祭坛是一种独特的建筑类型，是用于祭祀活动的台形建筑。祭祀起源于古代的人们对于自然的崇拜，是中国古代社会中重要的典仪制度。祭祀对象一般为天地、日月、社稷和先农等神。

The sacrificial altar is a unique type of architecture; it is a platform-shaped structure used for sacrificial activities. In China, sacrifice originated with the ancient people’s veneration of nature and constituted an important system of ceremonies and rites in ancient society. Objects of sacrificial worship included heaven and earth, the sun and moon, the Gods of Land and Grain, and the God of Agriculture.

　　祭坛和宫殿、陵墓是反映古代首都职能的三种建筑类型。所以，历代王朝都用当时最高的技术手段和艺术手段来建造祭坛。

Palaces, mausoleums and sacrificial altars are types of architecture which reflected three different roles of the ancient capital. As a result, each successive dynasty employed the most refined technological and artistic methods of the time to build sacrificial altars.

　　祭坛和其他建筑物相比有一个重要的区别，它一般采用象征手法来建造。比如说北京的天坛和地坛，分别用圆形和方形来象征“天圆地方”，分别用蓝琉璃瓦和黄琉璃瓦象征“天谓之苍，地谓之黄”。祭坛的建筑理念，传达的是人们对于宇宙和皇权的认识。

There is one important difference between sacrificial altars and other architectural structures. In general, symbolism is employed in the construction of sacrificial altars. For example, Beijing’s Temple of Heaven and Temple of Earth use round and square configurations, respectively, to symbolize the Chinese conception of a “round heaven and square earth.” In addition, these two temples use blue glazed tiles and yellow glazed tiles, respectively, to symbolize the “blue heaven” and the “yellow earth.” The architectural concept of sacrificial altars reflects the Chinese people’s interpretation of the universe as well as imperial power.

　　古人认为祭坛一定要经受霜露风雨来获得天地之气，所以祭坛之上不建房屋，也没有内部空间。因为祭祀对象为自然神，所以祭坛一般建在更加接近自然的郊外。祭坛面积很大、建筑较少，种植大片苍翠浓郁的柏林，庄严、肃穆。

The ancient Chinese people believed that it was essential for sacrificial altars to endure the natural elements in order to obtain the vital aura of heaven and earth. As a result, no additional structures could be built on top of sacrificial altars to achieve an absence of internal space. Since the recipients of ancient Chinese sacrifices were the gods of nature, sacrificial altars were generally built on city outskirts in close proximity to nature. Sacrificial altars were large in scale, with minimal surrounding architecture. In addition, huge forests of verdant cypress trees were planted around the altars, creating a grand and solemn atmosphere.

　　北京著名的祭坛有社稷坛，专供帝王祭祀土地神、粮食神；天坛，每年冬至日皇帝在此祭天；地坛，每年夏至日皇帝在此祭地；日坛，专供帝王祭日；月坛，专供帝王祭月。

Beijing’s famous sacrificial altars include the Temple of Land and Grain (Shejitan), used specially by the emperor to offer sacrifices to the Gods of Land and Grain; the Temple of Heaven (Tiantan), where the emperor offered annual sacrifices to heaven on the day of the winter solstice; the Temple of Earth (Ditan), where the emperor offered annual sacrifices to earth on the day of the summer solstice; the Temple of the Sun (Ritan), used by the emperor to offer sacrifices to the sun; and the Temple of the Moon (Yuetan), used by the emperor to offer sacrifices to the moon.

　　辛亥革命以后，祭祀制度被废除，很多祭坛就开放为公园。

After the Revolution of 1911, China’s sacrificial system was abolished and many sacrificial altars were converted into public parks.