The Houlong Boat-of-Cypress Martyr Memorial Stone Archway

The Houlong Boat-of-Cypress Martyr Memorial Stone Archway

The Houlong Boat-of-Cypress Martyr Memorial Stone Archway is a cultural relic protection unit of Fujian Province.

The Houlong Boat-of-Cypress Martyr Memorial Stone Archway

Located to the west of Houlong Village, Pingsheng Township, Pingnan County, it was built in the 10th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1830). The stone archway faces south and sits north, stands about 5 meters high and 4 meters wide, and is built from granite. It has a three-bay, four-pillar, five-ridge roof structure, with an imperial edict in the center and a gourd-shaped finial at the top. The horizontal plaque is engraved in intaglio with the words “Boat of Cypress Martyr,” and the sides are inscribed with the Qing Dynasty’s imperial commendations. The left and right side beams are adorned with exquisitely carved reliefs of patterns and decorations such as elephants and phoenixes, while the stone pillars feature intaglio couplets.

The main framework and detailed components of the stone archway are seamlessly integrated and cleverly arranged, presenting a stable yet uncluttered appearance. The ridges and eaves are intentionally carved with an upward-curving shape, adding a dynamic and elegant touch. The stone carving craftsmanship is exquisite and refined. This stone archway is an outstanding work of folk stone carving art and also reflects the local community's recognition of and allegiance to the dominant cultural ideology and moral system of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism during the Ming and Qing periods, possessing irreplaceable historical and cultural value.

It was designated as a ninth batch provincial-level cultural relic protection unit in 2018.

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