Archway Gates of the Dragon-Tutored Scholar and the Governor’s Fragrant Legacy

Archway Gates of the Dragon-Tutored Scholar and the Governor’s Fragrant Legacy

The Archway Gates of the Dragon-Tutored Scholar and the Governor’s Fragrant Legacy are National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

The Archway Gates of the Dragon-Tutored Scholar and the Governor’s Fragrant Legacy are located in Shuikou Village, Luobei Township, Le’an County. Facing south and standing side by side with a narrow alley between them, the Dragon-Tutored Scholar Archway Gate was first built in the first year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1368) and renovated in the ninth year of the Chenghua era (1473) by the descendants of the Peng family in Shuikou Village to commemorate their ancestor Peng Yanzhao. The Governor’s Fragrant Legacy Archway Gate was originally built during the Yuan Dynasty and renovated in the 16th year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1751) by the descendants of the Peng family to honor their ancestor Peng Gan, who was granted the title of Prince of Anding.

The Dragon-Tutored Scholar Archway Gate has an overall fan-shaped layout, featuring four pillars, three bays, and a single-eave, fully wooden structure with a hip-and-gable roof. Its four corners rise in elegant upturned eaves. The four pillars are arranged in a straight line, flanked by wedge-shaped brick wing walls. The archway is roofed with a single-eave, small green-tiled hip-and-gable structure, with the central ridge standing 7.75 meters high. The horizontal beam above the panels displays five tiers of classic early-Ming-style ruyi-bracket sets, with ten bracket sets on the upper part of the central bay and six on the side bays. Above the central gate is a plaque inscribed with the four characters “Dragon-Tutored Scholar” in raised relief.

The Governor’s Fragrant Legacy Archway Gate is a brick-and-stone structure with four pillars, three bays, a single eave, and a three-story design. Its four pillars are aligned in a row, with wedge-shaped brick wing walls on both sides. The structure consists of a central bay and two side walls formed by the four pillars, measuring 11.41 meters in width and 8.05 meters in height. It features a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. The horizontal beam of the central bay supports five tiers of typical brick-carved, wood-like ruyi-bracket sets, which hold up the upturned eaves, while the secondary bays have four tiers of similar brick brackets. The lower beam of the archway bears the inscription “Governor’s Fragrant Legacy” in four characters.

The two archway gates stand side by side, showcasing the historical essence of different materials and eras. The Dragon-Tutored Scholar Archway Gate is an important example of southern China’s Ming Dynasty wooden structures and wood carving architecture, while the Governor’s Fragrant Legacy Archway Gate highlights the refined brick carving techniques of the Qing Dynasty.

Luobei Township: Luobei Township is a border township in the southwest of Le’an County and serves as the county’s ecological agriculture demonstration area.

Origin of the Name: Luobei, also known as Luoxi or Luoyang, derives its name from its resemblance to a wind-blown silk ribbon, with a small stream running nearby. In the 23rd year of the Tang Dynasty's Hongdao era (683 AD), Chen Mengzhang migrated here from Jinkeng in Chongren (now Jingkeng in Nancun, Le’an), becoming the founding ancestor of the Chen family in Luobei Village. With a long and storied history, the area boasts deep cultural roots.

Geographical Location: Located at 115°39′24″ east longitude and 27°6′26″ north latitude, Luobei Township lies in the southwestern part of Le’an County. It borders Huping Township to the east and the counties of Yongfeng in Ji’an City to the south and west… More detailed information about Luobei Township++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units