The Eight Censor Archway consists of three parts: the base, the main body and the roof. It has four foundation piers, each built with two layers of huge stones. Four massive square stone pillars form the main body, standing firmly on the foundations. Drum-shaped stone supports flank the lower section of every pillar, with stone lions carved on their middle and upper parts, looking powerful and majestic.
The upper section of the archway is divided into left, middle and right sections. The left and right parts adopt identical structures with perfect symmetry. The middle part features three horizontal beams holding two embedded stone slabs, creating distinct layers with alternating light and shadow.
Hovering above is a stately hip-and-gable roof. It has double slopes and imitation tile ridges. Stone mythical creatures adorn both ends of the main ridge, while a stone lion sits right in the middle. The lion carries a gourd and a sacred vase on its back, with its mouth open and head raised, chest out and gaze afar. Its vivid posture looks lifelike.
The entire structure is tightly assembled, elegant and well-proportioned. It fully demonstrates the superb craftsmanship of Ming-dynasty artisans, who skillfully applied mechanical principles to construct large-scale stone buildings, embodying the wisdom of working people in ancient China.
Erected during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, the archway was jointly built by eight high-ranking officials from Puyang: Censor-in-Chief Ji Zhu and Hou Ying, Chief Judges of the Court of Judicial Review Li Jue, Shi Baoshan and Wang Ting, Ministers Zhao Tingrui and Dong Hanru, and Provincial Governor Ji Cheng.
The three large characters Eight Censor Archway are carved on the roof, featuring vigorous, elegant and dignified calligraphy by Wei Daqin, a renowned calligrapher of that era. It is recorded that two dismount archways once stood to the north and south of this structure. Civil officials had to alight from their sedan chairs, military officers dismount from their horses when passing by. Even the emperor would walk on foot for a short distance here.
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