Chastity Archway

Chastity Archway

This archway is a Ming Dynasty structure, built during the Wanli era in recognition of Lady Liu, the mother of Feng Youjing, a court attendant and scholar. She was honored with an imperial commendation for her chastity. The archway was erected in honor of Lady Liu, wife of Feng Can, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations (Juren) of the Jiayin year during the Jiajing reign (1564).

According to the Guangxu-era Gazetteer, Feng Youjing, courtesy name Zhengwen, had a father named Wang Ti who resided in Shuntian. Feng Can, his father, was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations (Juren) of the forty-third year of the Jiajing reign (1565), but died young. His mother, Lady Liu, remained chaste and raised him. Feng Youjing later passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi (advanced scholar) in the seventeenth year of the Wanli reign (1590), served as a Hanlin Bachelor, and held positions including Libationer and Attendant Reader, before eventually retiring.

This single-bay archway is 2.98 meters wide and its pillars stand 4.12 meters tall. It features high-relief and openwork carvings with exceptional craftsmanship and lifelike designs. The flat beam is carved with scrolling vines, while the lower edge is adorned with lotus petal patterns. The upper beam on the south side is carved with twin dragons playing with a pearl, the central beam bears inscriptions, and the lower double beams feature openwork carvings of two lions playing with a silk ball, flanked by a dragon head on each side. The upper beam on the north side depicts a phoenix facing the sun and scrolling vines. Between the two pillars, the central section includes a bracket arm, and the flat beam holds six bracket blocks, with the middle two supporting a plaque inscribed with the character “Chastity” (贞节), framed by decorative brackets shaped like elephant trunks.

To the north of this archway lies a Tang-style gatehouse, commonly known as the “Feng Taishi Residence.” The top of the gate has been rebuilt, and there are octagonal walls on both sides with diagonally laid square bricks. It is a single bay structure, and the screen wall reflects Ming architectural style. This is a valuable late Ming Wanli-period ancient architectural site worthy of preservation and study.