Temple of Heaven

Written by Matteo Updated Jun. 20, 2025

The Temple of Heaven is the most holy of Beijing's Imperial temples. For this is where the Emperor came every winter solstice to worship heaven and to solemnly pray for a good harvest.

Temple of Heaven Facts

Temple of Heaven Layout

The Temple of Heaven in Beijing is one of the world's largest ancient architectural complexes, used for worshiping heaven.

The Temple of Heaven is composed of two main buildings: the Circular Mound Altar and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, located opposite each other, one south, one north, forming an axis. In the middle connecting them is a 28-meter-wide and 360-meter-long brick lane.

On the west of the axis is the Hall of Abstinence, the accommodation for the emperor three days before the ceremony. During the three days, the emperor was unable to drink wine. He could only eat vegetables, but not garlic or onions. The emperor couldn't have any entertainment, nor could he handle any state affairs.

The principle of the architecture of the Temple of Heaven is to highlight the vast and lofty sky, and to express the supremacy of Heaven.

The design of the signal building of the Circular Mound Altar and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests are both circular: the outer stone pedestal and eaves are smaller for each layer upwards, reflecting a feeling of getting closer to heaven.

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests is the highlight of the Temple of Heaven. Originally built in 1420 (during the reign of Emperor Yongle), the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests was the earliest building of the Temple of Heaven and was also called the Hall of Great Sacrifice.

In 1751 (during the reign of Qianlong), it was restored and named the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. The hall was destroyed by a thunderbolt in 1889 (during the reign of Guangxun) and rebuilt as it was a few years later.

The hall is a cone-shaped structure with triple eaves. The circular hall is 32 meters in diameter and 38 meters high, with a gilded knob on the top, and three double eaves on the way up. The blue eaves are covered with blue glazed tiles, symbolic of the sky.

The internal structure of the hall is unique, using 28 massive wooden pillars and 36 square rafters, interlocked without nails to support the entire structure. There is no steel or cement used.

The four dragon pillars in the center are 19 meters high and 1.2 meters in diameter, representing the four seasons. The twelve gold pillars in the middle circle represent the 12 months of the year, and the 12 pillars in the outer circle represent the 12 divisions of day and night.

The 24 pillars together in the middle and outer circles represent the twenty-four solar terms of a year. And the 28 pillars taken together represent the lunar mansions. A circular marble stone with naturally occurring dragon and phoenix patterns lies in the center of the hall.

The hall lies on a circular marble base, which covers an area of 5,900 square meters, six meters high and divided into three tiers. Each floor has marble railings with flowery carvings. There are other rectangular, blue-roofed buildings standing around the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.

Circular Mound Altar

The Circular Mound Altar which was built in 1530 and enlarged in 1740. Two walls encircle the altar. Both walls are painted red and surrounded by blue tiles. Each wall represents something different. The round inner wall represents heaven, while the square outer wall represents earth.

After the Emperor signed the declaration that would be read to heaven outside the square wall, he proceeded to the terrace.

In the southeast corner, pine and cypress branches were burned in the green-tiled oven to welcome the gods from heaven. To bid farewell to the gods, human sacrifices were burned in the oven. Next to the oven is a special pit called the Pit of Hair and Blood because the hair and blood of the sacrificial victims were buried here.

In the southwest corner, a platform to hold a lantern pole can be seen. The pole was built in 1530, but its length changed several times. Originally, a golden dragon on a blue background was painted on the pole; later, the color of the background was changed to red. The pole was last redecorated by Yuan Shikai, the warlord made the last sacrifice to Heaven.

The Circular Mound is comprised of three round white marble terraces. Each one is edged with a marble balustrade. The bottom marble terrace represents Hell, the middle terrace represents the Mortal World, and the top terrace represents Heaven.

And a kind of ancient yardstick was used to measure the length in Zhang (one Zhang is a little less than 3.5 metres), the Upper terrace is 9 Zhang" (30 metres) in diameter, the middle terrace is 15 Zhang (50 metres) in diameter and the bottom terrace 21 Zhang (70 metres) in diameter, and the numbers 1X9=9; 3X5=15; 3X7=21, include all the so called Heavenly numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9.

The total number of the three terraces is 45, the result of 9X5, which is in complete conformity with the Supreme number of nine and five in the Book of Changes. The arrangement of putting number nine and five together was used exclusively in China by the ancient emperors; that's why it was used here.

In the center of the upper terrace is the Heaven's Heart Stone, which is surrounded by concentrically arranged flagstones. There are 9 stones in the first circle, 18 in the second, and 27 in the third. It continues in this manner up to the ninth circle, which has 81 stones. The middle and bottom terraces also have 9 circles each. The total number of marble flagstones on the surface is 3,402, and each terrace has four entrances and a flight of nine steps leading down in every direction.

