Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven was built in 1420 AD and everything about
its construction, both in the overall architectural plan and in the details of
each individual building, was symbolic of the relationship between heaven and
earth and both their relationships to the Emperors, which was the very heart of
Chinese cosmology and spiritualism. It was used for important religious
ceremonies and houses some of the finest ancient buildings and gardens in China.
Widely considered the finest work of architecture in China, its
accomplishment is not the striking beauty of its buildings, but rather the sum
of its parts. The importance of the Temple of Heaven to the ancient Chinese, and
the symbolic power it wielded cannot be overestimated. Signs of its imitation
can be seen all over the Far East. Confirmation, if any were needed, of its
supreme cultural and architectural impact.
Date:2008-3-29
