Xu guoshifang

It is a rare large stone archway in China and the only existing eight legged archway in China. It is carved from four or five tons of large stone. There are three unique features of this archway: it is a unique one among all the archways because of its oral shape in form; it is the second unique one since Xu Guo was born; it is the third unique one because of its imitation wood tenon on stone. There are eight pillars on all sides of the archway, and 12 stone lions of different shapes are close to the eight pillars, which is magnificent and spectacular, highlighting the exquisite skills of Hui Style Stone carving.

Xu guoshifang

Xuguo stone square, also known as university scholar square, is commonly known as "eight foot archway". Located in the east of Yanghe gate in Shexian County, Huangshan City, Anhui Province, it stands across the street. It was established in October of the 12th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1584 AD). Shi Fang of Xu state was established by Xu family in his hometown Shexian county when he returned home. The stone archway of Xu state is not the usual four pillars, but eight pillars, forming a four sided enclosure. This is the only example in the country. The archway is a building built by the feudal society for honoring meritorious service, Kedi, virtue and loyalty. It is the best carrier to interpret ancient Chinese history and culture. Known as the "Arc de Triomphe of the East.".

On January 13, 1988, as a typical Ming Dynasty stone building, Xuguo stone square was approved by the State Council to be listed in the third batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

Historical evolution

Xuguo stone square was built in the 12th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1584). Because of Yunnan's "meritorious decision-making" in pingni, Shaobao of Jin Dynasty was granted the bachelor degree of wuyingdian, becoming the second assistant after the first assistant, namely Jianfang.

Architectural structure

Xuguo stone square is an imitation wood structure building. Its plane is mouth shaped. It has four columns on the East and west sides and three skyscrapers on the third floor. It has two columns on the South and north sides and three skyscrapers on the third floor. It is 11.54 meters long from north to south, 6.77 meters wide from east to west and 11.4 meters high. It covers an area of 78.13 square meters. The whole archway is composed of two stone archways with three rooms and four pillars on the third floor and two single rooms and two pillars on the left and right sides. All the stones are made of hard green tea stone, which is especially thick. Each of the eight columns is 50 cm square and more than seven meters high. The beams, balustrades, brackets and queti are also made of large stones. Each of these big stones weighs four or five tons.

Cultural relics

Arabesque

The inside and outside of the memorial archway in four directions, Southeast, northwest, are decorated with exquisite pictures. In the south is carved "dragon take-off". It is a symbol of the emperor's loyalty to the imperial court in the south. On the inside, it is carved with "Ying (Eagle) Zi (pheasant) Huan (badger) Fa", praising the emperor's young and promising. On the east side, the carving of "fish leaping over the dragon's gate" indicates that Xu is a professional; on the inside, the carving of "three newspapers (leopards) and happy (magpies)" indicates that Xu was promoted three times during the Wanli period. The two sides of the picture are carved with "Wei Feng Xiang Lin", "Feng" and "Lin", which are only found in the prosperous times when the style of writing is prosperous. This picture praises the society at that time. The inner side of the picture is carved with "Dragon Court dancing Eagle" and "dancing Eagle" homonymous with "Wu Ying", implying that Xu Guo is a Bachelor of Wu Ying hall. On the north side is "auspicious cranes and clouds", which means peace in the world, and also symbolizes the noble and refined character of Xu state; on the inside is "the picture of Lu Ming", which is borrowed from the book of songs. Lu Ming, which symbolizes the noble and refined character of Xu state, as well as the social auspiciousness and happiness at that time, and the peace of the country and the people. It means that Xu state, as a minister of rites, often meets guests and students, and lives a refined life.

inscription

The inscriptions on the stone square were all written by Dong Qichang, a great calligrapher of the modern era. "Learning first and then being an official" in the workshop means studying and being an official. It tells people that Xu Guo is a professional and has become an important official of the country by virtue of his intelligence. "Three platforms" was originally the name of astrology, but the ancients often used to symbolize "three gongs" (Taishi, Taifu, Taibao), "three orphans" (Shaoshi, Shaofu, Shaobao), "Yuanlao" refers to the three successive dynasties of Xu state, who was an important official of the imperial court.

carving

The stone square is full of carvings. The two ends of Liang Fang are engraved with Ruyi head, twigs and brocade. Inside the diamond shaped frame in the middle are deep relief sculptures, such as "dragon flying", "auspicious crane flying in the clouds", "fish leaping over the dragon's gate", "Wei Feng Xianglin", "Dragon Court dancing Eagle", "three good news", "Lin Opera Ball", "Phoenix wearing peony", etc. The middle part of the column is brocade pattern of scattered pattern, and the upper part is cloud pattern, decorated with flying cranes of different postures. On the platform base outside the column base, there are 12 big lions with various movements, such as squatting and rushing. Some big lions also hold small lions, which are lively in shape. There are all kinds of * patterns on the left and right sides of the platform. On all sides of the stone square, there are some big characters, such as "great scholar", "Shaobao and Prince Taibao, Minister of rites, great scholar Xu Guo of wuyingdian", "first learn and then Minister", "senior official", etc., which are written by Dong Qichang, a calligrapher and painter of the Ming Dynasty.

