Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven
Beijing is enmeshed in ritualistic and religious artifacts and beliefs of Chinese. Forbidden City is a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design which graphically illustrates a evolution of one of the world’s great civilizations. Temple of Heaven in Forbidden City is one of the most dazzling architectural masterpieces in the world.
The Forbidden City takes its name from the fact that entry to the city was forbidden for any common man in this world. It was only used by kings and his servants. Ever since it was opened to public viewing few years back, it has become one of the most visited places in china. Much of the building design and meaning of carvings is still shrouded in mystery. The emperor’s lifestyle can be guessed by looking at the buildings.In the temple complex the Emperor would personally pray to Heaven for good harvests. Earth was represented by a square and Heaven by a circle; several features of the temple complex symbolize the connection of Heaven and Earth, of circle and square. Dragon is considered as a daemon sending drought, diseases and floods to people. So inscriptions of dragon in all the Chinese buildings are a common sight.
The Forbidden City, displays an extraordinarily harmonious balance between buildings and open space within a more or less symmetrical layout. The Purple Forbidden City, the emperor established himself as the Son of Heaven, with the mandate to maintain harmony between the human and world. He and his city became linked to the divine forces of the universe. The fearsome Mongolian/Chinese warriors of the 13th century have ruled the largest empire in the world. Their empire extended across Asia, from the Pacific Ocean to the Caspian Sea.
The chilling north was regarded as a harmful direction. Because all invasions of China had originated from the north, it came to represent evil spirits, cold winds. Hence, nearly all the buildings in the Forbidden City face south, the direction of holiness, giving protection from icy winds and also permitting subtle decoration by catching infinite variations of sunlight. Many treasures (about 1 million) are now housed within the Forbidden City - and many of these are on display to visitors, including gifts of state, military campaign treasures, and the furnishings and possessions of the imperial rulers.
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