The Altar of Land and Grain is an altar for worshipping the Gods of Land and Grain in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Before the ritual ceremony, a new layer of five-colored earth would be spread on the existing soil.

The altar top is spread with “five-colored earth” collected from across the country to embody the idea that “all the land under heaven belongs to the emperor.” The five colors, namely blue, red, white, black, and yellow, represent the five elements of nature and all cardinal directions: east, south, west, north, and center.