Xiannongtan or the Altar of Agriculture is one of Beijing’s ancient imperial altars where the emperor would perform sacrificial rites and ceremonies. As I wrote about before, this altar lies at the southern end of the Dragon Line on the west side across from the Temple of Heaven or Tiantan. The complex today not only preserves its own history but also showcases ancient Chinese architecture through the ages as the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum. It is a wonderful museum with some spectacular pieces on display!
Altar of Agriculture
The museum and grounds are just a small portion of what once made up Xiannongtan. As the name suggests, this imperial site was dedicated to the practices of agriculture. A lot of the property included fields where crops were cultivated. In fact, part of the ceremonies included the emperor doing some work in a field. There were also platforms where the emperor could watch the work as part of it all.
Two other ancient altars were moved from their original locations, about 300 meters to the south, to inside the museum grounds. They were originally outside the south gate of Xiannongtan.
The temple includes several standard temple buildings and halls as well as the preparation kitchens for sacrificial purposes. Over time, other buildings were added such as a place for the emperor to get dressed in ceremonial outfits. Spectacular green and yellow glazed tiles decorate on of the altars. A large oven where old ceremonial textiles could be ceremoniously burned stands near the main hall.
Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum
The best part of the Altar of Agriculture today is the museum showcasing and demonstrating ancient Chinese architecture. It is a well-curated museum. I only wish there were more English to explain to those who don’t read Chinese, like at the Ancient Bell Museum. Oh well, I am a student of architecture and great appreciator of its beauty and function, so I could figure out much of it. It helps that I have been to many of places mentioned in the exhibits.
The first hall of the temple houses the first exhibit. This takes guests on a journey through Chinese architecture beginning with mud huts thousands of years ago. Some signs related the architecture to other cultures and civilizations around the world at the same times. This was very helpful. There are also artifacts and models to help explain the turning points of highlights of various periods of architecture in China.
Taisui Palace
From the entrance hall on the south, a large courtyard draws visitors through to the crown jewel of the museum inside Taisui Palace, another temple hall. Three exhibits reside in this rear hall. One directly relates to the Altar of Agriculture. Another is a large model of old Beijing. It is considered one of the best and largest sand table models in China. However, the third exhibit in this hall is the best.
Ancient imperial structures used to cover Bejing. Many were demolished due to growth, expansion, and government policies. However, a major earthquake in 1976 caused destruction to many. This was the sad fate of the Beijing Longfu Temple. Fortunately, preservationists saved the ornately carved caisson or ceiling detail/coffer. The museum displays this magnificent piece of craftsmanship. We spent a good portion of our time admiring, examining, and ogling this colorful piece of woodworking.
The exhibit on this side of the hall also showcases other decorative Chinese architectural details. One display demonstrates how eaves on Chinese palaces were constructed. They are very intricate puzzles. Another display puts the ceramic palace roof ornamentation right in front of guests allowing them to see the figures up close.
World Monuments Watch
Xiannongtan is a preservation success story as well. The Altar of Agriculture fell into disrepair despite government protection. In 1998 and again in 2000, the World Monuments Fund listed Xiannongtan on the World Monuments Watch. It is a list of significant places around the world at risk of being lost. This brought funding and a project to restore the beautiful buildings at the temple.
I highly recommend the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum at the Altar of Agriculture. If you’re down at the Temple of Heaven and have some extra time, hop over to the Altar of Agriculture for hidden Beijing treasure.
