Tangyue Archway

Located at the entrance of the Tangyue village in Huangshan, about 5 kilometers to Shexian and 26 kilometers to Tunxi Village, Tangyue Archway group is composed of seven memorial archways in order of “loyalty, filial piety, chastity and righteousness". Three of them were built in Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), and other four were built in Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). With different architectural characteristics, these archways reveal Chinese thought of ethics and morals and the traditional Hui style carving.

“Bao Can Xiao Xing Archway”

“Bao Can Xiao Xing Archway” is a filial piety archway to commend a son named Bao Can who served his sick mother for many years. The archway was built in Ming Dynasty carved with two Chinese characters “Shengzhi”, which means that the archery was set up by the emperor’s order. In Chinese minds, filial piety is the most important of all virtues.

"Ci Xiao Li Archway"

The "Ci Xiao Li Archway" was built in honor of Bao Sheyan and Bao Shousun (father and son) by the order of the emperor. According to historical records, a general in Yuan Dynasty captured the father and son and wanted to execute one of them. They both begged to be killed for each other. Finnally, the general was moved by their action and released them. Later, an archway was built in praise of their filial piety and self-sacrificial spirit.

“Jiang Shi Jie Xiao Archway”

It was set up in 1784 of Qing Dynasty carved with Chinese character “Shi Zhen Quan Xiao” and “Li Jie Wan Gu”. In ancient china, many wives were willing to die with their husbands or never married in their rest life to show the loyal and steadfast minds to the husbands. In Tangyue Village, a woman became widow at the age of 26. But she never married again and brought up her son to a famous doctor. Therefore, when she was 80 years old, clansmen built the archway in praise of her chastity.

“Le Shan Hao Shi Archway”

The archway was built in 1821 to commend a man named Bao Laifang who donated plenty of grain and money to the court. So the government ordered to establish the archway in honor of his charitable behavior.

“Wu Shi Jie Xiao Archway”

According to the records of the county, a stepmother who remained chaste while raising her stepchild after her husband died when she was 29. When she was old, she used all the property to establish tombs for her dead husband and some clansmen who did not have money to be buried. Her action touched the local officials, who made up their minds to erect an archway to honor her in spite of the convention that erecting an archway for a step-wife was prohibited.

“Xiao Zi Archway”

Founded in 1797, the archway was in honor of a dutiful son who named Bao Fengchang. He begged along the way to find his father and cured his sick mother. In order to advocate filial piety, the archway was built.

“Shang Shu Archway”

It is the representative of loyalty from a man called Bao Xiangxian who used to guard Yunnan Province and brought a peaceful life to the locals. In his long life of being an official, he always does his best to go good for the country and people. So the archway was built to commemorate hin.

The complex of the seven archway has become a main attraction in Tangyue Village that attract visitors from home and abroad with it Chinese traditional concepts of ethics and morals and the touching stories.