Temple of Heaven

Our last full day in China was spent at the Temple of Heaven and shopping at both the Pearl Market and the Silk Market.

As we entered the park leading to the Temple, people were dancing to the music which was playing through the speakers in the wooden pillar structures along wthe way. These structures serve as security cameras as well as speakers.

 

Our own Amanda and Lei demonstrating their dancing skills.

The temple was constructed during the Ming Dynasty under the Yongle Emperor, the 3^rd emperor of China, who was also responsible for the construction of the Forbidden City. There are three main structures.

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is a triple-gabled circular building, built on three levels of marble stone base, where the Emperor prayed for good harvests. Each level has 9 steps going up to the next level—9 being the number associated with the emperor and good luck. The building is completely wooden, constructed with no nails, but rather has tightly fitted dove-tailed joints.

The Imperial Vault of Heaven is a single-gabled circular building, built on a single level of marble stone. It is surrounded by a smooth circular wall, the Echo Wall, that can transmit sounds over large distances

Some of the details on the stairs leading to

 the Vault of Heaven can be seen here.

The Circular Mound Altar is the altar proper, located south of the Imperial Vault of Heaven. It is an empty circular platform on three levels of marble stones, each decorated by lavishly carved dragons. The numbers of various elements of the Altar, including its balusters and steps, are either the sacred number nine or its multiples. The center of the altar is a round slate called the Heart of Heaven or the Supreme Yang where the Emperor prayed for favorable weather.

This was a ceremonial site which the emperor visited about 3 times a year—to pray for the harvest, to pray for rain and to give thanksgiving for the harvest. There is no Buddha or shrine in the temple as Heaven was the God. The ancient Chinese believed that the sky was round and the earth was square and that the earth was larger than the sky. Hence the outer wall is square representing the larger earth and the temple is round representing the sky. The altar had no roof as it would be easier for the prayers to reach heaven. The blue tiles represented heaven or the sky; yellow tiles were reserved for the emperor.

This picture is a demonstration of the round and the square which I mentioned earlier--sky/round, earth/square. Symbolic of their idea of the universe.

Nine-Dragon Juniper 

This Chinese Juniper tree is over 500 years old. The trunk is covered with spiral grooves which twist up vertically as if ‘nine coiling dragons were wreathing up into the sky’, hence the name.

As we left the Temple of Heaven we strolled down a walkway where an elderly man was practicing his calligraphy on the walkway. We were told that this is very common. Long-handled brushes are dipped in water, calligraphy is an art form and the skills of an accomplished calligrapher are highly prized.

Next we visited the Hongqiao Market also called the Pearl Market where we did some shopping.

This is the wall of celebrities who have purchased pearls from this market. I felt if it was good enough for Laura and Barbara I guess it would work for me; so...

For lunch we visited a hot pot Chinese restaurant where we cooked our own food—in a fondu manner.

Luke serving himself from the hot pot.

Off to another market, this time the Silk Market. These markets require bargaining and I can’t shop like that. Way too stressful! I got one bad deal after another.

More game playing in the park.