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The legend of the Temple of Heaven is folk oral literature about the scenery and folkways related to the Temple of Heaven, passed down from generation to generation among the people in the south of Beijing around the temple.

The Temple of Heaven was built in the 18th year of the reign of Yongle in Ming Dynasty (1420), where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held ceremonies to worship the gods of heaven and pray for a good harvest and rain. With the changing of times and the alternating of emperors, the legend of the Temple of Heaven constantly absorbed new elements, forming a series of legendary tales of scenic spots centered on the Temple of Heaven. Still popular at the present time, the legend is considered a wonderful part of local Beijing culture.

The legend of the Temple of Heaven tells the stories of its establishment, scenery, folklore, surroundings, and of relevant characters, including well-known tales like Motherwort of the Temple of Heaven, Prodigy Helped Building the Circular Mound Altar, and the Echo Wall. The legend of the Temple of Heaven possesses profound historical, cultural, and literary value. In 2012, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Series: Legend of the Temple of Heaven was published in Beijing.

The legend of the Temple of Heaven possesses profound historical, cultural and literary value, and its embodiment of the idea of Harmony between Humans and Nature is an important reference for the study of ancient philosophy.

In 2011, the legend of Temple of Heaven was inscribed into China's List of State-level Intangible Cultural Heritage.

(Source: Dongcheng District People's Government)