The Qiu Guan Li Jinshi Memorial Archway

Qiu Guan Li Jinshi Memorial Archway

The Qiu Guan Li Jinshi Memorial Archway is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The Qiu Guan Li Jinshi Memorial Archway is located in Tao Yan Town, Shaoxing County, dating back to the Ming Dynasty.

The Qiu Guan Li Jinshi Memorial Archway is situated in Xunyang Village, Tao Yan Town, Shaoxing County, Zhejiang Province. It was constructed in the fourth year of the Hongzhi era (1491 AD) to commemorate Tao Yi, the first jinshi from the Tao family of Tao Yan, Shanyin County, who served as an official in the Ministry of Punishments. During that period, the Ministry of Punishments was called the “Qiu Guan,” and Tao Yan was Tao Yi’s hometown, hence the name “Qiu Guan Li” (Autumn Officials’ District). The archway is a stone structure imitating wooden architecture, built with granite and bluestone, facing south. It features three bays, four pillars, and three stories, with a hip-and-gable roof, standing 7.5 meters tall and 7.7 meters wide.

Two auxiliary archways were also built on the east and west sides in the eleventh year of the Zhengde era (1516), each with a single bay and two pillars. These two secondary archways are 4.4 meters tall and 4.5 meters wide. The entire Qiu Guan Li Jinshi Archway complex consists of three structures arranged in a concave layout.

The main archway has, in its central bay, a lower beam, floral beam, upper floral beam, and fixed beam. The front of the lower beam features a bas-relief of two lions playing with a ball in the center, with a dragon head carved where it connects to the central pillar; the reverse side shows a bas-relief of two cranes flying together. On both sides of the lower beam are water-wave-patterned brackets, which are supported by inserted brackets rising up. Between the lower beam and the floral beam are four sets of bracket arms. The floral beam bears the three characters “Qiu Guan Li” in regular script across its front, with faint inscriptions such as “Hongzhi era” visible on the left; the reverse side is inscribed with “Lake and Mountain Nurture Beauty.” The upper floral beam has cloud patterns at both ends on the front and a bas-relief of peony flowers in the center; the reverse side features a bas-relief of intertwined floral designs. The fixed beam supports bracket arms, with six sets above the main story, featuring elephant-trunk-shaped rafters. In the center is a stone plaque inscribed vertically with the characters “Granted Jinshi Degree,” decorated with finely carved dragons. The roof features upturned corners, with gently sloping hipped-and-gabled roofing, and a railing in the center of the roof ridge, flanked by high fish-dragon ornaments.

The side bays of the main archway have a lower beam, floral beam, and fixed beam. The lower beams on both sides feature high-relief carvings of cranes and qilins on the front, decorated with cloud patterns, though some parts are weathered or damaged; the reverse sides depict flying heavenly steeds and cloud motifs. The floral beams on the front have relief patterns of cranes and qilins, while the reverse sides show intertwined floral designs and cloud patterns. The fixed beams support bracket arms, with three sets above the side stories, also featuring elephant-trunk-shaped rafters. The hipped-and-gabled roofs are gently sloped, with fish-dragon ornaments on the outer sides of the ridges and railings in the center.

The eastern auxiliary archway has, in its central bay, a lower beam, floral beam, upper floral beam, and fixed beam. The front (east side) of the lower beam features a bas-relief of two lions playing with a ball, now partially damaged, with a dragon head carved where it meets the pillar; the reverse side (west) shows a bas-relief of a heavenly steed soaring, with cloud-head motifs at the pillar connection. Water-wave-patterned brackets are found on both sides, supported by inserted brackets. The floral beam on the front (east) is inscribed with “Tao Xing, Literary Champion of the Yiyou Examination; Tao Lu, Literary Champion of the Yimao Examination”; the reverse side (west) is blurred but still shows faint inscriptions such as “Tao Xie, Top Scorer of the Yimao Examination.” The upper floral beam on the front (east) depicts two cranes amidst auspicious clouds, with ruyi patterns at the pillar connections; the reverse side (west) shows cranes and intertwined floral designs. There is no story building atop the fixed beam. Therefore, locals refer to the east-facing section as the “Literary Champion Archway,” built for juren (presented scholars) Tao Xing and Tao Lu, and the west-facing section as the “Top Scorer Archway,” dedicated to Tao Xie, the top scorer.

The western auxiliary archway has, in its central bay, a lower beam, floral beam, upper floral beam, and fixed beam. The front (east) of the lower beam features a bas-relief of two lions playing with a ball, with damage to the ball, and a dragon head carved at the pillar connection; the reverse side (west) shows a qilin playing with a phoenix, with cloud-head motifs at the pillar connection. Water-wave-patterned brackets are on both sides, supported by inserted brackets. The floral beam on the front is inscribed with “Tao ??, Jinshi of the Gengxu Examination; ??, Jinshi of the Jiachen Examination,” among other text; the reverse side (west) has blurred inscriptions, with faint characters such as “Tao ??, Top Scorer of the Jiachen Examination.” The upper floral beam on the front (east) shows two cranes amid auspicious clouds, with ruyi patterns at the pillar connections; the reverse side (west) depicts cranes and intertwined floral designs. The fixed beam has no upper structure. Hence, locals call the east-facing part the “Jinshi Section” for jinshi Tao ?? and ??, and the west-facing part the “Juren Section” for juren ?? and ??.

The Qiu Guan Li Jinshi Memorial Archway, with its long history, grand presence, exquisite and delicate carvings, and well-proportioned design, has stood for over 500 years through wind and rain, undergoing several restorations, and remains well-preserved today. It provides important physical evidence for the study of Ming Dynasty stone architectural art and craftsmanship in the Shaoxing region.

On January 7, 2011, it was announced as part of the sixth batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units