Historical Evolution
Initial Construction in the Yongle Era: The Beginning of Joint Sacrifice to Heaven and Earth
After Emperor Yongle moved the capital to Beijing, he ordered the construction of the Great Sacrificial Hall (Dasi Dian) outside Zhengyangmen in 1420, modeled after the Altar of Heaven and Earth in Nanjing, for joint sacrifices to heaven and earth. This hall was the predecessor of today's Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. At that time, the complex was called the Altar of Heaven and Earth, and the system of joint sacrifice was practiced. The Great Sacrificial Hall was a rectangular hall with eleven bays, covered with yellow glazed tiles, quite different from the current circular triple-eaved structure.
Jiajing Reforms: Separate Sacrifices and Architectural Finalization
During the reign of Emperor Jiajing, ritual reforms were implemented. In 1530 (9th year of Jiajing), he decided to restore the ancient system of separate sacrifices to heaven and earth. He built the Altar of Earth (Fangze Altar) in the northern suburbs and converted the original Altar of Heaven and Earth into a site exclusively for sacrificing to heaven. In the same year, the Circular Mound Altar, an open-air three-tiered circular stone altar, was built south of the Great Sacrificial Hall for the winter solstice sacrifice. In 1538 (17th year of Jiajing), the Great Sacrificial Hall was rebuilt into a triple-eaved circular hall, renamed the Great Enjoyment Hall (Daxiang Dian), for the spring prayer for good harvests. Thus, the layout of "Circular Mound in the south, Prayer Hall in the north" was established. The upper, middle, and lower eaves of the Great Enjoyment Hall were covered with blue, yellow, and green glazed tiles, symbolizing heaven, earth, and all things.
Qing Dynasty Renovations and Renaming
After the Qing dynasty entered the pass, the sacrificial function of the Temple of Heaven was fully inherited. Emperors Shunzhi, Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong all carried out multiple renovations. Among them, Emperor Qianlong had the greatest impact. In 1751 (16th year of Qianlong), the Great Enjoyment Hall was renamed the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, and all three layers of eaves were changed to blue glazed tiles to symbolize the supremacy of heaven. During the Qianlong period, the Circular Mound Altar was also remodeled, with the dimensions and numbers of the altar surface, balustrades, and pillars strictly corresponding to multiples of nine, and the altar surface was replaced with Aiye green stone. In addition, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, the Hall of Abstinence, and other buildings were expanded and repaired during this time.
Modern Opening and Protection
After the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, the sacrificial system came to an end. In 1918, the Temple of Heaven was officially opened as a park to the public. During the Republic of China period, it was once occupied by the military, and some buildings were damaged. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Temple of Heaven received comprehensive protection. In 1961, it became a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, and in 1998, it was inscribed on the World Heritage List. In 2005, a large-scale restoration was carried out to restore its historical appearance. Today, the Temple of Heaven is not only an important cultural heritage but also a famous park for leisure and fitness for Beijing residents.
