The Su Yushi Memorial Archway

The Su Yushi Memorial Archway

The Su Yushi Memorial Archway is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

The Su Yushi Memorial Archway was originally built during the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty and is one of the five surviving Ming Dynasty archways in Shandong Province. It is located in Beiwangzhao Village, Shiji Town, about 12 kilometers southwest of Juancheng County. On December 7, 2006, it was designated as part of the third batch of provincial-level cultural relics protection units by the People's Government of Shandong Province.

The owner of the archway, Su Shu, courtesy name Shaoni, passed the imperial examination as a Juren (recommended man) in the Bingwu year of the Wanli era and as a Jinshi (presented scholar) in the Dingwei year. In the 43rd year of Wanli, he served as the magistrate of Weishi County, Kaifeng, Henan. In the first year of Taichang, he was appointed as an imperial censor of the Zhejiang Circuit. In the second year of Tianqi, he was sent to the border regions of Yunnan and Guizhou. Due to the arduous journey and overwork, he fell ill and returned home the same year to recuperate. The court commended his achievements, conferred on him the honorary title of Zizheng Dafu (Grand Master of Consultation), and erected a stone archway at his ancestral home as recognition.

The Su Yushi Memorial Archway had been buried underground at a depth of 15 meters due to Yellow River silt. In June 2003, during the development of the streets in Beiwangzhao Village, the asphalt road covering the archway was plowed and widened, and the surrounding residential houses were demolished. Cultural relics management authorities, together with representatives from the Su clan, formed a dedicated team. From July 6 to July 17, 2003, over ten days and at a cost of more than 70,000 yuan, they successfully completed the emergency excavation and preservation project of the Su Yushi Memorial Archway, unearthing all 60-plus stone components of the archway.

The Su Yushi Memorial Archway is entirely made of stone, featuring a four-pillar, three-bay structure, with carvings covering its entire body. It has a total width of 9 meters and a height of 10 meters. The central bay is 3.5 meters wide, while the side bays are 1.3 meters wide. All four pillars are supported by clamping columns. The structure is well-proportioned and harmoniously balanced. Ancient craftsmen skillfully employed various techniques such as round carving, openwork carving, relief carving, and line engraving, making the figures, trees, rocks, horses, dragons, lions, flowers, birds, and fish depicted incredibly lifelike. The four stone pillars are fully carved. The artisans used openwork designs and high-relief techniques to portray various motifs, including auspicious patterns, historical allusions, mythical legends, and scenes of fishing, woodcutting, farming, and studying. The themes are rich, the compositions well-balanced, the lines vivid and powerful, and the shapes strikingly realistic. On the north and south sides of each pillar are clamping columns, with eight figures in total carved in round sculpture style—each riding a beast. The middle two riders wear traditional headwear, long robes, and display a majestic demeanor, their mounts being qilin (mythical unicorns); the side riders have curly hair and thick beards, with fierce expressions and an imposing aura, their mounts being lions. This set of stone carvings features highly realistic and expressive figures and vigorous, majestic beasts, demonstrating exceptional craftsmanship.

The first beam of the central bay features exquisitely crafted openwork depictions of a dragon head and two lions playing with a ball. The dragon’s gaping mouth holds a playful cub, while the two lions arch their bodies into a “U” shape as they play with the ball, their mouths holding the tassels of the embroidered ball, perfectly capturing a leisurely and carefree mood. The artisans skillfully employed the artistic principle of unity in contrast, blending the intense tension of the dragon’s open mouth with the relaxed playfulness of the lions in a harmonious fusion that delivers a strong visual impact and achieves outstanding artistic effect. The beam’s horizontal tablet is inscribed with “Su Shu, Dingwei Year of Wanli,” confirming that the archway’s owner passed the imperial examination in the 35th year of Wanli (i.e., 1607 AD), earned the title of Jinshi, and thus began his official career.

The second beam depicts scenes of court audiences in palaces, featuring numerous figures centered around a main seated figure, with attendants standing respectfully on either side, holding offerings.

The third beam portrays military expeditions and processions of chariots and horses, depicting the journey through mountains and rivers to reach their destination. In the second year of Tianqi, Su Shu was dispatched by imperial decree to Yunnan and Guizhou to reward frontier troops. The content depicted on these two beams is closely related to this period of the archway owner’s life. The carvings on the beams of the side bays are much simpler compared to those of the central bay. The first beam of each side bay features a running qilin, rendered with high-relief techniques that capture the creature’s spirit and dynamic energy so vividly that observers can almost hear its panting and the thudding of its hooves. The second beam depicts deer, cranes, pine trees, officials wearing black gauze hats, and flying bats, symbolizing good fortune, prosperity, longevity, and promotion. The top features imitation wooden bracket sets and upturned eaves, but the upper components were broken during the 1937 earthquake. The stone parts were taken to the Yellow River for dam construction. As a result, only the sections from the third beam of the central bay and from the second beam downward of the side bays remain.

In August 2003, a team of experts from the Shandong Provincial Cultural Relics Appraisal Committee conducted an on-site investigation and evaluation in Juancheng. Their appraisal report concluded that the Su Shu Archway features exquisite carvings, diverse carving techniques, and masterful craftsmanship. Its varied forms, rich content, and lifelike representations reflect, from multiple perspectives, the aesthetic values, ideologies, and value orientations of people in Ming Dynasty society. It is a unique example among the five surviving Ming Dynasty stone archways in the province, possessing significant historical, artistic, and scientific research value. It serves as important physical material for the study of Ming Dynasty stone carving styles and sculptural art.

Su Shu (1580–1625), a minister of the Ming Dynasty. Courtesy name Shaoni, literary name Pengfu, hailing from Juancheng, Caozhou Prefecture (now Beiwangzhao Village, Shiji Town, Juancheng County).

In the Ming Dynasty, he passed the Juren examination in the Bingwu year of Wanli and the Jinshi examination in the Dingwei year. He subsequently served as the magistrate of Xun County, Henan, where he constructed the famous “Stone City of the North” during his tenure. He later served as the regional inspector of Shaanxi and as an imperial censor of the Zhejiang Circuit. Particularly noteworthy is that Su Shu, a scholar by background, once led troops to suppress a rebellion in Yunnan and Guizhou, making significant contributions to national stability. In recognition of his achievements, the Ming court specially commissioned the construction of a memorial archway to honor his deeds and bring glory to his hometown. … More details on Su Shu ++

Beiwangzhao Village: Beiwangzhao Village … More details on Beiwangzhao Village ++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units