You can find different number of beasts on the roof in
the Forbidden City in Beijing. All the roofs are in golden- yellow tiles as golden-yellow is the colour the Emperor; except the Crown Prince’s palace has green tiles because green is associated with Wood - or growth energy. All the roofs have auspicious beasts on the eaves to deflect and prevent evil spirits from entering the building. Tere are lots of auspicious protectors around the
Forbidden City, such as bronze cranes for longevity and bronze dragon tortoises outside the hall of supreme harmony, symbolizing the wish that the Emperor would have a long life and long reign. Tere are 18 large bronze incense burners at the platform of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the cover of the incense burner features carefully carved pa kua trigram patterns. Whenever ceremonies were held, kemenyen incense with pine branches were burnt to offer smoke to the heavens and the local spirits. Tis brings stability, security and power for the State. Te Martial Gate in the North is kind of the back door
of the Forbidden City. It was named the Black Tortoise Gate. Te West Flowery Gate in the West is where workers delivered metal materials. Te East Flowery Gate in the East was mainly for delivery of wood materials to the city; also, when people passed away (other than the Emperor) their bodies are taken out through this gate. All gates in the Forbidden City are decorated with a 9 X 9 array of golden door nails equal to 81 door nails – a yang number - except for the East Glorious Gate, which has only eight rows equal to 72 door nails – a yin number. Even numbers are said to be yin and odd numbers yang.
THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN Te Temple of Heaven was built from 1522 - 1567, where the Emperors worshipped the heavens and prayed for good harvests. Tis is the largest existing complex of worship in the world. It was built in 1368 and called the “Altar of
The Temple of Heaven
The golden door nails.
the Heaven and the Earth”. Te layout of the Temple of Heaven is circular in
the North and square in the South to symbolize Heaven (round) and Earth (Square). The Circular Mound Altar was built in 1530 where the heaven worshipping ceremonies were staged. The Circular Mound was a 3-tiered stone terrace with four entrances and nine steps leading down in each direction. Te number 9 represents the Emperor and the Circular Mound Altar was built in center of Heavenly Heart stone is surrounded by a ring of 9 plates, then the second ring of 18 plates, and so on for a total of nine surrounding rings, the outermost having 9 x 9 plates. Te middle terrace has 90 stones in the tenth ring up to 162 in the 18th; the lower one has 171 stones in the 19th ring, up to 243 in the 27th ring.
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