The Qiu Family Stone Memorial Archway and Tablet Pavilion in Guojiazhuang

The Qiu Family Stone Memorial Archway and Tablet Pavilion in Guojiazhuang

The Qiu Family Stone Memorial Archway and Tablet Pavilion in Guojiazhuang is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Era: Qing Dynasty

Location: Guojiazhuang Village, Guojiazhuang Town, Wenxi County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province

The Qiu Family Stone Memorial Archway and Tablet Pavilion in Guojiazhuang are located on both sides of the road at the entrance of Guojiazhuang Village, Guojiazhuang Town, Wenxi County. The archway faces south and was built during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty in honor of Lady Sun Yiru, mother of Qing Dynasty salt intendant Qiu Jiamo. Beside it are five Qiu family tablet pavilions, constructed during the Tongzhi and Guangxu reigns of the Qing Dynasty.

The archway is made of stone, featuring a six-pillar, five-bay design with a triple-eaved hip-and-gable roof, standing approximately 15 meters tall. Its pillars are erected on two stone bases, each built from blocks measuring 3.16 meters in length, 2.58 meters in width, and 1.5 meters in height. The two central pillars form the main thoroughfare, while the side pillars—two on each side—combine with the central ones to create two fan-shaped gateways on either side. The stone beams are carved with relief figures and stories, flanked by floral patterns. The flat beams and the side pillars of the fan-shaped gateways are inscribed with titles and couplets.

The tablet pavilions are distributed along a road about 130 meters long at the village entrance. On the east side of the road are two pavilions: from north to south, the Tablet Pavilion of Qiu Yujing’s Spirit Way and the Virtue Tablet Pavilion of the Three Qiu Brothers. On the west side are three pavilions: from north to south, the Five-Stele Tablet Pavilion of the Qiu Family, the Virtue and Longevity Tablet Pavilion of Lady Zhao, and the Chastity and Filial Piety Tablet Pavilion of Lady Xue. All the pavilions are made of stone and built on block-stone foundations. Except for the Cross-Hipped Roof of the Qiu Yujing Spirit Way Tablet Pavilion, the rest have single-eaved hip-and-gable roofs. The front and side facades of the pavilions are adorned with carved decorative patterns and engraved couplets and stone plaques praising the honored individuals, all well-preserved.

The Qiu Family Stone Memorial Archway and Tablet Pavilion in Guojiazhuang feature elegant designs, exquisite carvings, and elaborate decorations. With a large number of inscriptions and concentrated historical content, they hold significant historical and artistic value.

In May 2013, the Qiu Family Stone Memorial Archway and Tablet Pavilion in Guojiazhuang were designated as part of the seventh group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Guojiazhuang Village: Located in the town center of Guojiazhuang, the village sits along the edge of the Emei Ridge and runs parallel to the secondary road. It is traversed by Wenbai Road and Wenqi Road, offering extremely convenient transportation and communication. It serves as the economic and cultural hub of Guojiazhuang Town. The village has three residential groups, comprising 213 households and 1,024 residents, including 36 Party members. The land area spans 2,000 mu, with 1,800 mu of arable land. The area is rich in resources and benefits from excellent water conservancy conditions. All village lanes are paved. The “Five Coverage” rate reaches 90%, with each agricultural household having an average of 2 mu of irrigated land, primarily growing wheat and corn. The whole village presents a thriving scene with effective governance... More details about Guojiazhuang Village++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units