Temple of Heaven

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Temple of Heaven (天坛 “Tian Tan”) was a place of worship. Ceremonies would be held at the temple and sacrifices were offered to heaven and there were prayers for a better harvest. According to Unesco, the original Altar of Heaven and Earth was completed together with the Forbidden City in 1420.  In the ninth year of the reign of Emperor Jiajing (1530) the decision was taken to offer separate sacrifices to heaven and earth, and so the Circular Mound Altar was built to the south of the main hall for sacrifices particularly to heaven. The Altar of Heaven and Earth was thereby renamed the Temple of Heaven.