Because emperors were believed to have been granted powers by Heaven, temples were places the emperor could go to pray for his country. Temples also served as places of learning, where one could go to study and possibly even live, depending on their desire to understand a subject.
Temple of HeavenThe Temple of Heaven was created as a place of ritual, where emperors could pray and sacrifice for good fortune for their nation, as emperors were believed to have been blessed by Heaven. Temples were designed to reflect the view of the Earth and Heaven in Chinese beliefs--"Heaven is round and Earth is Square." The main hall of the Temple of Heaven--the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests--had to be reconstructed after being struck by lightning in 1889--however, architects stayed true to the style of the original, built in 1420 (LonelyPlanet, 2016). Click here to see the layout of the area, as well as to see popular aspects of the temple!
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Confucian Temple Also known as the Wen Miao Temple, this temple was completed in 1296 after taking four years to build. It's sole purpose was to provide a place where someone could study Confucius and his teachings. The Temple relocated four times before staying in Shanghai, and has suffered major damage through several wars. In 1999, in celebration of Confucius' 2,550th birthday, the temple was restored to its former glory.Upon entering the temple, you will come across three paths: the first is for the public, for those who wish to seek knowledge. The second is strictly for scholars. The third is to appreciate nature. Now the temple is a popular tourist attraction, where visitors can see relics--such as teapots or root carvings. There are also ceremonies to acknowledge and celebrate Confucius' birthday on September 28th. See a satellite map image of the temple grounds here (Sacred Destinations, 2016).
The inside of one of the halls of the Wen Miao Temple, taken by Ana Paula Hirama CC-BY-SA
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The Hanging Temple
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The Hanging Temple in Hengshan is a temple that was built to look like it is hanging off a mountain, roughly 75 meters off the ground. It has roots in several different philosophies and practices, such as Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. It was said to have been built on the mountain in hopes to avoid the elements, and it is so high up so as to provide safety from the "Great Flood," a Chinese myth referencing a flood that lasted two generations and displaced thousands of people (Kaushik, 2012).
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References:
"Confucian Temple, Shanghai." Sacred Destinations. n.d. Web. 3 Dec 2016.
Kaushik. "Hanging Temple in Mount Hengshan, China." Amusing Planet. 16 Jan 2012. Web. 3 Dec 2016.
"Temple of Heaven Park." Lonely Planet. n.d. Web. 3 Dec 2016.
"Confucian Temple, Shanghai." Sacred Destinations. n.d. Web. 3 Dec 2016.
Kaushik. "Hanging Temple in Mount Hengshan, China." Amusing Planet. 16 Jan 2012. Web. 3 Dec 2016.
"Temple of Heaven Park." Lonely Planet. n.d. Web. 3 Dec 2016.