The worship of heaven and Earth, the sun and moon, gods and spirits, and ancestors and celebrities was a principal part of the spiritual life of all ancient Chinese people, from emperors to commoners. Alters were set up to deities, and galls and shrines were built to commemorate ancestors. The special styles of such edifices are indicated by the term "altar and temple architecture." Alters at which emperors worshipped Heacen and Eathh, the temples for the worship of Confucius, found all over China, and shrines to Guan Yu, a renowned general of the Three Kingdoms period(200-265), later deified. Temples and shrines for ancestral worship include the Imperial Ancestral Temple and a host of memorial halls for the worship of the ancestors of commoners, also found all over China. There altars, temples and shrines vary in shape from place to place and between ethnic groups.

 

It is difficult to estimate how many temples there are throughout China. The word temple in English means: a building dedicated to religious ceremonies or worship. So, I included all religious buildings which consisted of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam and other religions into Chinese Temples to write this channel. 

 

Tiantan (Altar of Heaven or Temple of Heaven)was the place where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties presided over ceremonies to worship Heaven. It is located in the southern part of Beijing. The main structures are Huanqiutan(Cirular Mound), Huangqiongyu(Imperial Vault of Heaven) and Qiniandian(Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest). Looking northward from Huanqiutan, we can see that Huangqiongyu and qiniandian are situated on same northsouth axis. 

 

Inside Huangqiongyu, eight pillars support curved roof beams which constitute a triple round ceiling narrowing to a vault.Decorated with dragon patterns and the dark green of the cofferde ceiling contrasting with the red color of the coffered ceiling contrasting with the red color of the pillars, this ceiling is counted among the most beautiful vaulted ceilings in ancient Chinese architecture.

 

Huangquingyu was where the memorial tablet of the "Heavenly Emperor," the supreme deity,used to be enshrined. Situated on a round stone terrace, it is around structure in its round structure in its plan view, with a conical roof covered with blue glazed tiles. The round shoope of the structure and the blue color of the roof have the conotation of heaven.

 

Four pillars support the round vaulted ceiling of Qiniandian, which is painted in gorgeous colors. The pillars represent the four seasons.

 

Qiniandian was a place where the emperor prayed for good harvests. It is a round structure in its plan view, with a triple roof covered with blue glazed tite. It stands on a circular three-tiered stone terrace. With the bule sky in the background, Qiniandian looks resplendent and imposing. 

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