Heaven Worship Culture

Starting from Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), every year the emperor would come to the Temple of Heaven to hold ceremonies to worship the Heaven (Ji Tian in Chinese). Especially when encountering a year of draught, the emperor would go to the Circular Mound Altar to pray for rain.

Worshipping Time
Seven Ke (a “Ke” in the Qing Dynasty refers to 15 minutes) before sunrise was the starting time. At this moment, the Bell of Supreme Harmony in the Palace of Abstinence was sounded, the emperor started off to the Circular Mound Altar