Hall of Abstinence

Hall of Abstinence

Situated south of the Six Eastern Palaces in the Forbidden City and west of the Yude Palace, it was where the emperor observed a ritual fast before ceremonies to worship Heaven and Earth. During the Ming Dynasty and the early Qing Dynasty, such fasts were observed outside the palace. In the later years of Emperor Kangxi’s reign, intense competition among the princes for the succession culminated in the fourth prince, Yinzhen, ascending the throne—though he also made powerful enemies. After becoming emperor, political strife within the court remained fierce. To ensure his safety, Emperor Yongzheng constructed the Hall of Abstinence within the Forbidden City in the ninth year of the Yongzheng reign (1731), moving the pre-ceremonial fast rituals indoors.

The Hall of Abstinence consists of a rectangular courtyard complex with an outer ceremonial section and an inner residential section. The front hall, known as the Hall of Abstinence, features five bays, a hip-and-gable roof covered with yellow glazed tiles, and a three-bay projecting front porch. The central and side bays have partitioned doors, while the two end bays have lattice windows. At the center of the hall’s interior hangs an imperial plaque inscribed with the characters “Revere Heaven,” written by Emperor Qianlong. The ceiling is adorned with gilded dragon patterns, and at the center is an octagonal caisson ceiling covered in gold-plated dragons. The eastern warm chamber functions as a study, while the western one serves as a Buddhist shrine. There are three auxiliary rooms on each of the east and west sides. Corner corridors on the left and right of the main hall connect to the front corridors of the auxiliary rooms, forming a three-sided courtyard with corner extensions. The rear sleeping quarters, initially called the Fuzuo Hall and later renamed the Chengsu Hall, have seven bays and a hip-and-gable roof with yellow glazed tiles. Each of the east and west sides has two side chambers. Eleven-bay corridors extend from the east and west sides, connecting to the front hall.

Before ceremonies to worship Heaven and Earth, as well as for major sacrifices such as the Prayer for Good Harvest and the Ordinary Rain Prayer, the emperor would observe a fast here. When the emperor stayed in the Hall of Abstinence, a fast plaque and a copper figure were ceremonially placed on the left side of the hall’s steps. On fast days, both the emperor and accompanying ministers wore fast plaques, and wooden fast signs were hung from the curtains of each palace hall. During the fasting period, no music was played, no alcohol was consumed, and spicy food was avoided.

Covering an area of about 40,000 square meters, it is enclosed by double walls, with 167 corridors around the inner wall serving as shelters for guards from wind and rain. The main hall is a five-bay beamless structure, one of the notable buildings in the capital. Its roof is covered with blue glazed tiles, symbolizing that one does not presume supremacy before Heaven. On the terrace in front of the hall stand a sundial stele pavilion and a copper figure pavilion for the fast. The copper figure, standing 1.5 chi tall, wears the attire of an ancient civil official and holds a copper plaque inscribed with the characters “Fast.” It is said to be modeled after Wei Zheng, the forthright chancellor of the Tang Dynasty. Behind the main hall is a five-bay sleeping palace, where the emperor observed the fast prior to ceremonies.

The Hall of Abstinence is where the emperor observed ritual fasts. Among various imperial sacrificial structures, there were always halls dedicated to fasting. The best-preserved example today is the Hall of Abstinence at Beijing’s Temple of Heaven. Located northwest of the Chengzhen Gate outside the Circular Mound Altar of the Temple of Heaven, it faces east and has a square floor plan. The walls consist of two layers: the outer brick wall, 66.07 meters in circumference, and the inner purple wall, 41.33 meters in circumference. There are two gates along the east side of the walls, with angle gates on each side, and white marble bridges in front of the angle gates. Corridors encircle the structure, providing shelter from wind, rain, frost, and snow for the guards of the Eight Banners stationed there. Over 1,300 colorful paintings depicting figures, landscapes, flowers, and birds adorn these corridors. Outside the corridors lies a deep moat, making the entire Hall of Abstinence a highly fortified site. Five auxiliary rooms stand north and south of the bridges in front, serving as temporary lodgings for guards and forbidden army troops.

Temple of Heaven Park

Divine Music Administration

Imperial Vault of Heaven

Vermilion Steps Bridge

Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests

Echo Wall

Circular Mound Altar Echo Wall

Lingxing Gate of the Temple of Heaven

Circular Mound Altar Ruins

Brazier for Burning Sacrificial Wood

Beacon Tower

Heart of Heaven Stone

Seventy-two Corridors

Gate of the Sixtieth Birthday