Xiaohuzi Memorial Archway

Xiaohuzi Memorial Archway

The Xiaohuzi Memorial Archway is a cultural relic protection unit of Linyi City.

The Xiaohuzi Memorial Archway is located in Xiaohuzi Village, Nanqiao Town, Cangshan County. It dates back to the Qing Dynasty and is categorized as an ancient architectural structure.

Located 20 meters east of Xiaohuzi Village in Nanqiao Township, it was built in the 10th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1885 AD) as a combined chastity and filial piety memorial archway, established by the Qing imperial court to honor Madam Yan, wife of Liu Chunxiu, and her daughter-in-law, Madam Li. The overall structure is a four-pillared, five-tiered pavilion-style building, facing east, standing approximately 8 meters high, about 6 meters long from north to south, and around 2 meters wide, covering a total area of approximately 12 square meters. The bracket sets support the eaves of the upper floors, and the roof is in the hip-and-gable style. The entire structure is carved from bluestone. The four pillars are inscribed with carvings depicting, from north to south, a daffodil painting, an orchid painting, a bamboo shoot painting, a pine and crane painting, a chrysanthemum painting, and a magnolia painting. The lintel features five tiers of stone carvings. From top to bottom: the first tier includes a ridged roof with upturned eaves and a plaque inscribed with an imperial edict (destroyed during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s); the second tier has a bas-relief of two phoenixes facing the sun on the east side and a half-relief of a phoenix amid peonies on the west side; the third tier bears plaques inscribed with “Fragrance of Two Virtuous Leaves” on both sides; the fourth tier depicts a figure scene: the “Number One Scholar Passing the Imperial Examination”; and the fifth tier is inscribed with “Erected in Honor of Madam Yan, Wife of Liu Chunxiu, for Her Chastity and Filial Piety” (above), and “Erected in Honor of Madam Li, Wife of Liu Qi, for Her Chastity and Filial Piety” (below). The crossbeam is carved with a design of two dragons playing with a pearl. This memorial archway is exquisitely carved and is one of only three remaining Qing Dynasty chastity and filial piety archways in Linyi City.

The Xiaohuzi Memorial Archway is among the third batch of municipal-level cultural relic protection units.

Xiaohuzi Village: Xiaohuzi Village…… More details about Xiaohuzi Village++