Temple of Land and Grain - Place for Worshipping the Gods
The Temple of Land and Grain was an important temple of the state for worship located to the west of the Wu Gate of the Forbidden City. Sacrifices were offered in the second month of spring and the second month of autumn to pray for the gods' protection of state power.
The God of Land is the god of five kinds of soil - blue soil in the east, red soil in the south, white soil in the west, black soil in the north and yellow soil in the central area, so the altar of the Temple of Land and Grain is covered by soil of five colors brought from various areas as tribute, symbolizing the five parts of the territory and meaning "under the sky, nothing isn't the king's land."
The God of Grain is the god of crops growing on land, i.e. the god of agriculture. Worshipping the God of Land and the God of Grain showed ancient emperors' power to rule people in the territory and reflected the nature of ancient Chinese society based on agriculture.
The square altar has two layers. The surrounding walls are also square, covered by blue, red and black glazed tiles in four directions. The God of Land and the God of Grain were worshipped outdoors on sunny days, and worshipping ceremonies were held indoors on rainy days. Its direction is the opposite of that of the Temple of Heaven - the altar faces the south. Therefore, the hall for offering sacrifices and the hall for worshipping are both to the north of the altar, and the front gate is also in the north. These two halls were built in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
About the book
Chinese Architecture Written by Cai Yanxin Published by China Intercontinental Press
The Temple of Land and Grain was an important temple of the state for worship located to the west of the Wu Gate of the Forbidden City. Sacrifices were offered in the second month of spring and the second month of autumn to pray for the gods' protection of state power.
The God of Land is the god of five kinds of soil - blue soil in the east, red soil in the south, white soil in the west, black soil in the north and yellow soil in the central area, so the altar of the Temple of Land and Grain is covered by soil of five colors brought from various areas as tribute, symbolizing the five parts of the territory and meaning "under the sky, nothing isn't the king's land."
The God of Grain is the god of crops growing on land, i.e. the god of agriculture. Worshipping the God of Land and the God of Grain showed ancient emperors' power to rule people in the territory and reflected the nature of ancient Chinese society based on agriculture.
The square altar has two layers. The surrounding walls are also square, covered by blue, red and black glazed tiles in four directions. The God of Land and the God of Grain were worshipped outdoors on sunny days, and worshipping ceremonies were held indoors on rainy days. Its direction is the opposite of that of the Temple of Heaven - the altar faces the south. Therefore, the hall for offering sacrifices and the hall for worshipping are both to the north of the altar, and the front gate is also in the north. These two halls were built in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
About the book
Chinese Architecture Written by Cai Yanxin Published by China Intercontinental Press
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