One mile outside the main city sits “the city which is a temple.” Angkor Wat, and is the most famous of all monuments in the Khmer region of Cambodia. Suryavaraman II was responsible for producing this temple mountain with a shrine on top representing the framework and operation of the Hindu cosmos. The five central towers represent the peaks of Mount Meru, which in Hindu mythology dominates the universe and symbolizes the polar axis world.

As in other complexes throughout the world, the purpose of Angkor Wat is to harmoniously connect the earthly world of humankind with the heavenly realm of the gods. This is conveyed by the small heavenly deities carved in sandstone called asparas, which cover the walls of this huge structure. This massive complex is a series of inner galleries and large walls surrounded by a moat.

Angkor Wat is oriented to the four cardinal directions and is almost a mile square. The outer walls and moat of Angkor Wat represent the edge of the world and the ocean.

The main gate to this complex is open to the west and in the middle sits a 213-foot structure that represents Brahma’s celestial city. It is surrounded by four smaller mountains that represent the fourcardinal points and the smaller mountains that attend the real Mount Meru.

Angkor Wat is oriented to the four cardinal directions and is almost a mile square. The outer walls and moat of Angkor Wat represent the edge of the world and the ocean.

Forbidden City
China - Circa 1420 CE

Now a complex of museums, the Forbidden City sits at the center of Peking. It is so called because for hundreds of years entry was forbidden to all but the emperor’s family and servants. Today it still stands as the largest palace complex in the world. Constructed in 1420 CE, it covers an area of about 250 square acres, contains 800 buildings with 10,000 rooms and has four gates and towers built at each corner of the city, each representing the cardinal directions. The city is surrounded by a wall two and one half miles long and from the 15th century onwards, it contained the royal palace, residences and offices of the emperor’s servants and aristocracy. It was considered the most sacred of sanctuaries because it was the home of divinity.

The palaces within the walls became known as Zi Jin Cheng, or the “Purple Forbidden City,” the color being associated with the North Star. This was important because it was considered a sign that the emperor’s residence was the cosmic center of the world. To the peoples of China, the emperors were considered divine beings and were called the “Sons of Heaven” who lived inside the secluded Inner Palace at the center of the city. The title was taken so literally that yellow was the color exclusively used by the imperial household because it was the color of the sun.

The Chinese believed that the city was at the center of all things. To them it was the navel of the world and where the cosmos centers itself because the Son of Heaven resided within its walls. At the very center of this great city lies its focal point, the Hall of Harmony. It was here that at 45 minutes prior to sunrise in the east, the emperor would ascend the steps to sit upon his celestial throne. As the seat of the Immeasurable Power, the throne itself represented the very nucleus of the city and its heavenly connection.

Temple of Heaven
China - Circa 1420 CE

Nearby is another example of the cosmic theme. It is the Temple of Heaven and stands an impressive 123 feet high. The temple is constructed entirely of wood without any nails being used. This makes the temple one of the architectural wonders of the world. The Temple of Heaven has only has one door that opens to the south and inside there are 24 wooden columns arranged in a double circle around four central columns. These four central columns are said to represent the seasons of the year, and the outer circle the twelve months of the years and the inner circle, the twelve hours of the Chinese day. Further south is the Round Altar where the emperor would come every year to make a sacrifice to heaven. Accompanying the emperor along the route were chanting priests, burning incense, banging of gongs, and other ritualistic music.

The Round Altar consisted of three levels surrounded by 360 white marble pillars supporting a handrail. The levels were thought to represent man, earth, and heaven. This was one of the most important ceremonies of the year because it was believed the fate of the entire nation depended upon these sacred rites.

As the “Son of Heaven” went along the journey from the Forbidden City to the Temple of Heaven and its Round Altar to perform sacred rites, all windows, doors and gates had to be shut. No outside sound was permitted, and no outsider was even allowed to set eyes upon the heavenly precession, under penalty of death.

The Peoples Republic of China takes pride in exhibiting this glorious national treasure. The people now walk among secret gardens where they were once excluded, but the Forbidden City is showing the ravages of time. Pollution and heavy tourist traffic is taking its toll and it is literally falling apart. The Chinese say that they don’t have the resources to repair it. Hopefully the people of China will not forget their heavenly heritage that took so many centuries achieve.

Sundial
Japan - Circa 1000 BCE

NONAKADO STONE CIRCLE

This stone monument is the best known of its kind in Japan. It sits in the Kazuno district of Akita with another group of stones called the Manza. On a 560 foot high terrace, the Nonakado consists of two concentric settings of close-set stones forming belts up to 33 feet wide. The entire configuration is about 140 feet in diameter. From the center lying towards the northwest segment is the famous sun dial. It is made up of a standing menhir at the center surrounded by long stones placed on their sides and radiating out from the center. The sundial is about 36 feet in diameter and the standing menhir is 14 feet 9 inches high. Excavations at this site has produced stone axes, stone scepters, pottery and other stones vessels.

The purpose of this stone circle is still debated, but giving the similar structures in the Negev desert and other parts of the world its was probably used to connect the people with the heavens. Other similar sites in Japan are rare, but the one in the district of Hokkaido is venerated and offerings of sake are made to it.