The total number of carved balustrades on these terraces is 360, which is also a multiple of 9. It stands for the 360 degrees of the circumference of heaven. During each ceremony, the shrine of god was placed on the central Supreme Stone, which symbolized that god lived above the nine heavens.

The highest terrace produces a curious acoustic effect. If you stand in the center of the upper terrace and speak, you will hear your voice echo back because the balustrades send the sound back to the center. The altar has withstood the test of time for nearly 500 years and stands perfectly preserved without any cracking or sagging.

The Imperial Vault of Heaven

North of the Circular Mound Altar is the Imperial Vault of Heaven, which was originally built in 1530 and rebuilt in 1752. Its structure is made from wood and brick with a blue tiled roof that is topped with a gilded ball. It is 19.5 meters high and 15.6 meters in diameter. From a distance, the Imperial Vault of Heaven looks like a small version of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest.

As you can see, the building does not have any horizontal beams for support. The entire building is supported by 8 pillars and a span-work of bars, laths, and brackets, which is in complete conformity with the principles of dynamics. The decorative paintings appear fresh because they were retouched in 1974.

In the center of the Imperial Vault of Heaven stands the shrine where the tablet of the God of Heaven was placed. There are four stone platforms, one on each side, where the tablets of the emperor's eight ancestors were kept.

During each winter solstice, these tablets were placed in a small pavilion-like cage and removed to the Circular Mound for the Worshipping Heaven ceremony. After the ceremony, the tablets were returned to the stone platforms.

Two chambers located at the front of the Imperial Vault of Heaven contained different tablets used for worship. The left chamber contained tablets of the gods of basic elements, including gold, wood, water, fire, and earth. The right chamber contained tablets of the gods of natural phenomena, including wind, rain, thunder, lightning, and so on.

The Echo Wall

The Imperial Vault of Heaven is better known for the wall that surrounds it. This wall is called the Echo Wall or the Whispering Wall. It is 3.72 meters high, 90 centimeters thick, and 65.1 meters in diameter.

The eaves of the wall and the hermetically laid bricks make wireless communication possible between two people who speak in normal voices.

To be the most effective, a couple of conditions must exist: First, the courtyard cannot be too noisy. Second, both people must face north. It is better to stand by the wall at the back of the two side chambers. The entrance of the courtyard prevents the voices from being heard by others.

Magic Number 9

The ancient Chinese considered numbers a mystical part of the universe. As an odd number, the number "9" belongs to the "yang" category, which represents strength and masculinity. In ancient China, the number "1" represented the starting point, while the number nine represented infinity and extremity. The number "9" can be seen in many aspects of life in China.

For example, "Jiu Zhou" is a poetic name referring to the nine states, which means that the country encompasses so much territory that it is beyond measure. The highest heavens were referred to as the ninth heaven, Jiu Quan, or the ninth spring, where the afterlife is located beneath the deepest water.

In the royal palace or a monastery, the doors, windows, stairs, or fixtures existed in multiples of nine or a number that contains nine. The numbers of the gilded knobs on the double doors of the major gates of the Forbidden City is a good example.

There are nine rows of nine knobs on these doors which represents the supreme power of the emperor. The East Flowery Gate, however, is an exception beca se it has nine rows with eight knobs. The explanation lies in the fact that even numbers belong to the yin category, and therefore, funeral processions of the three Qing emperors passed through this only gate with even numbers of the double doors.

The Chinese tended to view life diametrically. So when a change occurred in one aspect of life, that change was a result of a change in its opposite. Therefore, as a symbol of extremity, "9" in Chinese Culture is also a warning, a turning point. In ancient Chinese Classic Yijing, or the "Book of Changes", wherever the number "9" appears, it is a crucial point of change and transformation.

In traditional Chinese culture, the number nine has great significance. For example, the ninth day of the ninth month has long been a very important festival in China. This festival is known as the Double Yang Festival, which was a time for wine and poetry inspired by the beautiful autumn scenery. In the past, Chinese scholars would climb nearby mountains and look into the distance and think of their faraway friends.

Triple Sound Stone

"A mere whisper in the mortal world sounds like thunder in Heaven". This saying is based on the acoustic effects of the rectangular stones that pave the central stairway leading to the main temple. These rectangular stones are called the Triple Sound Stones.

If you stand on the first stone and clap or shout, you will hear one echo. If you stand on the second stone, you will hear two echoes, and on the third stone, you will hear three echoes.

The location of the stones explains this effect. For example, the reason that you hear three echoes when you stand on the third stone is that your location forms a right triangle with relation to three points: the Gate of the Hall, the Top of the Hall, and the Third Stone.

