Twin Memorial Arches of Huaotang

Twin Memorial Arches of Huaotang

The Twin Memorial Arches of Huaotang is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

Twin Memorial Arches of Huaotang, Ming and Qing dynasties, Huangshan City’s She County

The Twin Memorial Arches of Huaotang consist of the Longxing Dui’du Arch and the Chancellor & Zhuangyuan Arch. The Longxing Dui’du Arch was built during the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty (1506–1521) to commemorate a conversation between Tang Zhongshi, a native of Huaotang from the late Yuan and early Ming period, and Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. It underwent major renovations and alterations in the late Ming Dynasty, repairs during the mid-Qing Dynasty, and more recent reinforcement and maintenance work on the stone base surrounding the arch, with the main structure remaining largely intact.

The Longxing Dui’du Arch features four pillars, three bays, and five stories, with a width of 8.63 meters. It is adorned with white sandstone (a type of sandstone) ridge decorations shaped like mythical makara fish, and its overhanging eaves display wooden-style bracket sets (dougong), beams, and spandrels. A pair of crouching stone lions stands on the foundation stones outside the central two pillars.

During the Southern Song Dynasty under Emperor Lizong, Cheng Yuanfeng (1200–1269), a native of Huaotang, rose to the position of Right Chancellor. His younger brother Yuanyue served as Vice Minister of Works, earning him the honorary title of “Deputy Minister.” Their nephew Yangzu was bestowed the title of Imperial Zhuangyuan (Number One Scholar) after excelling in the palace examination, while another nephew Niannzu held the post of Academician of the Secretariat. The four jointly had the Chancellor & Zhuangyuan Arch erected. This memorial arch is a four-pillar, three-bay, pavilion-style structure featuring scrolling vine-patterned ridge heads, with a treasure top in the center. It measures approximately 8.4 meters in width and 9.1 meters in height. The central dragon-phoenix plaque is inscribed with the word “Chancellor,” while the horizontal beam is engraved with “Zhuangyuan Arch.” The left bay reads “Deputy Minister” and the right bay “Academician.” Since the beam and imperial edict plaque are made of red conglomerate rock, locals commonly refer to this arch as the “Red Archway.” Other materials used in the arch are dark bluish-green stone from Chayuan, likely replaced during Ming or Qing Dynasty renovations.

The Longxing Dui’du Arch bears the inscription “龙兴独对” (“Longxing Dui’du”) and features a plaque with an inscription detailing the content of the conversation between Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty and Tang Zhongshi. This record captures an important historical moment during the dynastic transition from the Yuan to the Ming, making it of significant cultural and historical value.

(1) Longxing Dui’du Arch.

Protected area: 20 meters to the east, south, west, and north of the arch.

Construction control zone: 500 meters beyond the protected area in all directions.

(2) Chancellor & Zhuangyuan Arch.

Protected area: 20 meters to the east, south, west, and north of the arch.

Construction control zone: 500 meters beyond the protected area in all directions.