The Altar of Land and Grain

The Altar of Land and Grain

The Altar of Land and Grain is a protected cultural heritage site of Beijing.

The Altar of Land and Grain is located on the northwest side of Tiananmen Square in Beijing, facing the Imperial Ancestral Temple (now the Working People’s Cultural Palace) on the northeast side of Tiananmen.

The Altar of Land and Grain was where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshipped the gods of land and grain. This layout follows the imperial tradition since the Zhou dynasty, specifically the “ancestral temple (Imperial Ancestral Temple) on the left and the altar of land and grain (Altar of Land and Grain) on the right” arrangement as described in the Kao Gong Ji. The history of the Altar of Land and Grain can be traced back to the Liao and Jin dynasties when it was the site of the renowned suburban temple “Xingguo Temple.” During the Yuan dynasty, it was renamed “Wanshou Xingguo Temple.” In the 19th year of the Yongle reign during the Ming dynasty (1421), the Altar of Land and Grain was established here. The entire complex covers an area of over 360 acres and consists of the Altar of Land and Grain, the Hall of Worship, and the Spear Gate.

The Altar of Land and Grain is a three-tiered square platform made of white marble, symbolizing the ancient concept of “the round sky and the square earth.” The altar is paved with five colored soils—yellow in the center, green in the east, red in the south, white in the west, and black in the north. The surrounding low walls are also covered with glazed tiles in corresponding colors. The five-colored soil was offered as tribute from various regions across the country, signifying the notion that “all under heaven belongs to the emperor,” and also representing the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—as the foundation of all things. The gods of land and grain were deities worshipped by ancient emperors and feudal lords. From the Shang and Zhou dynasties through the Qing dynasty, emperors upheld the grand ceremonies dedicated to the land and grain. Emperors throughout the ages regarded themselves as chosen by heaven, likening themselves to the “Son of Heaven,” and viewed the land and grain as symbolic of the foundation of the state. Hence, major sacrificial ceremonies were held at dawn on the day of Wushen in the second month of spring and autumn each year. On important occasions such as military expeditions, triumphant returns, or the presentation of captives, grand ceremonies were also conducted here. The altar is surrounded by three layers of walls, with a white marble gate known as the “Lingxing Gate” on each of the four sides of the inner wall. The middle layer is called the “altar wall.” Between the altar wall and the outer wall, there is the Hall of Worship and the Spear Gate to the north, and the Divine Warehouse, Divine Kitchen, and Ritual Slaughter Pavilion to the west.

The Hall of Worship served as a shelter for emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties to take refuge from wind and rain while en route to worship ceremonies, hence its name. After Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s passing in 1925, his coffin was temporarily placed here. In 1928, the hall was renamed the “Zhongshan Hall.” In 1914, the Altar of Land and Grain was turned into the Central Park, later renamed “Zhongshan Park.” After becoming a park, numerous pavilions and structures were built around the altar. To the east are the Tossing-the-Arrow-in-a-Pot Pavilion, Laixin Yuxuan, and the Pine and Cypress Fragrance Pavilion; to the west are the Welcoming-Sunshine Pavilion, Huaying Tower, Tang Flower Conservatory, waterside pavilion, Chunming Hall, and Siyi Pavilion; to the south are the Eight-Pillar Orchid Pavilion and Orchid Pavilion Stele, relocated from the Old Summer Palace, as well as the Peace Memorial Archway made of white marble. Similar to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the Altar of Land and Grain is also famed for its ancient cypress trees. Among them, seven ancient cypresses next to Laixin Yuxuan are said to be a thousand years old, with trunks measuring over 6 meters in circumference. The hundreds of other lush cypresses provide dense shade, standing tall and straight, each uniquely shaped, creating a spectacular sight. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

Address: Zhongshan Park, No. 4 Zhonghua Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Type: Historical Site

Phone: 010-66055431 (Inquiry number for Zhongshan Park)

Opening Hours:

Zhongshan Park Main Gate: Ticket sales from June to August are from 6:00–21:00, closing time is 22:00; from April to May and September to October, ticket sales are from 6:00–20:00, closing time is 21:00; from November to March of the following year, ticket sales are from 6:30–19:00, closing time is 20:00.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Municipal-Level Protected Cultural Heritage Sites in Beijing

· Third Batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level