings where objects for rituals are stored, as well as ancient musical instruments.
The Huangqunyu temple is located a little apart, it contains special tablets with the names of absolutely all Chinese rulers, but the main feature of the temple is the wall with which it is surrounded, its unique design allows it to be a conductor of sounds, which is why it is also called the "talking" wall.
The Temple of Heaven is surrounded by a beautiful park. Previously, only members of the imperial family had access here, but today the entrance is open to absolutely everyone. It is especially crowded here in the early morning, when the Chinese come here to practice various types of gymnastics, martial arts and aerobics.
The Temple of Heaven is open daily from 9:00 to 18:00, the entrance fee varies depending on the season from 10 to 35 yuan.
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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