Sīlún Shìměi Memorial Archway

Sīlún Shìměi Memorial Archway

The Sīlún Shìměi Memorial Archway is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

The Ming Dynasty Sīlún Shìměi Memorial Archway in Dabu is located at the entrance of Dabu Middle School in Chayang Town, Dabu County. Constructed in the 38th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1610), it was built to honor father-and-son scholars Rao Xiang, who served as Deputy Censor-in-Chief of Jiangxi, and Rao Yuling, who held the position of Imperial Secretariat Clerk. This twelve-pillared, three-bay, three-story stone archway stands 12.5 meters tall and 4.65 meters wide, with four horizontal stone slabs at the base serving as the foundation. On the foundation stand four main pillars 5.3 meters high and eight auxiliary pillars. The central roof features soaring upturned eaves adorned with stone-carved brackets and roof tiles, and beneath it is a carved plaque depicting two dragons soaring through clouds, with the two-character inscription “Enrōng” (Imperial Favour) engraved in intaglio on both sides. Flanking it are six stone-carved plaques featuring human figures; the front and back of the crossbeams are respectively inscribed in intaglio with “Father and Son Jinshi (Successful Imperial Examination Candidates)” and “Sīlún Shìměi.” The lowest stone slab is a bas-relief showing, on the front, two dragons playing with a pearl and, on the back, two dragons holding a flower, with dragon patterns adorning both ends. The stone crossbeams of the two side bays are carved with bas-reliefs — on the right, two lions playing with a ball, and on the left, floral and animal motifs — along with a plaque featuring a carved qilin.

The archway is rigorously structured, beautifully shaped, and exquisitely carved, making it a masterpiece of ancient stone-carving art in eastern Guangdong.

In June 1989, the People's Government of Guangdong Province designated it as a cultural relic protection unit.

Chayang Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Dabu County. In the fifth year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty, the county seat was established at the southern foot of Chashan Mountain, hence the name Chayang. In 1960, it was renamed Fùchéng Qū (Suburban District) as the former county seat. In 1958, it became Pǔchéng Commune, later renamed Chayang Commune. In the spring of 1961, after the county seat moved back to Húliáo Town, Chayang Commune was divided into four communes: Chayang, Qīngxī, Chángzhì, and Gǔcūn. In 1963, the Gǔcūn Commune was merged back into Chayang Commune. The town was established in 1986. Located in the northern part of the county, on the lower reaches of the Ting River, it borders Xiàyáng Town of Yongding County, Fujian Province, to the northeast. It is 18 kilometers from the county seat, covers an area of 214.8 square kilometers, and has a population of 40,000. It administers Máopíng, Zuǒ… More details about Chayang Town++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Guangdong Province