Temple of Heaven

We decided to go sightseeing on weekends while the weather is still good. So on Nov. 1 we visited the Temple of Heaven. Beginning in the 1400's the emperor started building the Temple of Heaven, which is an enormous park and several pagodas housing alters. During the winter solstice, the emperors would lead a procession to perform rites and make sacrifices for the purpose of improving next year's crops and for the general health of the empire.




The park is square symbolizing the earth and rounded on the north side symbolizing heaven.

Inside the temples were beautiful painted columns and wooded alters where they offered animal and crop sacrifices.



After we walked through the entrance gate, there was a long corridor with bright colored paint. This we were told to separate the earth from the heavns. It is tradition that often there is music performed by the people who visit.



Today we saw a man singing with a microphone. We learned that often opera singers come to perform.

There were groups of men singing songs that sounded like they were from the revolutionary period.


Today a woman was dancing with a costume from an opera with extra long sleeves. Every movement means something.


In the park area surrounding the temple square were huge juniper trees. Most of them have amazing huge knots. May of them are over 500 years old.


While we were walking around outside grounds there were many local people enjoying the outdoors and good fall weather.



It was great to see people dancing out under the trees.



Also there were beautiful pagodas among the gardens.


This was a cute gal being photographed as a model.


It was a great day. We are happy to share it with you.