Sun Family Memorial Archway for Chastity and Filial Piety

Sun Family Memorial Archway for Chastity and Filial Piety

The Sun Family Memorial Archway for Chastity and Filial Piety is a cultural heritage site protected at the municipal level in Yixing.

The Sun Family Memorial Archway for Chastity and Filial Piety is located in Xiazhu Village, Zhoutie Town, Yixing City. In June 1983, it was designated as a county-level cultural heritage site by the Yixing County People’s Government.

Constructed in the 32nd year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1767), the archway has a four-pillar, three-bay, five-story structure made from a combination of granite and bluestone. It stands approximately 6.60 meters tall and is 5.60 meters wide. The horizontal beam at the top is inscribed with the characters “节孝坊” (Archway of Chastity and Filial Piety). On the vertical pillars on both sides are inscriptions reading: “Serving in place of her husband with both chastity and filial devotion, teaching her adopted son to uphold family values through kindness and discipline.” Below these, the main horizontal beams on both the front and back are inscribed with: “Erected in honor of Madam Sun, wife of the late scholar Yin Dongjiao.” On the horizontal beams of the side bays, the front is inscribed with “Pure Virtue Leaves a Lasting Fragrance, Like Pine and Bamboo Matching in Grace,” while the back reads “Legacy of Virtuous Models, Compassion Extended to All Descendants.” The archway is also adorned with bas-relief carvings including lions playing with embroidered balls, dragons chasing pearls, warriors, phoenixes, cranes, oxen, horses, lotus flowers, and geometric symbols.

Zhoutie Town: Located on the western shore of Taihu Lake in the northeastern part of Yixing City, Zhoutie Town enjoys a prime geographical location with convenient land and water transportation. It is close to the cities of Suzhou, Wuxi, and Changzhou, and adjacent to the Suyi Expressway, providing direct access to Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou within just an hour and a half by car. The town covers a total area of 73.2 square kilometers, with a population of 58,800. It administers 14 village committees and 2 neighborhood committees, and is home to over 400 industrial enterprises.

Zhoutie Town boasts a long and rich history. Historical records indicate that the town was established as an administrative unit as early as the Zhou Dynasty, giving it a history of over 2,700 years. The lake... Zhoutie Town detailed information++