WE VISIT THE TEMPLE TO HEAVEN IN BEIJING

Ke Yang toook us to the Temple to Heaven as you can see in the picture with its three levels of roof. It is directly in the center of the city in a straight line to the Forbidden City.

This was a temple built for the offering of sacrifice to Heaven. From 2600 BC to 1901. An Ox was slaughtered and offered as a burnt offering or sacrifice to the God of Heaven. The Emporer offered a prayer twice a year with this sacrifice. He had to fast and prepare himself for the prayer. There was a special washing and he put on special clothing and offered a prayer to Heaven for the welfare of the people, their safety and well being. the the sucess of the harvest and the good of the nation. Everything was proscribed in detail.

This is straight out of the Old Testment and it was interesting to see this Chinese twist to something that is as old as man.

This is a happy place. People gather there to feel the peace, play badmitton, do Tai Chi, and sing at a wall. What a thrill to see it.