2008-10-10

Posted at 11:44 UT by Tamara

SEGMENT 321
in the Broadcast Cable Series
Great Getaways of the World
Beijing, China
Part 4 in the 16 part series on China

http://GreatGetawaysOfTheWorld.blogspot.com

The Temple of Heaven Complex- Part One

Mr. Tang is the featured Beijing guide for China Spree on this excursion.

We visit the large Temple of Heaven complex in Beijing, where Ming Dynasty rulers and thousands of the male members of their families and court, made bi-annual ceremonial parades to offer prayers, incense, for good harvests, crops, and food production.

China Spree describes the temple as follows:

"This remarkable building is considered the supreme achievement of traditional Chinese architecture.
During each winter solstice, the Ming and Qing (pronounced Ching) emperors would perform rites and make sacrifices to Heaven praying for good harvests. The most striking edifice is the "Hall of Prayer of good Harvests", which according to the emperors Fengshui masters, is the exact point where heaven and earth met."

I believe that each of us is the exact point where heaven and earth meet, but that is another story.

China Spree continues:

"Built in 1420, this masterpiece of Ming architecture features triple eaves, dramatically carved marble balustrades, and gorgeous glazed azure roof that symbolizes the color of heaven. Built without a single nail, this 120 foot hish structure is fized by four inner pillars representing the seasons, and two sets of 12 columns denoting the months and the traditional Chinese division of a day."

This ceremony was conducted all day long, but only by the males.
All females and common people were to keep themselves indoors and not show their faces as the parade passed by, or the ritual ceremonies conducted. This was a men's club!

Thousands of animals were also lined up to be sacrificed for the grand picnic that would break the 3 week fasting from meat and concubines that had preceded the ceremony.

A great banquet would be prepared with huge ceramic cooking stoves lined up to send smoke up to the heavens, representing bounty, and a celebration that the thousands who participated in the ceremony could enjoy, laid out in the large plazas along the parade route.

The Temple complex is very popular with all the local crowds who gather to perform with their music, exercise, play cards and other games, along the covered corridors and in the various gardens and plazas.

Discussion of the ceremonies and the unique 3 tiered roof of the Temple of Heaven, make this architecture unique in all of China. 3 symbolized the Heavens, as it does in many of the world's cultures and religions.

Threes and Nines are symbolic numbers around the world, and are present here in the steps, roofs, and pavements.

I find many overlaps and similarities in the religions and monuments of the world.

Airing Schedule for
SEGMENT 321
Part 4 in the 15 part series on China

Tuesday, November 18th
5:30 p.m. news primetime
and again at
2:00 a.m.
when all other programming goes off the air.

Friday, November 21st
5:30 p.m. news primetime
and again at
2:00 a.m.
when all other programming goes off the air.

Labels: CHINA - 16 Part Mini-Series - GREAT GETAWAYS of the WORLD