The sound travels to the wall of the hall, then to the top of the hall, and then to the gate. The reason you hear different echoes is that the sound returns at different intervals. If you speak from other stones, you may not hear anything because a right-angled triangle is not formed.

Red Stairway Bridge

The Red Stairway Bridge is a 360-meter passage that leads directly to the Gate of Prayer for Good Harvests. The bridge gradually increases in height from one end to the other. The southern end is about 1 meter high, and the northern end is about 4 meters high. It is 29.4 meters wide. The bridge represents the distance between heaven and earth.

You can see three parallel paths on the bridge. Unlike other temples or the Forbidden City, the left path was reserved for the emperor. The central path was for the god of heaven, while the right path was used by ministers.

The Red Stairway Bridge is called as such because there is a crossing under the bridge which was used by animals designated for sacrifice.

Near the northern end of the bridge is a 150 square meter terrace, which the emperor used to change his robes. A tent was set up to ensure his privacy. Within the tent, a throne, incense burners, and other necessities could be found.

The Hall of Abstinence

The Hall of Abstinence is located near the western entrance of the Temple of Heaven. It is encircled by two walls. The Inner wall is called Brick City, and the outer wall is called the Purple Wall. To further ensure the safety of the emperor, a moat was built to surround the Purple Wall.

A bell tower, two stone pavilions, and a beamless hall are the main structures here. The bell tower is in the northeast corner of the Hall of Abstinence. Before each ceremony, bells would be struck when the emperor left for the Circular Altar Mound and would not stop until the emperor arrived. After the ceremony, the bells would be struck again.

Of the two stone pavilions, the right pavilion kept time while the left one had a bronze plate with the word "fasting" engraved on it as a constant reminder to the emperor to observe fasting rules. The beamless hall was one of the most famous buildings in Beijing. A blue-tiled roof atop the hall symbolized that the emperor must always acknowledge the Supremacy of the Heavenly Emperor.

Before each ceremony, emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held a three-day fast during Spring, Summer, and Winter. The emperors spent two days fasting in the Forbidden City and completed the three-day fast in the Hall of Abstinence.

During the three days, the emperor was unable to drink wine. He could only eat vegetables, but not garlic or onions. The emperor couldn't have any entertainment, nor could he handle any state affairs. Also, he had to be away from women. Naturally, such restrictions could be difficult for any emperor who was accustomed to all these luxuries.

Worship the God of Heaven

Worship of the God of Heaven followed a fixed pattern. First, the officials responsible for the ceremony had to write a program, which was presented to the Emperor in the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City for approval. Worship the God of HeavenAfter the program was approved, the emperor rehearsed it in the Hall of Complete Harmony.

The day before the ceremony, the emperor presented incense in the Imperial Vault of Heaven. Then, he went to the Circular Mound Altar to inspect the tablets. Also, the emperor inspected sacrificial articles in the storehouse of the gods.

On the day of the ceremony, the emperor left the Hall of Abstinence two hours before sunrise, to the chiming of the bell. Music and drums replaced the Altar. This is how the ceremony began. The entire ritual consisted of nine steps.

Different music accompanied each procedure, which was followed by the kowtow of the emperor and his ministers. When the smell of the burnt offerings filled the air of the Circular Mound Altar, the ceremony was over.

Ceremony in the Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven is where the Emperor came every winter solstice to worship heaven and to solemnly pray for a good harvest. Since his rule was legitimised by a mandate from heaven, a bad harvest could be interpreted as his fall from heaven's favour and threaten the stability of his reign. So, it was not without a measure of self-interest that the Emperor fervently prayed for a very good crop.

In line with the Confucianist revival during the Ming dynasty, the sacred harvest ceremony was combined with the Emperor's worship of his ancestors. This embellishment was also, in effect, self-interested.

According to the Confucian pattern of social organisation, just as the Emperor respected his ancestors, so a younger brother should respect an elder brother, a wife her husband, a son his father, and a nation's subjects their ruler.

Incorporating ancestor worship within the most solemn ceremony of the Imperial ritual calendar, indirectly reinforced the social philosophy that perpetuated the Emperor's power.

Symbolism of the Temple of Heaven

The design of the Temple of Heaven complex, true to its sacred purpose, reflects the mystical cosmological laws believed to be central to the workings of the universe. Hence, complex numerological permutations operate within its design.

For example, because the number nine was considered to be the most powerful digit, you will see that the slabs that form the Circular Altar have been laid in multiples of nine. Similarly, within the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, the interior twenty-eight columns are divided into four central pillars to represent the seasons, twelve inner columns to represent the months, and twelve outer columns to represent the two-hour tranches that make up a day. There are many such examples of this intense numerology at play.

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