Beique Mountain Memorial Archway

Beique Mountain Memorial Archway

The Beique Mountain Memorial Archway is a cultural heritage protection site in Henan Province.

The Beique Mountain Memorial Archway is located in Beique Mountain Village, Yinzhuang Town, Lingbao City. It dates back to the Qing Dynasty. The Beique Mountain Memorial Archway is listed as part of the seventh batch of cultural heritage protection units in Henan Province.

Constructed in the 14th year of the Guangxu reign (1888 AD), the archway was built to commemorate Madam Peng. Her son, Kang Duofu, courtesy name Zhushan, lost his father at the age of three and was brought up and educated by Madam Peng. Later, Kang Duofu passed the imperial examination to become a candidate for the position of Prefectural Administrative Official — the chief officer responsible for handling documents and daily administrative affairs in the prefectural government. However, he did not take up the post due to unforeseen circumstances. Madam Peng lived to be 74 years old and became bedridden in her later years due to illness. Kang Duofu cared for her for three years until she passed away. On the third anniversary of her death (the 14th year of the Guangxu reign), Kang Duofu built this memorial archway as an eternal tribute to his mother.

The archway faces south and is 2.8 meters wide, 1.9 meters deep, and 6.75 meters tall. It is built entirely from brick carvings and consists of six tiers.

Front side: The top features a circular brick carving band with mortise-and-tenon corner joints. Below the circular band are alternating sunflower and square ring patterns, followed by recessed brick carvings with fine-line motifs. Four vertical hanging pillars are situated below, interspersed with decorative patterns of sunflowers, lotuses, and peonies. Further down is a “prosperity without end” brick-carved motif. Beneath that are five narrative brick-relief scenes depicting stories: from left to right, the first is “The Scholar Passing the Imperial Exam and Ascending the Pagoda”; the second, “Renouncing Office to Serve Mother”; the third, “Enjoying a Peaceful Old Age”; the fourth and fifth are unclear. Below these are antique-style patterns, then another set of four hanging pillars with carved floral capitals and entwined floral designs between them. Next is a carved plaque frame, with stylized bats at each corner and the four characters “Kǎnzhèng Liúfāng” (meaning “Virtuous Governance Leaves a Lasting Fragrance”) in the center. On the west side of the plaque frame are carved images of a bronze tripod and an auspicious square vase. Below are two sets of relief patterns: the upper one depicts the Vermilion Bird bringing good news, and the lower one is a semicircular relief of a crane standing on a lotus. A couplet is inscribed below: the upper line reads “The bamboo shade in the wind casts but a shadow,” and the lower line reads “The evening lily, drenched by rain, leaves no fragrance.”

Back side: The very top has a circular brick carving band with mortise-and-tenon corner structures. Below that is a recessed fine-line band, beneath which are three unclear floral brick-relief patterns. There are four hanging pillars with floral patterns between them and carved capitals. In the mid-lower section is a square brick carving frame containing the four characters “Tóngguǎn Yángxiū” (meaning “Red-Tube Brings Blessings”). On either side of the plaque frame are two brick-relief images: the left depicts “Heaven Bestows Blessings,” while the right shows an image of the God of Longevity. Below the frame is an openwork horizontal lintel featuring five animal motifs, from left to right: a qilin, a heavenly horse carrying treasure, a phoenix, an official being ennobled on horseback, and a deer. The lower section is a niche for a stele. Above the niche is a semicircular brick-relief design showing a downward-facing peony flanked by two phoenixes perched on branches, with a central peony flower. Flanking the niche are brick-carved couplets, each topped with a sunflower. The couplet reads: “Determined youth fulfills a life of virtue into white age; Honored by imperial edicts, the phoenix receives glorious decree.”

Side facades: The east and west sides share the same design. The upper section features sunflowers of varying sizes in brick relief. Below are five unclear narrative brick-relief scenes. Further down are three hanging pillars, beneath which are circular brick-relief patterns. The central image shows a large pine tree with two deer standing beneath it, grazing. Outside this is a double-layer “prosperity without end” brick-relief border, and around the pattern are five bats facing the center, symbolizing the “Five Blessings Descending upon the Home.”

The Beique Mountain Memorial Archway has a precisely recorded construction date. As a brick-carving masterpiece, it showcases highly skilled craftsmanship with vivid and lifelike depictions of figures and animals. It represents the pinnacle of brick-carving artistry in the Lingbao region and reflects the architectural techniques of late Qing-era Lingbao. With strong local characteristics, it holds significant value for the study of brick-carving art and folk customs in western Henan during the Qing Dynasty.

Beique Mountain Village: Beique Mountain Village…… More details about Beique Mountain Village ++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Henan Province