Detail View: Visual Resources Teaching Collection: Temple of Heaven Complex (Tiantan): Hall for Prayer for a Prosperous Year (Qiniandian)

Image Record ID: 
aahi0001981
Work Title (display): 
Temple of Heaven Complex (Tiantan): Hall for Prayer for a Prosperous Year (Qiniandian)
Image Title: 
Horizontal detail of building with three levels of terraces
Work Description: 
Located at northern end of a 270 hectares park. Complex was site on which emperor prayed for good harvest and worshipped heaven. The Temple or Altar of Heaven complex, including the Great Sacrifice Hall (Dasidian), was first built in 1420-1421 by the Yongle emperor, Chengzu (r. 1403-1424). The name of Dasidian was changed to Altar for Prayer for the Harvest (Qigutan) around 1530, when the Temple of Heaven complex was expanded by Emperor Shizong, the Jiajing emperor (r. 1522-1566). Its name was changed again twelve years later to Daxiangdian (Great Sacrifice Hall), and then again to the Hall for Prayer for a Prosperous Year after it was repaired in 1751. It burned to the ground in 1889, and it was rebuilt during the next decade by Emperor Dezong (r. 1875-1908). It has been under repair since 1949. Its circular plan symbolizes heaven, and the three-tiered marble platform on which the hall stands represents the earth. The triple roof of blue glazed tiles symbolizes the sky.
Work Dates (display): 
ca. 1420
Work Dates type: 
creation
Image Date (display): 
2005-03-25
Work Creator (display): 
unknown Ming
Work Creator gender: 
unknown
Work Style Period: 
Ming
Work Style Period: 
15th century
Work Subject: 
heaven
Work Worktype: 
temples
Work Worktype: 
architecture (object genre)
Work Category (VRC classification): 
architecture
Work Location (Geographic) name: 
Beijing, China
Image Rights (display): 
© Ronald Wiedenhoeft. Licensed for educational use via Scholars Resource: Saskia, Ltd.
Work Rights (display): 
public domain
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Holding Institution: 
University of Colorado at Boulder
Collection: 
Art and Art History Visual Resources Collection
Collection info and contact: 
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