The Ruan Family Twin Memorial Archways

The Ruan Family Twin Memorial Archways Era: Qing Dynasty Address: Zhong Village, Xiliang Township, Hejin City, Yuncheng City The Ruan Family Twin Memorial Archways are virtue monuments dedicated to Ruan Tingshi, a Wude Left Cavalry Commandant of the Qing Dynasty, and his son Ruan Lingyun. This is a father-and-son twin archway complex — the western one honors the father, and the eastern one the son. The two structures stand 1.27 meters apart. They were built in the third year (1877) and fifth year (1879) of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, respectively. Both archways face southeast and share an identical design — brick-carved structures mimicking wooden architecture. Each has a square brick base with sides measuring 3.51 meters and a height of 2.6 meters. The total height of each archway is approximately 8.7 meters, featuring a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. The four corner pillars are square and made of brick, resting on Sumeru pedestals. All four sides of the archways are adorned with plaques and carved stone couplets. The father’s archway displays the following stone plaques on its four sides: “Exemplary Model,” “Beloved Legacy,” “Heroic Wisdom,” and “Loyalty and Integrity.” The son’s archway features: “Upright and Square,” “Gentle and Cultured,” “Dignified,” and “Open and Aboveboard.” The spandrels are intricately carved with dragons playing with pearls and floral patterns, while the lintels depict narrative figures, and the flat beams are decorated with continuous floral motifs. Under the eaves are five-curved double-angled brackets. The rafters and purlins are exquisitely crafted. The roof ridges are richly decorated, with elaborate carvings. The inscribed stelae are composed of a top tablet, main body, and base. The front of the stele tops is carved with three coiled dragons, while the other three sides feature the traditional motif of two dragons playing with a pearl. The father’s stele is fully inscribed as: “Virtue Stele of Ruan Tingshi, Esq., of Xinchun Village, Honored with the Title of Wude Auxiliary Cavalry Commandant by Imperial Decree, Renowned Guest at the Rural Drinking Ceremony, Also Known as Chongwu or Xinqing.” The son’s stele reads: “Virtue Stele of Ruan Lingyun, Esq., a Confucian Scholar and Rural Drinking Ceremony Guest, Also Known as Xianti or Conglong.”