During the reign of the Ming-dynasty Jiajing Emperor, seven large stones were placed to the southeast of the Great Offering Hall (predecessor of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests). Carved with mountain patterns, they represent the seven peaks of the famous Mount Tai in Shandong. After the Manchus established the Qing Dynasty and gained control of the whole country, they added one more stone to the northeast of the existing seven, symbolizing their identity as members of the Chinese nation and the unity of China’s diverse ethnic groups.