China's Temple of Heaven, Beijing

Temple of Heaven

I finally made up my mind, after long deliberation, to visit somewhere different, somewhere...Spiritual.

After shopping for souvenir for friends and family, in the famous Chinese Pearl Market, I resolved to visiting somewhere, a stone-throw away, somewhere if located in Africa, I would be tagged a traditionalist, partisan to voodoo worship, a pagan, or even an occult for visiting such a place. But this Temple of Heaven isn't in Africa, having no diabolic affiliation to our 'supposed' enshrined demigods.

Apparently, the Temple of Heaven, literally known as the Altar of Heaven, built in 1420, is China's largest existing complex of ancient sacrificial buildings and religious worship with a total area of 270 acres. *** "White man Juju is good Juju" they say, "but the black man Juju?" Hmmm...I comment my reserve. You can even imagine how the Altar occupies space.***

Located in the Chongwen District, Southern Beijing, China's political, diplomatic and cultural hub, the Temple of Heaven was originally, the center place where emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) held the Imperial Heaven Worship Ceremony (worship the god of heaven and pray for good harvest) for five centuries.

It is considered a reflection of the ancient civilization of the Orient, symbolizing the relationship between earth and heaven – the human world and God's world – which stands at the heart of Chinese cosmogony. :::You'll notice, even the packaging alone turns black religion (if we have any) into a Tradition (a tradition to be completely abolished).

DVB in the Temple of Heaven, Beijing

The Temple's vast area holds a chilling feeling of solemnity, respectfulness, holiness and quietness, a feeling of soul purification, of thoughts sublimed. You just need to be there to understand what I mean.

The principal buildings in the Temple include the 'Altar of Prayer for Good Harvests',' Imperial Vault of Heaven' and 'Circular Mound Altar.' ***Now you know the Chinese have a flare for the paranormals.***

Religion in China has been characterized by pluralism since the beginning of Chinese history. It is family-oriented and do not demand exclusive adherence, this allows for practice or belief of several at the same time.

Some Chinese scholars prefer not to use the term "Religion" and suggest "Cultural practices", "Thought systems" or "Philosophies" as more appropriate terms. There is a stimulating debate over what to call religion and who should be called religious in China.

DVB with a Monk from Tibet in the Temple of Heaven,Beijing

While Christianity in China declined as a result of persecution during the 10th through 14th centuries,  the Communist Party of China, which came to power in 1949, based on Marxism as an atheist ideology, viewed traditional religions as backwards, and Christianity as the tool of 'Western colonialism', but has steadfastly maintained separation of church from state. Unlike what we have/practice in Africa - Political-religious interference leading to freestyling communal crisis and deaths).

DVB with a tourist at the Temple of Heaven,Beijing

The Temple of Heaven entered into the world cultural heritage list in 1998 by UNESCO, thus making it tourists choice destination - attracting masses of visitors from around the globe in grand scales.

However, one thing the Chinese have spontaneously done overtime, is peaceful coexistence with each other, irrespective of the diverse ethnic groups. They even framed one of their reforms as "Peaceful development." And like Martin Luther Kings rightly puts it, "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."

A visit to the People's republic of China, a nation with over 1.36 Billion people, with over 20 percent aging population, without dropping by the Temple of Heaven will be incomplete.