Qinian Hall

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Based on three-layer white marble pedestal, Qinian Hall is the main building of Temple of Heaven, which is especially dedicated to gods. It is an important place for the Ming and Qing emperors to pray for good harvest. Existing Qinian Hall was built in 1890, with total height of 38 meters and f oor area of 5900 square meters. When it was initially built, Qinian Hall was originally rectangular. In Jiajing Period of the Ming Dynasty , it was rebuilt to the current circular three-layer pyramidal roof hall. It features gold roof, blue tile, red pillar and white base, with magni f cent colors and unique style. The building takes a spectacular scene, which is solemn setting. In Qinian Hall, 28 huge nanmu pillars are very rare.

Outer roof of Qinian Hall has l2 peripheral columns. In peripheral columns, there are a circle of corresponding 12 inner peripheral columns. They symbolize 12 months of a year and 12 hours of a day . The total 24 inner and outer columns represent twenty-four solar terms of a year.

Indoor scene in Qinian Hall

There are four nanmu pillars (9.2 meters high) in the middle of Qinian Hall, which are symbols of four seasons. With outer layers of columns, there are 28 pillars to symbolize 28 stars. Plus the top eight little pillars, 36 Tiangang Stars are symbolized. In the hall, beams, pillars, ceilings and Caisson ceiling are painted. These paintings are all laced with gold, which see the highestgrade dragon as the main body in the Qing Dynasty. In the middle of this hall, a round marble is on the ground, which features natural pattern of dragon and phoenix.

Echo phenomenon

Temple of Heaven has two wonderful echo phenomena. One phenomenon is circular wall of Imperial Vault of Heaven. If people speak against the wall, the people on the other side close can hear clearly from the wall. So it is called as whispering gallery. The other phenomenon is a circular stone plate in the middle of mound top, which is known as “T ai Chi Stone”. When people stand to make voices, echo can reverberate around the Circular Mound Altar as if hundreds of people respond to a single call. This is because the circular stone walls and stone plate can reflect sound waves. They reflect the superb technology of ancient Chinese architecture .

Caisson ceiling

Caisson ceiling is interior ceiling decoration of Chinese ancient architecture, which is named after well shape and brilliant decoration. Above 12 short pillars of round beam in Qinian Hall, 36 bucket arches constitute four brackets to supporting circular ceiling. In ceiling center , there is a round ceiling mouth, on which 12 arches are in place to progress upwards. The center of caisson ceiling is pasted with gold dragon so as to create a noble solemn atmosphere.

Alter temple building

In ancient Chinese society, “alter temple” was a place to maintain the reign, kinship and spirit, where the nature, gods, the ancestors and ancient sages were worshipped. Ceremony was held in the open air . Due to the square or round platform on the ground, “altar” was named after.