11-05-2006, 08:45 AM
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#620
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Professor
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 1,462
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Quote:
The Temple of Heaven, literally the Altar of Heaven (Traditional Chinese: 天壇, Simplified Chinese: 天坛; pinyin: Tiāntán; Manchu: Abkai mukdehun) is a complex of Taoist buildings situated in southeastern urban Beijing, in Xuanwu District. Construction of the complex began in 1420, and was thereafter visited by all subsequent Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is regarded as a Taoist temple, although the worship of Heaven, especially by the reigning monarch of the day, pre-dates Taoism.
The Temple grounds covers 2.73 km˛ of parkland, and comprises three main groups of constructions, all built according to strict philosophical requirements:
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