Heritage with Related Tags
My Son Sanctuary
Between the 4th and 13th centuries AD, a unique culture developed on the coast of modern-day Vietnam, with spiritual roots in Hinduism. This is vividly illustrated by the remains of an impressive series of pagodas, located on a striking site that served as the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for much of its existence.
Xiannongtan
The symmetrical layout of the Temple of Agriculture and the Temple of Heaven reflects the respect and emphasis on etiquette in traditional Chinese capital planning. As the largest existing royal place for worshipping the god of agriculture in ancient China, the Temple of Agriculture demonstrates the respect for farming culture in traditional Chinese society and carries the ritual tradition of worshipping the god of agriculture in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Book of Rites: Sacrifice records: "The emperor personally ploughed in the southern suburbs to provide for the prosperity of the country." The Temple of Agriculture is located in the southwest corner of the outer city of Beijing's old city. Its location follows the tradition of personally ploughing in the southern suburbs. The Temple of Agriculture and the Temple of Heaven are symmetrically arranged from east to west along the central axis of Beijing. The Temple of Agriculture is divided into the inner and outer altars. The inner altar is located to the south and west of the outer altar and is a rectangular courtyard. The Taisui Hall complex located on the central axis of the inner altar, and the Temple of Agriculture, Jingtian and Guangengtai to the south are the main places for worship. The inner altar also has three groups of facilities serving sacrificial activities, namely the Shencang complex to the east of the Taisui Hall, the Shenchu complex to the west, and the Jufu Hall to the south. The outer altar wall was historically in the shape of a circle in the north and a south in the south, similar to the Temple of Heaven. The outer altar also has the altar of gods on the south side of the inner altar and the Qingcheng Palace on the east side of the inner altar. The main altars in the Xiannong Altar are all square in plan, which contrasts with the circular planes of the Circular Mound Altar and the Altar of Prayer for Good Harvests in the Temple of Heaven, forming two groups of national sacrificial buildings that are symmetrically arranged along the central axis of Beijing and contrast in architectural form. The inner altar of the Xiannong Altar is a ritual space for worshiping Tai Sui and Xiannong, and it is also the place where the emperor personally ploughs. The outer altar includes the altar of gods for worshiping gods of heaven and earth and the Qingcheng Palace used as a fasting palace. The worship of Xiannong is an important part of traditional Chinese national rituals, showing the importance that ancient Chinese society attached to agricultural activities and farming culture. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the core objects of worship in the Xiannong Altar were the God of Agriculture (Emperor Yan Shennong) and Tai Sui Sui Jiang (the god of the year and the god of guarding the twelve months). According to legend, Shennong was the first person to teach Chinese ancestors how to cultivate land and grow grains. To thank him, his descendants worshipped him as a god and prayed for agricultural abundance. During the sacrifice to Shennong, the emperor not only had to worship Shennong, but also had to plow the land himself, promote the spirit of valuing agriculture and encouraging farming, and watch the princes and ministers plowing the land. The sacrificial activities at the Xiannong Temple continued until 1911. Today, the Xiannong Temple is open to the public as a museum, displaying ancient Chinese architecture and the sacrificial traditions of the Xiannong Temple. The Xiannong Temple was first built in the 18th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1420). When it was first established, the altar had core ritual spaces such as the Xiannong Temple, the Taisui Hall, the Worship Hall, and the Fentian. In the second year of the Tianshun reign of the Ming Dynasty (1458), the Zhai Palace (now the Qingcheng Palace) was added. In the 10th year of the Jiajing reign (1531), the altars of the gods of heaven and earth were built on the south side of the Xiannong Temple, and a wooden viewing platform was built to the north of the Fentian for the emperor to watch plowing. In the 18th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1753), the altar of Xiannongtan was rebuilt, and the wooden viewing platform was replaced with a brick one. In 1915, the north side of the outer altar of Xiannongtan was opened to the public as a park, and was renamed Chengnan Park in 1918. In 1991, the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum was established in Xiannongtan.
Beijing Working People's Cultural Palace
Located on the east side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, Beijing Workers' Cultural Palace is a Ming and Qing Dynasty Imperial Ancestral Temple built in the 18th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1420). With the proposal of Premier Zhou Enlai and the approval of the first State Council meeting, the Imperial Ancestral Temple was transferred to the Beijing Federation of Trade Unions for management and used as a cultural activity venue for workers and the masses. The plaque "Beijing Workers' Cultural Palace" was named and inscribed by Chairman Mao Zedong. It was unveiled on April 30, 1950 and officially opened to the public on May 1. It is a "school and paradise" for the working people and a tourist attraction for Chinese and foreign tourists. The rich and colorful cultural and sports activities and the beautiful and elegant environment attract many tourists. Art and education training have created a large number of talents. Various art performances and exhibitions are also well-known. Various entertainment and fitness projects are appreciated by both the elite and the masses. It is an excellent place for leisure and entertainment. The establishment of Beijing Workers' Cultural Palace was recorded in the "Chronicle of the People's Republic of China" as a major historical event after the founding of the People's Republic of China. In January 1988, the Imperial Ancestral Temple was listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit. In 1998, Beijing Workers' Cultural Palace was rated as a national model workers' cultural palace by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions. In March 2002, Beijing Workers' Cultural Palace was rated as a first-class park in Beijing. Since its establishment, Beijing Workers' Cultural Palace has become the center of cultural activities for workers in the capital and even the whole country, carrying out rich and colorful cultural activities and cultivating a large number of talents in various fields. At the same time, as an important venue for major events of the Party and the country, it has experienced many major historical events. With the acceleration of the pace of reform and opening up, the Cultural Palace is organically combining the traditional culture of the Imperial Ancestral Temple with modern culture and art, and gradually forming a school and park with unique characteristics and rich cultural values.
Duanmen
Duanmen is located between Tiananmen and Wumen Gate of the Forbidden City. Between Tiananmen and Duanmen, the court rooms are arranged symmetrically on the east and west sides, with a street gate in the middle, leading to the southern part of the Ancestral Temple and the Altar of Sheji. Duanmen and Wumen also have symmetrical duty rooms on the east and west sides. The right door of the temple and the left door of the community are on the south side, leading to the middle of the Ancestral Temple and the Altar of Sheji; the left door of the que and the right door of the que are on the north side. Duanmen, Wumen, Tiananmen and the inner Thousand-Step Corridors on both sides together form two courtyards with a strong sense of depth, which become the leading ceremonial sequence for entering the palace city. The oppressive and contracted spatial atmosphere formed by the heavy doors and high walls is in sharp contrast to the Taihemen Square that suddenly opens up behind the Wumen Gate, highlighting the majesty of the emperor. Duanmen consists of a city platform and a tower, and its architectural form and volume are basically the same as those of the Tiananmen Tower. The tower is nine bays wide and five bays deep, with a double-eaved hip roof style on the roof, covered with yellow glazed tiles. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the functions of Duanmen Gate were basically the same. It was a place to store the emperor's ceremonial supplies and also a place to organize the ceremonial guards. When the emperor went on tour, he boarded the imperial carriage from Duanmen Gate, which was the beginning of etiquette. When going on tour or returning from activities such as morning court, festivals, and sacrifices, the ceremonial guards lined up neatly on both sides of the corridor, and the bells were struck at Duanmen Gate and the drums were beaten at Wumen Gate. The court rooms on both sides of Duanmen Gate were places for officials to rest and wait before going to court. Today, Duanmen Gate is officially open to the public after renovation. Duanmen Gate was first built in the 18th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1420) and rebuilt in the 6th year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1667). In 1999, Duanmen Gate was officially opened to the public after renovation.