lanterns would be lit .in the foreground, a sacrificial calf is being barbecued. on the square in front of the altar, the emperor, under heavy escort of nearly a thousand courtiers, princes of royal blood ,musicians, dancers and uniformed soldiers, would slowly ascend the altar to offer sacrifice and pray in honor of heaven. when the service drew to a close ,the sacrifice offered in front of the memorial tablets would be incinerated .all of participants would watch the thick smoke rise upward as if they were seeing god off .music and dancing would follow .in the end ,the emperor would return to the forbidden city secure in the belief that he would be blessed and protected by heaven until the next winter solstice.
it is interesting to note that ,the stone in the very middle of the altar was of major importance ,since it was where the emperor used to stand to say his prayer. the stone ,which is known as the god`s heart stone, is peculiar in that it is characterized by a specific acoustic phenomenon: it made the emperor` s voice clearer and louder, thus adding to the mystic atmosphere of the service .you can try this out by yourself. (proceed northward to pass through the lattice stargate)
(in front of the gate of glazed tiles)
this structure is known as heaven` s storehouse. it is entered through the gate of glazed tiles. the roofing ,beams, and brackets are all made of glazed tiles or bricks. this is the only structure of its kind in china today .
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