Cultural relic value

Xuguo stone archway is a rare double ancient archway. It stands upright after 500 years of ups and downs in Ming and Qing Dynasties. It carries such heavy historical vicissitudes. Xuguo stone archway is the most outstanding representative of Huizhou stone archways, which comprehensively reflects the highest level of stone archway construction technology.

As a rare large stone archway in Ming Dynasty and the only octagonal archway in China, it has become one of the symbols of Huizhou ancient city.

As the most outstanding representative of Huizhou, Xuguo Shifang embodies the highest level of technology and art. Due to the two types of skyrocketing columns adopted by Xu Guo's stone square, the stone square has a solid structure and full shape. In addition to Xu Guo's political status at that time, it has become the local model of skyrocketing column stone square with four columns and three floors. It has made a special contribution to the development history of stone square in the Ming and Qing Dynasties for hundreds of years.

protective measures

Due to its long history, natural weathering and serious damage, a small number of components fell off and a few foundations sank, resulting in the fracture of Liang Fang. The Huizhou Ancient City Management Committee of Shexian County hired cultural relic experts to investigate the repair plan. In May 2009, after more than a month of repair, it organized forces to carry out comprehensive repair and reinforcement of the whole stonework, so as to ensure this rare "national protection" site in the world From generation to generation. In 1988, this "Xuguo stone square" was listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit.

Anecdotes and allusions

Construction legend

There is also an interesting legend about the construction of this memorial archway. One month after the turmoil in Yunnan subsided, Wanli paid a heavy reward to the officials. Xu Guo was praised as "Xie Zhong's plan, Qi Zhuo's achievements" and was granted a four month holiday to build the memorial archway. It is said that ordinary subjects can only build four legged archways, and only royal families can build octagonal archways, otherwise it will be a crime. At that time, there were many dignitaries, squires and ministers in Huizhou, and there were many four legged archways. Xu Guo is the pride of the place. If only a four legged archway is built, it will not reflect his official authority. How can we build a unique archway? Xu Guo had an idea and thought of the idea of "cutting first and then playing". It took seven or eight months for Xu Guojian to return to the imperial court. Because of the holiday, Xu Guojian knelt on Danlong and kept silent for a long time when he went to the imperial court. The emperor was puzzled and said, "I'll give you four months to go home to build the memorial archway. Why is it eight months? In my opinion, not to mention four legged, even the Eight Legged archway should be built. After hearing this, Xu Guo immediately exclaimed, "long live, thanks for the emperor's permission. What I built is the Eight Legged archway." After hearing this, the emperor could not laugh or cry, and could not go back on his promise. In this way, the stone square built by the state of Xu was legalized.

Master Xu Guo

Xu Guo, the owner of the square, was born in Shexian county. He was a Jinshi of Jiajing Yichou (1565) and an important Minister of Jiajing, Longqing and Wanli dynasties. In the 11th year of Wanli, he became a member of the cabinet as a minister of rites and a Bachelor of Dongge. Later, he was granted the title of Prince Taibao and the Bachelor of wenyuange. In September of the 12th year of Wanli, he was promoted to Shaobao because of his meritorious decision to pacify the rebellion on the border of Yunnan, and was granted the title of Bachelor of wuyingdian. It was one month after the chaos subsided in Yunnan that Xu Guoshi square was built. After the Yunnan border chaos subsided, Wanli's "dragon heart" was very happy and appreciated the officials. Xu Guo, as an assistant minister, was praised as "Xie Zhong's strategy and outstanding achievements" and was "rewarded with kindness and family members". It can be seen from the collection of Xu wenmugong that at this time, the state of Xu had been in two sparrows and repeatedly pleaded for "special and constant kindness", but the emperor refused and ordered "no firm words". In this way, Xu Ge went back to his hometown and urged Fu County to build memorial archways.

Tourism information

Xuguo stone square is located in the scenic area of Huizhou ancient city. You can take No.1 Boshi manor nanyuankou, No.2 cinema Paifang group to Huizhou Fuya station or tourist center station.

Address: in the ancient city of she County, Anhui Province

Longitude: 118.43570741328

Latitude: 29.865826596456

Tour time: 1 hour

Transportation information: 1. Take a bus from Shexian passenger station to the ancient city, the ticket price is 7 yuan, and you can get there on foot

2. Take bus No.1 at the railway station and walk to it

Ticket information: Free

Opening hours: all day

Chinese PinYin : Xu Guo Shi Fang