Seven Generations Under One Roof Memorial Archway

Seven Generations Under One Roof Memorial Archway

The Seven Generations Under One Roof Memorial Archway is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

Constructed in the 4th year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty (1824) in honor of Zhao Ke, an official of the Provincial Administration Commission. Zhao Ke, whose ancestral home was ——, migrated to Xinxiang in the early Ming Dynasty and later moved to Yinmakan in the early Qing Dynasty. By the 4th year of Daoguang, his family had lived together for seven generations. The emperor, in recognition of Zhao Ke’s military achievements and the family’s seven generations living under one roof, allocated funds to build this memorial archway. Facing south and spanning the street, the archway is built from bluestone. Its pillars and roof, along with other structural elements, are all meticulously carved in imitation of traditional wooden architecture. The archway stands 10 meters high and 8.5 meters wide, intricately crafted from fine bluestone to resemble a five-story, four-pillar, triple-eave wooden structure. At the center of the main bay, on both the southern and northern sides beneath the eaves, the two characters for “Imperial Edict” are engraved. Further down, there are three lintels separated by two inscribed plaques. The inscriptions on the front and back read respectively: “Commendation for Granted Rank of Chengde Lang with Additional Military Merit and Official Rank of Sixth Grade, Upper” and “Memorial Archway for Zhao Ke, Candidate Official of the Provincial Administration Commission, Whose Family Lived Together for Seven Generations.” This archway consists of over a hundred interlocking components, presenting a majestic, richly ornamented, and grand appearance. It incorporates various carving techniques including relief, three-dimensional sculpture, openwork, and line engraving, featuring more than 80 carved patterns. The structure is rigorous, the imagery precise, and the craftsmanship refined, making it a stone-carved architectural artwork with strong traditional ethnic characteristics.

Location: At the entrance of Archway Street, south side of the middle section of Pingyuan Road, Xinxiang City

Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit of Henan Province

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units