Circular Mound Altar (Beijing, China) : Detail, dragon decoration on blue "roof" tiles capping the outer circular wall

Creator:
Ming Shizong, Emperor of China, 1507-1566
Qianlong, Emperor of China, 1711-1799
Published/Created:
Southeastern part of central Beijing; Tiantan Rd. and Qinnian St., North Gate, Beijing, Beijing Shi, municipality, China
1530 ; enlarged 1749 (alteration)
Physical Description:
534 m (other, circular perimeter); 5.2 m (height)
Date Depicted:
6/5/2009
Materials:
white marble; blue stone; glazed tile
Notes:
An outdoor empty circular platform on three levels of marble stones, part of the Altar of Heaven (Temple of Heaven) complex, built during the 9th year of Emperor Jiajing's (Ming Shizong or Zhu Houcong) reign of the Ming Dynasty. Enlarged in 1749 (the 14th year of the Emperor Qianlong's reign of the Qing Dynasty). The round terrace was first covered with deep blue glazed slabs surrounded with a white marble balustrade when it was expanded. The round terraces represent communication with heaven. All the components of the terraces and balustrades are multiples of the number 9. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the emperors would offer sacrifices to Heaven on the day of the Winter Solstice every year. Sacrificial animals and other offerings were burned here to ensure good harvests.
Variant Titles:
圜丘坛
Topics:
Architecture -- China -- 16th century -- (YVRC)
Architecture -- China -- 18th century -- (YVRC)
Period/Style:
Ming dynasty, 1368-1644
Qing dynasty, 1644-1912
Culture:
Chinese
Accession Number:
1A2-CH-B-AH-C39
Genre:
altars (AAT)
architecture (AAT)
Format:
Image
Content Type:
Furnishings & Decorative Arts
Sculptures, Models, & Architecture
Rights:
Copyright Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc
The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.
Access Restrictions:
Yale Community Only
Digital:
architectural elements; religious building fixtures; altars (religious building fixtures)
Source Creator:
Gilchrist, Scott
Source Title:
Archivision Addition Module Eight
Source Created:
2878 Chamonix, Montreal QC
Archivision, Inc.
6/5/2009 12:00:00 AM
Source Note:
Purchase, Visual Resources Collection, May, 2013; photographer Scott Gilchrist
Yale Collection:
Visual Resources Collection
Digital Collection:
Visual Resources Collection
Local Record Number:
4654
OID:
10900106
PID:
digcoll:1860714