The Altar of Land and Grain

　　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) to the northeast of Tiananmen.

　　The Altar of Land and Grain was the site where emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices to the gods of the earth and the five grains. This layout follows the ancient imperial tradition dating back to the Zhou dynasty, as recorded in the "Kao Gong Ji" ("Records of Trades"), which describes the arrangement as "ancestral temple on the left (Imperial Ancestral Temple), altar of land and grain on the right (Altar of Land and Grain)." The history of the Altar of Land and Grain can be traced back to the Liao and Jin dynasties, when this area was home to the renowned suburban temple "Xingguo Temple." It was renamed "Wanshou Xingguo Temple" during the Yuan dynasty. In the 19th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming dynasty (1421), the Altar of Land and Grain was established here, covering an area of approximately 360 acres. It consists of the Altar of Land and Grain itself, the Hall of Worship, and the Hall of Weapons.

　　The Altar of Land and Grain is a three-tiered square platform built from white marble, symbolizing the ancient concept of “the round heaven and the square earth.” The top of the altar is paved with five-colored earth representing the directions: yellow in the center, blue 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 earth was offered as tribute from various regions across the country, signifying the idea that "all under heaven belongs to the emperor," and it also symbolizes the five elements — metal, wood, water, fire, and earth — which are considered the foundation of all things. The Altar of Land and Grain represents the gods of the earth and grain worshipped by ancient emperors and feudal lords. From the Shang and Zhou dynasties through the Qing dynasty, emperors upheld the grand rituals dedicated to these deities. The emperors regarded themselves as chosen by heaven, referring to themselves as the “Son of Heaven,” and viewed the Altar of Land and Grain as symbolic of the foundation of the state. Hence, grand ceremonies were held here on the morning of the day of Wushen in the middle of the spring and autumn months each year. On important occasions such as military expeditions, returns from battle, or the presentation of captives, grand rites were also conducted at the altar. The altar is surrounded by three layers of walls. Each side of the inner wall has a white marble gate known as the “Lingxing Gate.” The middle layer is called the “altar wall.” Between the altar wall and the outer wall, there is the Hall of Worship and the Hall of Weapons to the north, and the Shrine for Divine Implements, the Divine Kitchen, and the Animal Slaughtering Pavilion to the west.

　　The Hall of Worship served as a shelter for emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties to take refuge from wind and rain while en route to sacrificial ceremonies, hence its name. After the death of Dr. Sun Yat-sen in 1925, his coffin was once placed here. In 1928, the hall was renamed “Zhongshan Hall” (Sun Yat-sen Hall). In 1914, the Altar of Land and Grain was converted into Central Park, later renamed “Zhongshan Park.” After becoming a public park, numerous pavilions and terraces were built around the altar. To the east are the Pitch-pot Pavilion, Laijin Yuxuan Teahouse, and the Pine and Cypress Shade Pavilion; to the west are the Dawn Welcome Pavilion, Shadow Painting Tower, Tang Flower Conservatory, waterside pavilion, Chunming Pavilion, and Siyi Pavilion; and to the south are the Eight-Pillar Pavilion and the Stone Tablet of Orchid Pavilion, relocated from the Old Summer Palace, as well as the Peace Memorial Archway made of white marble. Like the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the Altar of Land and Grain is also famous for its ancient cypress trees. Seven ancient cypress trees near Laijin Yuxuan are said to be a thousand years old, with trunks measuring over six meters in circumference. The other hundreds of verdant cypresses tower majestically, forming a spectacular and serene canopy with their diverse shapes. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)