Worshiping Heaven

For almost 500 years, emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices and prayers at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.

- Christine Liu-Perkins

In performing these ceremonies, the emperors showed their reverence for the deity whose aid and approval they needed to rule. It was here that the relationship between humans and Heaven was clearly on display, with the emperor exercising his special role as mediator between them.

A Gigantic Space 

The Temple of Heaven spreads out across 675 acres, an area much larger than the 178 acres covered by the Forbidden City, the site of the imperial palace complex (see pages 20–22). At the two most important structures located within the site, China’s emperors led key ceremonies related to the welfare of the country. The first was the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (Qiniandian), which sits at the north end. This magnificent round building is positioned on a platform of three marble terraces. Three roofs, fashioned of blue tiles, stretch up to a golden knob at the top. At the south end stands the Circular Mound Altar (Yuanqiutan). Open to the sky, it has three round tiers of marble, each rimmed by balustrades of white marble (see illustration above).