The Chenxi Filial Piety Archway

The Chenxi Filial Piety Archway

The Chenxi Filial Piety Archway is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province.

The Chenxi Filial Piety Archway is located in Group 3 of Chenxi Village, Qingxi Town, a historic and cultural ancient town in the southwestern part of Qianwei County. It is a well-known local landmark. This stone memorial archway was built during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty. About 200 meters south of the archway lies the Mabian River. Facing east and situated to the west, it covers an area of 100 square meters. Constructed from blue stone in imitation of wood, it features an intact structure and remains well-preserved. In 1998, it was listed as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit, and in 2007, it was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit.

The story behind the Chenxi Filial Piety Archway revolves around a woman surnamed Yu during the Qing Dynasty. She married into the Wang family at the age of 19, became a widow at 27, took care of her parents-in-law until they reached the ages of 85 and 94 respectively, and raised her two sons to adulthood and successful careers. The “Qianwei County Annals” also documented information about the archway: “Built in the seventh year of the Jiaqing reign, with the inscription ‘Remaining Faithful Unto Death’ bestowed by the Sichuan Governor. Wang Zhongxian’s wife, during the Qianlong era, cared for her in-laws and raised two sons to establish their own families.”

The Chenxi Filial Piety Archway is a triple-eave, pavilion-style stone archway that exudes solemnity and dignity. The archway has three bays, with the central bay being wider to allow passage for carts and horses, while the side bays are narrower for pedestrian access. In addition to its robust structure of four pillars and three gates, the base of each pillar is adorned with carved stone elephants and lions—each pair bold and uniquely majestic. The stone elephants are rare in southern Sichuan. The crossbeams are decorated with bracket sets and upturned eaves, featuring finely carved stone brackets, drums, lintels, and pedestals. These elements showcase exquisite reliefs of lions, mythical beasts, flowers, fruits, figures, calligraphy, and the Eight Immortals. Both the central and side bays feature inscribed couplets, while the archway’s lintel is intricately carved with patterns including figures, birds and flowers, auspicious beasts, clouds, and flora. The rooftop is adorned with upturned eaves and decorative mythical beasts, all masterfully sculpted with fine detail.

At the top of the archway is a plaque inscribed with the characters “Imperial Edict,” signifying the emperor’s grace in those times. The middle row is engraved with the characters “Filial Piety,” indicating the category of the archway, while the bottom row bears the inscription “Eternal Exemplar,” explaining the purpose of its establishment. Other sections also feature the names of family members related to Madam Yu and the officials and craftsmen involved in the construction of the archway, all serving as a testament to the prosperity of the Wang family in those days.

The Chenxi Filial Piety Archway uses high-quality materials, all crafted from premium blue stone. The carvings are delicate, with refined techniques; the deep-relief human figures are exquisitely detailed. The inscriptions are clear, and the couplets and plaques are considered masterpieces of calligraphy. The upward-curving flying corners are gracefully expressive. Particularly noteworthy is the frontal dragon relief beneath the carved drum bases—extremely rare and valuable. It is said that the dragon symbolized the royal family in those times, an imperial emblem that could only appear on royal ornaments. Commoners would never dare to overstep such boundaries. Yet, the appearance of this frontal dragon design on a civilian relic indicates not only imperial approval at the time but also highlights the significant importance attached to this archway.

Protected area: 15 meters beyond the outer edge of the archway.

Construction control zone: 15 meters beyond the protected area.