China Cultural Chronicles September 11, 2012
- Hall of Abstinence Altar
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According to Sino Hotel Guide:
The Hall of Abstinence is located near the western entrance of the Temple of Heaven. It is encircled by two walls. The Inner wall is called Brick City, and the outer wall is called the Purple Wall. To further ensure the safety of the emperor, a moat was built to surround the Purple Wall.
A bell tower, two stone pavilions and a beamless hall are the main structures here. The bell tower is in the northeast corner of the Hall of Abstinence. Before each ceremony. bells would be struck when the emperor left for the Circular Altar Mound and would not stop until the emperor arrived, After the ceremony, the bells would be struck again.
Of the two stone pavilions, the right pavilion kept time while the left one has a bronze plate with the word "fasting" engraved on it as a constant reminder to the emperor to observe fasting rules. The beamless hall was one of the most famous buildings in Beijing. A blue-tiled roof atop the hall symbolized that the emperor must always acknowledge the Supremacy of the Heavenly Emperor.
Before each ceremony, emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held a three-day fast during Spring, Summer and Winter. The emperors spent two days fasting in the Forbidden City and completed the three-day fast in the Hall of Abstinence.
During the three days, the emperor could not drink wine. He could only eat vegetables, but not garlic or onions. The emperor couldn't have any entertainment, nor could he handle any state affairs. Also, he had to be away from women. Naturally, such restrictions could be difficult for any emperor who was accustomed to all these luxuries.
This High Dynamic Range panorama was stitched from 63 bracketed photographs with PTGUI Pro, tone-mapped with Photomatix, and touched up in Aperture.
Original size:16605 × 14463 (240.2 MP; 204.42 MB).
Location: Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China - Chinese Musicians on Zheng
- 藍釉魚藻紋梅瓶
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- old-stuff
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- Divine Music II (B)
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Shenyueshu (Divine Music Administration) in Temple of Heaven is a royal organization for playing ancient music. The Divine Music Administration was housed in a group of buildings northwest of the West Heavenly Gate of the Circular Mound Altar and on the other side of the wall of the Fasting Palace. Its job was to play music and perform dance at the heaven-worshiping and other grand ceremonies. It was the top academy of ceremonial music during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The building complex was first built in 1420 in the Ming Dynasty. They were typital government office building. The administration was under the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the Ministry of Rites.
This High Dynamic Range 360° panorama was stitched from 63 bracketed photographs with PTGUI Pro, tone-mapped with Photomatix, and touched up in Aperture.
Original size: 18212 × 9106 (165.8 MP; 162.10 MB).
Location: Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China - Divine Music II (A)
etherflyer has added a photo to the pool:
Shenyueshu (Divine Music Administration) in Temple of Heaven is a royal organization for playing ancient music. The Divine Music Administration was housed in a group of buildings northwest of the West Heavenly Gate of the Circular Mound Altar and on the other side of the wall of the Fasting Palace. Its job was to play music and perform dance at the heaven-worshiping and other grand ceremonies. It was the top academy of ceremonial music during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The building complex was first built in 1420 in the Ming Dynasty. They were typital government office building. The administration was under the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the Ministry of Rites.
This High Dynamic Range 360° panorama was stitched from 63 bracketed photographs with PTGUI Pro, tone-mapped with Photomatix, and touched up in Aperture.
Original size: 18212 × 9106 (165.8 MP; 162.10 MB).
Location: Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China - Potala Palace
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