The Circular Mound was constructed in 1530, the altar served as a place for holding the ceremony of worshiping heaven at the winter solstice every year. The round terrace was first covered with deep blue glazed slabs and then changed into light green stone slabs surrounded with a white marble balustrade when it was enlarged in 1749. The steps of each leading flight , the slabs of each tier and balustrade are nine of multiples of nine in number, symbolizing the nine layers of Heaven and emphasizing its supreme importance.
the gates to the Circular Mound
The Circular Mound
a view from the 4th circle
farthest behind is the Qinian Dian (the main temple of harvest)
father is the main pavilion inside the Echo Wall
another set of stoves used for sacrifices. these ones are used in winter to worship Heaven
at the centermost of the circular mound is the Heavenly Center Stone
please zoom in for info...
down the center stone towards the outer circles
the (semi) circular mound from the outer circle view
the 2nd inner gates from the west outer gate. i love the colors. i love the weather, the sky, everything that day ",)
the top of the Watching Lantern - found in the southwest of the Mound is the cylindrical woven bamboo lantern. The 28.8 meter pole high has a lever an pulley for raising and lowering the lantern. The pose is fixed by a stone clinch on a stone pedestal and supported by 3 huge wooded braces. When the ceremony began before dawn, a watching lantern was hung high atop the pole to light the awesome atmosphere at the altar.
There were 3 poles for watching lanterns during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today, only one remains.
the full view of the watching lantern
one of the poles which supports the tower
one of the stones where one of the poles stood before
the southwest gate. behind is the garden
Shamil there jumping
the gates designed with cloud like pillars
down the stairs out the inner circle
coming out of the south gate
we're almost out. one more gate and we'll along the streets already...
No comments:
Post a Comment