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Altar to the Gods of Earth and Grain in the Palace museum

Built in the 19th year of the Yongle period in the Ming dynasty (1421), the Altar to the Gods of Earth and Grain (She Ji Tan) is situated on the west of the Forbidden City, with 61She” meaning the god of earth and “Ji” meaning the god of grain. The Altar is an over-one-meter-high three-layered terrace, on which there is the earth in five colors contributed from the whole country, with yellow earLh from the center of the country, green from the east, representing the five elements and the lands in five directions. In its center, there is a square stone column named the Stone of Territory Owner or the Stone of State Power, symbolizing that the court would be blessed with an everlasting rule.

The Altar was converted into Zhongshan Park in 1914. Its prayer hall was renamed Zhongshan Hall in memory of Dr. Sun Yatsen (whose another name is Zhongshan), the pioneer ot Chinese revolution. To the north of the south gate, there is a white marble archway with blue-glazed tiles, which has witnessed the humiliations suffered by the Chinese people during the invasions of the imperialist countries and the efforts of the Chinese people in striving for freedom and peace. It is the memorial archway erected by the Qing government to commemorate the German Baron von Kettler and originally stood at the crossroads of Dongdan.After World War I ended in 1918, it was moved to the Zhongshan Park and renamed Archway of Insisting on Truth.in 1952, the newly founded People’s Republic of China renamed it again to the Archway of Defending the Peace. The new name was written by the famous Chinese scholar Guo Moruo and inscribed on the lintel of the Archway.

Relevant attractions in the Palace Museum

Gate of Heavenly Peace
Gate of Origination
Imperial Ancestral Temple
Altar to the Gods of Earth and Grain
ImPerial Archives
North Lake