Royal Ancestral Temple - Place for Worshipping
All dynasties attached importance to the Royal Ancestral Temple, a building where Chinese emperors worshipped ancestors in ancient times and an important symbol of hereditary imperial power in feudal society.
According to traditional rites, the royal ancestral temple should be located to the southeast of the imperial palace, which faced south, according to the ancient capital layout of "the royal ancestral temple on the left and the temple of land and grain on the right"; grand ceremonies to worship the ancestors were held here on every Chinese New Year's Day, Tomb-sweeping Day, Day of Ghosts and Day of Longevity.
The Royal Ancestral Temple in Beijing is surrounded by thick walls nine meters tall. The gate is in the middle of the south wall covered by glazed tiles, and the white stone base of the Sumeru throne style has abundant architraves and bright colors in sharp contrast with the flat and monotonous walls. Pine and cypress trees have been planted around the Royal Ancestral Temple. The high temple in a sea of green trees looks more solemn and nobler. Because of Chinese people's traditional view that the soul was immortal, the architectural forms in the Royal Ancestral Temple for worshipping ancestors were arranged according to the pattern of the residence inhabited by emperors before death, i.e. the "imperial court in front and imperial sleeping palace behind" pattern: the main hall was in front for worshipping, and the sleeping hall was at the back, enshrining ancestors' spirit tablets.
The main hall of the Royal Ancestral Temple in Beijing represents the highest form of feudal royal architecture.
It is located on a three layer base and divided into 11 bays under a double-eave hip roof, and the roof is covered by glazed tiles.
About the book
Chinese Architecture Written by Cai Yanxin Published by China Intercontinental Press
All dynasties attached importance to the Royal Ancestral Temple, a building where Chinese emperors worshipped ancestors in ancient times and an important symbol of hereditary imperial power in feudal society.
According to traditional rites, the royal ancestral temple should be located to the southeast of the imperial palace, which faced south, according to the ancient capital layout of "the royal ancestral temple on the left and the temple of land and grain on the right"; grand ceremonies to worship the ancestors were held here on every Chinese New Year's Day, Tomb-sweeping Day, Day of Ghosts and Day of Longevity.
The Royal Ancestral Temple in Beijing is surrounded by thick walls nine meters tall. The gate is in the middle of the south wall covered by glazed tiles, and the white stone base of the Sumeru throne style has abundant architraves and bright colors in sharp contrast with the flat and monotonous walls. Pine and cypress trees have been planted around the Royal Ancestral Temple. The high temple in a sea of green trees looks more solemn and nobler. Because of Chinese people's traditional view that the soul was immortal, the architectural forms in the Royal Ancestral Temple for worshipping ancestors were arranged according to the pattern of the residence inhabited by emperors before death, i.e. the "imperial court in front and imperial sleeping palace behind" pattern: the main hall was in front for worshipping, and the sleeping hall was at the back, enshrining ancestors' spirit tablets.
The main hall of the Royal Ancestral Temple in Beijing represents the highest form of feudal royal architecture.
It is located on a three layer base and divided into 11 bays under a double-eave hip roof, and the roof is covered by glazed tiles.
About the book
Chinese Architecture Written by Cai Yanxin Published by China Intercontinental Press
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