Divine Music Administration (Shenyueshu)

The Divine Music Administration was once the highest ritual music academy during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 - 1911) and now serves as an exhibition hall for ancient Chinese royal music.
 
The complex is laid out in a rectangular shape, elongated from east to west, with three courtyards divided by two main halls. 

The Hall of Gathering Felicity, the front hall of the Divine Music Administration, now functions as a performance hall for imperial sacrificial music. This music, played with 16 types of instruments made from eight materials—gold, stone, silk, bamboo, earth, wood, gourd, and leather—was exclusively used for significant state events like sacrificing to heaven and ancestors.

The rear hall, Hall of Manifested Blessings, is now the Chinese Ancient Music Hall of Fame. It displays sculptures of eight renowned ancient Chinese musicians and features large murals depicting the evolution of ancient Chinese music. In the northwest corner of the rear hall stands a locust tree with a trunk so thick it requires three people to embrace it. Over 500 years old, it is the oldest locust tree in the Temple of Heaven. 

Surrounding the two halls are 81 corridor rooms, currently housing exhibitions on various music themes, such as instruments, musical scales, and dance.
 
Just outside the gate of the Divine Music Administration lies a lawn with several neatly arranged stones, mostly made of white marble. These stones are the pillar bases from the original sacrificial site buildings at the Temple of Heaven. Once a thriving complex dedicated to sacrificing deities and raising sacrificial animals like cattle, sheep, pigs, and deer, the site was largely destroyed in 1900, with only these stones remaining.
 
Constructed in 1420, the Divine Music Administration was initially a royal sacrificial music management institution. Due to the emperors' affinity for Taoism, the officials here were Taoist priests, hence it was named "Divine Music Taoist Temple" or "Temple of Heaven Taoist Monastery". These priests were responsible for training musicians and dancers for ceremonial needs. The front hall served as the main rehearsal space, while the rear hall enshrined the northern guardian Taoist deity Xuanwu. The surrounding rooms served as classrooms for music and dance students.

Originally, the Divine Music Administration was not only a royal institution but also a recreational spot for citizens. Taoist priests cultivated flowers, ran herbal medicine shops, and attracted many visitors. However, excessive crowds disrupted the solemn atmosphere of the Temple of Heaven, leading to the expulsion of all Taoist priests in 1742. 

Thereafter, imperial officials appointed by the emperor managed the institution, and students were selected from noble families, with a prohibition on practicing Taoism. In 1754, it was formally renamed Divine Music Administration. Its decline began around 1900 during the late Qing Dynasty when all personnel were dispersed. Notably, from 1937 to 1945, the site was occupied by Japanese forces and used as a bacteriological warfare research facility.

 Note: Currently, the Divine Music Administration is closed for renovations and is expected to reopen to the public in 2026.
 
The Divine Music Administration is located near the West Gate of the Temple of Heaven, to the southwest of the Fasting Palace. You can take Subway Line 8 to Tianqiao Station, exit at C and walk straight to the west gate. Upon entering the west gate and turning right, you will see it within a 14-minute walk.