Donggu Luo Feng Hundred-Year-Old Archway

Donggu Luo Feng Hundred-Year-Old Archway

The Donggu Luo Feng Hundred-Year-Old Archway is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

The “Hundred-Year-Old Archway” is located at the entrance of Luo Feng Village in the northeast of Donggu She Ethnic Township, Qingyuan District. It was built in the 11th year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty (1832), constructed from granite slabs, and features three gates and four pillars. Despite nearly 200 years of weathering, it remains intact, with clear carvings and standing majestically.

This “Hundred-Year-Old Archway” faces southwest to northeast, measuring 5.5 meters in both height and width. Its top is covered with elegantly designed stone tiles, and its four upturned corners are adorned with exquisitely crafted qilin (mythical creatures) that symbolize celestial blessings. At the center of the upper lattice railing is inlaid a decorative panel inscribed with the words “Imperial Edict.” On the front of the stone plaque beneath the panel are engraved the recessed characters “Sheng Ping Ren Rui” (Prosperous Peace and Longevity), while the back bears the raised characters “Qi Ye Yan Qing” (Seven Generations of Prosperity), both marked with the words “Imperially Bestowed.” Below the plaque, the front of the stone beam is carved with figures and floral designs, while the back depicts a lively scene of a scholar in official robes returning home in glory, accompanied by flag bearers, gongs, umbrellas, and his family bowing to welcome him. Beneath the beam is another plaque, with the raised characters “Hundred-Year-Old Archway” on the front and the recessed characters “Five Generations Under One Roof” on the back. On both sides of the lintel above the main gate are relief carvings of “Qilin Spitting Out a Jade Book,” with the center featuring the design “Plucking the Laurel from the Moon Palace,” while the back center shows “Two Phoenixes Facing the Sun.” The front of the pillars is inscribed with the couplet: “Reaching the age of 100 is now rarely seen; erecting an archway to mark a century is also seldom heard of in ancient times.” The back of the pillars bears the couplet: “My old eyes have witnessed seven generations; my new thoughts descend from the highest heavens.” All the archway’s corner braces, supports, and decorative panels are carved with intricate patterns. The inscriptions are neat and vigorous, balancing yin and yang elements, with animals, flowers, and human figures rendered vividly and lifelike.

According to the genealogy of the Luo Feng Shi clan: “When Shi Fu Jie reached the age of 100 and had five generations under one roof, his descendants and fellow clan members jointly petitioned the emperor for approval to build a Hundred-Year-Old Archway in his honor.” During the Cultural Revolution, “Red Guards” regarded the archway as part of the “Four Olds” and attempted to destroy it. The villagers of Luo Feng stood up to protect it day and night, ensuring the survival of this precious stone carving relic.

Donggu She Ethnic Township: Located in the southeastern part of Qingyuan District, Donggu She Ethnic Township is 82 kilometers from the district government seat. It borders Yongfeng County to the east, Xingguo County to the south, Taihe County to the west, and Fu Tian Town of the same district to the north. The township covers a total area of 243 square kilometers, comprising 15 village committees and 1 neighborhood committee, with a population of nearly 18,000, including over 5,200 people of She ethnicity. Forested land accounts for 80% of the township's area, and cultivated land spans 1,194 hectares. In 2003, the gross domestic product reached 99.74 million yuan, the per capita income of farmers was 1,300 yuan, and fiscal revenue was 1.43 million yuan.... More information about Donggu She Ethnic Township++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units