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Chastity (Filial Piety) Archways

15 Apr, 2024

Chastity (Filial Piety) Archways

The Chastity Archway (or the Filial Piety Archway) is historically an archway erected by the government to honor women who upheld chastity and filial piety. Only when a woman remained faithful after the death of her husband, diligently cared for her parents-in-law, raised her children, and if one of her offspring achieved academic success, would she qualify for the honor of having a "Filial Piety Archway" erected in her honor. The construction of such archways was typically reported by local prefectures to the imperial court and required approval from the emperor before construction could commence.

The Fuli Filial Piety Archway was erected in the fourteenth year of the Guangxu reign (1888) in the Qing Dynasty, to honor Confucian scholar Wu Kaishan's wife, Wang, and Military Official Wu Bojue's wife, Zhou.

The Rugong Filial Piety Archway was erected in the thirtieth year of the Guangxu reign (1904) in the Qing Dynasty, to honor Zhou, the daughter of Zhou Wenying from Dongtan Township Bofu Village.

Zhou was also the daughter-in-law of Jiang Youdao from Jiexing Township Rugong Village. This archway is located at the entrance of Rugong Village and is the best-preserved archway till now within Longtang Town, Qiongshan District.