Temple of Heaven part 2

The compound for the Temple of Heaven is massive.  We rented a informational player and it said it was 10 times the size Tienanmen Square.  It has lots of big gates, very old cypress tress (pictured one was supposed to be 500 years old!)

 There were smaller Temples that served different purposes, but were just as ornate.  The line on the sidewalk here was for God.  Not even the emperor was allowed to step on it as he walked to the main temple.

The top picture was the place of sacrifice.  It was basically a set of rings and at the top would have been the altar--no longer there.  There was lots of greenery and people doing very interesting things from playing kicking games, to practicing their skills with a whip, to doing calligraphy with water to dancing to 50's music to fan dances with traditional music.  The Temple of Heaven had it all. I wish we could have had a whole day for each of these places.  There is so much to see it's worth it!

Temple of Heaven Part 1

 On Saturday morning--early--we headed for the Temple of Heaven.  Our hotel wasn't too far away, so we walked.  The big problem--The grounds are enormous and surrounding them is a large wall.  There are only four gates to get in--so it takes some effort just to make it inside!

The temple was constructed in 1420 and was used by the emperors to offer sacrifice and offerings to the One True God in order to receive blessings on the country's crops.  Of course, practices changed with different emperors, but there are arguments that these offerings/sacrifices mirrored Jewish practices.

 The main temple is a work of art.  No nails were used and it is extremely ornate.  It underwent some serious renovation in the early 1900s, but I'm sure the beautiful paintings on the exterior have to be redone frequently.  The sun and dust filled wind could fade/strip the paint fairly quickly.

Again, I was amazed at the level of detail in the painting, stonework, and ceramics.  Even the roof tiles were beautiful.  I've been in breathtaking cathedrals in South America, intricate Hindu temples in India, and stunning Wats in Thailand.  It is amazing how much effort men put into honoring their gods/God.  What is sad about this building is that it is no longer in use--just an amazing relic of the past.