Longchang Stone Archway - Hometown of Chinese Stone Archways

Author: Zhang Qiang / Country:
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-05-01
Features: The Carving Art of Longchang Stone Archways The Longchang Stone Archway clusters feature exquisite craftsmanship despite their grand scale. Each archway, based on its theme of commemoration, draws inspiration from theatrical stories and legends (such as "Da Shun Tilling the Fields" or "Immortal Maiden Delivering a Child"), folk tales (such as "The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" or "Kui Xing Marking the Stars"), classical references, or employs symbolic and metaphorical techniques to depict traditional auspicious motifs. Using shallow bas-reliefs, deep carvings, and even hollowed-out and chiseled techniques, the carvings combine light and shadow, creating vivid and distinctive scenes with profound meanings and exquisite craftsmanship. Below, we introduce some representative archways as evidence.
Guo Chen Shi Jie Xiao Fang (No. 001) Built in 1838 during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, this archway is located near the Ba-Shu ancient post road in Youfang Street, north of Longchang County. It stands 15 meters tall with a span of 9.5 meters, featuring a four-pillar, three-archway, three-tiered roof with five drooping eaves, modeled after wooden and stone structures. It is a floral stone archway with a flame-encrusted gemstone finial on the roof. The three-tiered roof is adorned with six round-carved dragon heads, and the three-tiered flying eaves slope upward, resembling wings ready to take flight. The twelve upturned corners of the flying eaves are intricately carved, and beneath the eaves, there are carved scrolling vine patterns. The dragon heads at the corners are suspended with bronze bells and iron horses, producing a constant tinkling sound—hence the popular name "Bell-Bell Archway." Each tier of the roof is stone-made, imitating glazed tiles, with tile ends carved with auspicious patterns of fortune and longevity, water drips carved with chrysanthemum patterns, and petal patterns carved beneath the eaves. The frieze is adorned with ruyi brackets, and the (each tier of the roof) are coordinated with the top, with round-carved mythical creatures on the ridges and a giant mouth fish-tailed dragon head at the ridge ends. The dragon heads have "S"-shaped, agile, and flexible bodies, firmly gripping the ridges.
On the second and third tiers of the southern face, there are carved patterns of "Qin, Jian, Shu, and He" (qin—zither, jian—sword, shu—book, he—crane), which are identical on both sides, framed by flowing ribbon patterns. Above the center, there is a carved plaque of "Five Dragons Holding an Edict," with five high-relief dragons swirling through the clouds and seas. One dragon's mouth emits a radiant light, highlighting the calligraphy of "Edict" in regular script, symbolizing the golden mouth of the Son of Heaven. Around the five dragons, there are carved patterns of flames soaring, meaning "Vast Imperial Grace, Boundless Radiance." Below the plaque, the main beam of the central hall on the southern face features a hollowed-out bas-relief of "Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl." The two dragons are harmoniously designed and dynamically soaring, with exquisite craftsmanship. The northern face of the main beam features a deep bas-relief of "Two Phoenixes Facing the Sun," with lifelike figures and elaborate decorative patterns. Below this, there is an inscribed plaque of "Jie Xiao" (Chastity and Filial Piety) and "Wang Du, Sichuan Provincial Tutor," with elegant and forceful calligraphy, demonstrating profound skill.
The flying heads of the beams on the third tier of the roof are carved into lotus petal shapes, with ruyi brackets carved beneath. The beams are adorned with round-carved mythical creatures—Four Evils—protecting the entire archway, and in the center, there is a deeply carved Qilin and Vermilion Bird, framed by intertwined vine leaves and shallow geometric patterns at both ends. The brackets under the doorframe feature hollowed-out "Two Dragons Spitting Letters," complementing a round-carved Bodhi lamp in the center. The central doorframes on both sides of the archway use deep bas-reliefs of theatrical stories, with the east side depicting "Immortal Maiden Delivering a Child" and "Returning Home in Splendor," and the west side showing "Old Man in Disguise Playing with Colorful Toys" and "Da Shun Tilling the Fields." The brackets are stylistically unified but vary in content.
There are four pairs of drum stones, each carved from a single piece into lions and elephants, placed on lotus-bowl bases. The bases are deeply carved with brocade patterns, with six high-relief lotus flowers on the waist, and lions and elephants with flowing and elegant patterns below. Both sides of the four pillars are inscribed with regular-script couplets, and the archway's two sides feature plaques and railings, beams, and pillars all carved with powerful calligraphy of "Edict," theatrical stories, decorative patterns, texts, and names. This archway, whether in architecture, literary elegance, calligraphy, carving, or decorative motifs, is full of ingenuity and is one of the tallest and most magnificent in the Longchang Stone Archway cluster, as well as one of the finest.
Yu Wang Gong Shan Men Fang (No. 002) Located at the entrance of Yu Wang Gong on Daoguan (Dao) Mountain in the north of Longchang County, this archway was built during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty. It has a four-pillar, three-archway, three-tiered roof with five drooping eaves, modeled after wooden and stone structures. It is a single-sided floral stone archway with a flame-encrusted gemstone finial on the roof, resembling a lotus-bowl base, with a radiant gemstone atop. The dragon heads and corners are meticulously designed, with six giant mouth fish-tailed dragon heads curving upward to grip the main ridge. The flying eaves are tall and majestic, evoking a solemn and respectful atmosphere. Beneath the eaves, there are carved lotus-petal patterns, and the railings and railings of each tier are decorated with bas-reliefs and hollowed-out carvings, featuring themes of theatrical and folk tales. The four corners are surrounded by high-relief window lattices and vines intertwined, with a central nine-dragon plaque in the middle, symbolizing the dredging of nine rivers. The plaque is inscribed with regular script: "Yu Miao" (Temple of Yu). The side plaques feature hollowed-out bas-reliefs of stories such as "Water Submerging Jinshan," "Surprise on Dragon Boat Festival," "The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea," and "Golden Rooster Playing with Ceremonial Instruments," with lifelike figures. The upper plaque is inscribed with running script: "Shu and Chu Receiving the Spirit."
The brackets at both ends of the columns are high-relief carvings of the Fu Lu (Fortune and Wealth) Immortals, with a deep bas-relief of "Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl" on the scroll. The two dragons are dynamically designed, intertwined with pearls, waves, and auspicious clouds. The lower plaque features hollowed-out bas-reliefs of theatrical stories, with a background of-shaped interlocking patterns, and a deep bas-relief of vases, swords, mythical creatures, figures, and tables. The brackets are shaped like antique shelves, with a high-relief "Two Dragons Spitting Letters" pattern on top. The tongues of the two dragons transform into auspicious clouds and grass, forming two peonies inside the door, symmetrically designed yet varied in creativity.
The upper railings of the left side feature high-relief odd rocks, strange trees, Qilin, bats, deer, and Vermilion Birds, complemented by antique shelves, auspicious clouds, and vines intertwined. Both ends are shallowly carved with scrolling peonies. The upper plaque is inscribed with regular script: "Xu Gong" (Recording Merits). The scroll features a deep bas-relief of "Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl," with a character for longevity carved in the pearl. The middle plaque uses a hollowed-out deep bas-relief of "Three Heroes Fighting Lu Bu," with lifelike figures and horses, flowing clothing, and an intense scene.
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