Weizhuang Stone Memorial Archway

Weizhuang Stone Memorial Archway

The Weizhuang Stone Memorial Archway is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

The Weizhuang Stone Memorial Archway is located in Weizhuang Village, Jianglou Town, about 3 kilometers from the county seat of Dong'e County, Shandong Province. It is a relic from the Qing Dynasty and one of the rare surviving stone structures. The archway includes the Chastity and Filial Piety Archway and the Filial Son Archway, which are 16 meters apart. Both are entirely carved and built from high-quality bluestone, making them exceptional examples of ancient stone carving art. It is now a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit. Although its primary purpose was to promote the ethical values and filial piety ideology of the feudal era, both archways feature exquisitely vivid relief carvings and decorations in their design. Their architectural style, carving artistry, and ideological content hold significant cultural and artistic value.

Chastity and Filial Piety Archway

The Chastity and Filial Piety Archway was built in the 59th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1720) in honor of a widow surnamed Lei from Weizhuang Village. The archway is 7.2 meters wide, with a two-story, three-bay, four-pillar structure. Its roof is in the hip-and-gable style, topped with stone ridges, featuring dragon heads on both sides of the ridge, and a gourd-shaped stone carving at the center ridge pole. The corner hips originally had small lion ornaments, while the underside is adorned with carved imitation wooden elements such as brackets, hanging pillars, and dougong (bracket sets). The archway’s reliefs feature cloud and sea motifs centered around the “two dragons playing with a pearl,” along with patterns of qilin (mythical creatures), divine horses, cranes, human figures, peonies, and chrysanthemums. Each side pillar is topped with a round sculpture of a lion base, with all eight lions uniquely posed and lifelike. Below the eaves, the horizontal plaque bears the raised characters “Imperial Edict.” Further down, another horizontal plaque features the raised characters “Chastity and Filial Piety as Exemplary,” traditionally believed to have been written by Deng Zhongyue, Minister of Rites during the Kangxi reign. Below that, the horizontal beam is inscribed with the raised text: “Commendation for Madam Lei, the Second Wife of Wei Sizheng, who was a Provincial Graduate and Posthumously Honored as a Confucian Gentleman.” Below the plaque is engraved: “Completed on the 17th day of the 4th month in the 59th year of Kangxi.” Apart from some differing relief patterns on the eastern and western sides, the inscriptions on both sides are identical.

The Imperial College, commonly known as “Taixue,” was the highest educational institution and administrative body for education at the time. A “taixue student” referred to a scholar studying at the Guozijian (Imperial Academy). “Zhou Tong” was the title of a deputy administrative official under the Prefect. This indicates that Wei Sizheng was no ordinary man, having achieved scholarly honors in his lifetime. “Confucian Gentleman” was an honorary civil official title; during the Qing Dynasty, those of scholarly origin or of the sixth rank could be granted this title. The term “posthumously honored” here may refer to a title conferred by analogy based on the status of descendants who held office. Madam Lei was the second wife of Wei Sizheng. Shortly after their marriage, her husband passed away due to illness. Refusing to remarry, she raised her nephew Wei Mi as her heir. Wei Mi was intelligent, diligent, and studious, and he passed the imperial examination to become a Jinshi (advanced scholar) in the 2nd year of the Kangxi reign (1663), thereby embarking on an official career.

In the 18th year of the Shunzhi reign (1661), Emperor Shunzhi (Fulin) abdicated and disappeared. Legend has it that one year, Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang accompanied Emperor Kangxi on a southern journey to search for Emperor Shunzhi. They originally planned to stay at an official inn, but an accompanying officer mentioned that Wei Mi’s hometown was in Weizhuang, not far from there—just about six li away. To ensure safety, the officer suggested staying at Wei Mi’s family home. The emperor agreed, and they went to the Wei residence. Wei Mi’s mother, Madam Lei, warmly welcomed them and hosted them at her home. The Empress Dowager was deeply moved by Madam Lei’s experience of losing her husband at a young age and maintaining chastity and filial devotion. Before departing, she gifted a teapot and a pair of tea cups. Later, Wei Mi petitioned the imperial court, and the Chastity and Filial Piety Archway was built in his hometown of Weizhuang in honor of Madam Lei.

Filial Son Archway

The Filial Son Archway was built in the 45th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1780). The archway is 6.8 meters wide and 6.6 meters tall, with a three-bay, four-pillar structure. At the top of each pillar is a stone lion in a crouching position. The central beam features a relief of two dragons playing with a pearl, with the raised characters “Imperial Edict” between them. The west-facing horizontal beam is inscribed with “Sincere and Deep Nature,” while the east-facing one reads “Pure Filial Nature.” On the left side is the raised inscription: “45th Year of Qianlong, 4th Month, Ancient Dawn.” Below that is the horizontal plaque: “Commendation for Wei Herui, a Provincial Graduate and Martial Trustworthy Official, for His Filial Piety.” Each of the four pillars is inscribed with couplets. The inner couplet on the east side reads: “Virtuous renown earns village praise; noble deeds lead the way among all virtues.” The outer couplet reads: “Imperial edicts proclaim great fame; noble offspring inherit virtue.” The inner couplet on the west side reads: “Poetic tribute to lush growth; filial honor shelters descendants.” The outer couplet reads: “Three years mourning at the tomb shines in the hometown; imperial decree celebrates virtuous gates.” The sides of each pillar feature cloud-patterned bases, and the overall carvings are simple yet elegant.

Historical Legends

The Filial Son Archway was built in honor of the filial son Wei Herui. The old "Dong'e County Annals · Monuments Section" records: “In Weizhuang, in the 4th month of the 45th year of Qianlong, the Filial Son Wei Herui was commemorated.” From the inscriptions on the archway’s pillars, it is known that Wei Herui once “mourned at his parents’ tomb for three years.” In those times, one of the important criteria for being commended by the court as a filial son was to guard the family gravesite for three years.

Weizhuang Village: Weizhuang Village... More details about Weizhuang Village++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units