The Yichou Seven Jinshi Memorial Archway

The Yichou Seven Jinshi Memorial Archway

The Yichou Seven Jinshi Memorial Archway is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangzhou City.

The Yichou Seven Jinshi Memorial Archway is located on the campus of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou. It was originally situated at Zhongxianfang (now Jiefang Middle Road). Together with the “Prosperous Age’s Elderly Sage” Archway, the “Chief Administrator of All Officials” Archway, and the “Loyal Minister of a Flourishing Era” Archway, they are collectively known as the Four Archways.

According to the *Guangzhou City and Neighborhood Records*, the Yichou Jinshi Archway was built to commemorate seven Guangdong Jinshi from the fifth year of the Tianqi era (1625) of the Ming Dynasty: Li Juesi, Liang Shili, Luo Yiru, Wu Yuanhan, Cen Zhijun, Yin Mingyi, and Gao Kui. Constructed in the eighth year of the Chongzhen era (1635), it is made of sandstone and features four pillars, three bays, and five stories. Stone brackets under each story support the overhanging eaves, and the stone plaque is inscribed with the four characters “Yichou Jinshi” (Jinshi of the Yichou Year). The architrave is adorned with patterns of plum blossoms and sparrows as well as diamond-patterned plum designs. In 1947, the archway was relocated during the widening of the road. At that time, Lingnan University considered the Ming Dynasty Jinshi comparable to modern-day doctoral degree holders, and thus deemed it appropriate to move this high-honor stone archway to an institution of higher learning. It was relocated to the university grounds, and the day of its reinstallation was designated as “Scholarship Encouragement Day” to inspire students to study diligently. The archway was demolished during the Cultural Revolution and was reconstructed on the Sun Yat-sen University campus in 1999.

Strictly speaking, the Yichou Jinshi Memorial Archway, located west of the central axis and north of the Shiyoutang Hall, cannot be considered an “original” feature of Kangyuan Garden. Built in the eighth year of the Chongzhen era (1635) of the Ming Dynasty, it was erected to honor seven Jinshi from Guangdong during the Tianqi era: Liang Shiji, Li Siju, Luo Yiru, Wu Yuanhan, Cen Zhibao, Yin Mingyi, and Gao Kui.

The Yichou Jinshi Memorial Archway is constructed from sandstone, featuring three bays, four pillars, and five stories. Stone brackets under each story support the overhanging eaves. Because it has “stories,” it is more accurately referred to as a “pailou” (decorative archway). The stone plaque is engraved in relief with the four characters “Yichou Jinshi,” which are solemn and dignified, symbolizing the academic tradition of Lingnan. The names of the seven Jinshi can be seen on surviving fragments of the architrave, and decorative patterns such as plum blossoms and sparrows, wan (ten thousand) symbols, and diamond motifs are clearly visible on the architrave and drum stones.

The archway was originally erected within Zhongxianfang (now Jiefang Middle Road) among the Four Archways of Guangzhou. In the 1940s, the Guangzhou municipal government planned to widen the road and proposed relocating the five archways on the street to scenic areas. At that time, Lingnan University took responsibility for relocating this particular archway. It was originally placed west of Glan Hall but later collapsed, though most of its stone components were fortunately preserved. In 1999, the university reinstalled the archway at its current location, with the Lingnan University Alumni Association donating over 700,000 yuan for the project.

In 1999, the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government designated the former site of Lingnan University (including the Yichou Seven Jinshi Memorial Archway) as a cultural relic protection unit.

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