The Temple of Heaven

The Temple of Heaven (Ming 1420), China’s holiest imperial temple, is a most stunning structure too in royal parklands with 1000 species of tree in the south central area of Beijing, now an oasis amidst busy streets. It stuns because it encapsulates mystical cosmological, numerological and universal laws, with ‘nine’ being architecturally paramount. I write this on our Winter solstice, and am reminded that the Emperor came to the Temple of Heaven on Winter Solstices to pray for a good harvest. Aside from the superb architecture and ancient white plazas and staircases, the striking thing is the locals. The pavilion areas of the park attracts local residents by the thousand each day, elders who come to practice Tai Qi, singing, martial arts, Peking opera, chess, dancing, calligraphy and to sell handmade crocheted Temples of Heaven and feathered hackysacks. They are uninhabited; this is their place.

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