The Lu Tun Archway Cluster

The Lu Tun Archway Cluster

The Lu Tun Archway Cluster is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Lu Tun Archway Cluster

Lu Tun still preserves three well-preserved stone archways built in the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty. They are iconic structures from the peak period of Lu Tun’s economic and cultural development.

The Lu Tun stone archway cluster is a typical representation of "Tunbao Culture" in southwestern Guizhou. The "Hundred-Year Memorial Archway of Li Rulan’s Mother," towering at the South Gate, was built in the 18th year of the Daoguang reign (1839 AD); the "Hundred-Year Memorial Archway of Li Jinzhang," standing on Xia Pai Street, was constructed in the 25th year of the Daoguang reign (1846 AD), and the "Chastity and Filial Piety Archway of Madam Li, Mother of Huang Jianxun," located at the entrance of the Blacksmiths’ Street, was built in the 19th year of the Daoguang reign (1840 AD).

All three archways are of the four-pillar, three-bay, five-story style, constructed using mortise-and-tenon joints. Their bases are solid, and each archway stands seven meters tall, with a splayed base at the bottom. The two central pillars are 4.5 meters high and 0.8 meters wide—stone of such quality is hard to come by. Beneath the stone pillars are fierce lions guarding drums, with various ancient mythological stories carved in relief on the drum surfaces, including "Chang’e Flying to the Moon," "The Bell Chasing the Deer," "The Qilin Playing with the Crane," and "Wu Gang Chopping the Laurel Tree"—truly diverse and lifelike. In the middle of the first floor of each archway is a 2.5-meter-long stone plaque inscribed with grand characters such as "Gate of Chastity and Longevity," "As Pure as Ice," "As Firm as Pine," "A Blessed Life in Peaceful Times," and "Prosperity for Family and Country." Each archway’s door pillars feature couplets, and these plaques are rare masterpieces of calligraphy.

Blending calligraphy and seal engraving into one. The calligraphy is vigorous and bold, flowing like drifting clouds and rushing water with an overwhelming momentum; in weightier strokes, it's as forceful as lifting a thousand pounds or piercing stone—it possesses a high aesthetic artistry that provides visual delight, leaving viewers in awe. The third floor is framed by thick stone pillars divided into three sections, with the word "Imperial Edict" set in the center, flanked by square plaques guarded by stone pillars carved with "Two Dragons Fighting Over a Pearl." The second floor features carvings of "A Golden Toad Spitting Silk," and the corners of each archway are adorned with "Fish with Tails Curled Upward." The tops of all three archways are engraved with the character "Shou" (longevity) in both large and small seal scripts, resembling an elderly longevity star stroking his beard with a smile—showcasing exceptional artistic flair.

These archways were all funded and constructed under imperial edicts issued by Emperor Daoguang. They are the town’s treasured landmarks, masterpieces of ancient architectural art, and the crystallization of the wisdom of laboring people. These exquisitely crafted artistic treasures stand as testimonies to the splendid culture of Lu Tun during the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units