[2025 She County Attraction] Travel Guide for Xu Guo Stone Archway (Updated May)

Xuguo Stone Archway, commonly known as Eight-legged Archway. Built in October of the 12th year of the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1584 AD), it has a history of 400 years. Xu Guo Stone Archway is a wood-like structure, rare in its form within the country. The layout is square-shaped, measuring 11.54 meters north to south and 6.77 meters east to west, with a total height of 11.4 meters. The entire archway is composed of two three-bay, four-column, three-story stone archways at the front and back, and single-bay, double-column, three-story stone archways on the left and right sides. The stone material used is hard blue tea-hui stone, particularly robust and thick. Each of the eight columns is 50 centimeters square and over seven meters tall, with beams, balustrades, brackets, and sparrow braces also made from large stone blocks. Each of these massive stones weighs four to five tons, showcasing the advanced architectural techniques of the time in joining and fitting such heavy materials in the air. Xu Guo Stone Archway features exquisite carvings, including colorful phoenixes, rare birds, and roaming dragons and beasts. Twelve stone lions lean against the pillars, majestically perched on the stone bases, lifelike and vivid. In front, back, left, and right of the stone arch, there are inscriptions. The top layer of the front and back sides and the third layer of the sides have plaques with twin dragons, inscribed with the words "En Rong," symbolizing the "Grace" and "Glory" bestowed by the emperor. On the bottom layer of all four sides, the words "Da Xue Shi" (Grand Scholar) are engraved. The small arches on the front and back bear the full title "Shao Bao Jian Tai Zi Tai Bao Li Bu Shang Shu Wu Ying Dian Da Xue Shi Xu Guo." The second layer of the beams on the front and back is inscribed with "Xian Xue Hou Chen" and "Shang Tai Yuan Lao" in large characters. "Xian Xue Hou Chen" signifies Xu Guo's rise in officialdom through literary talent. "Shang Tai Yuan Lao," with "Shang Tai" referring to one of the "San Tai," originally names of constellations, symbolizing the "San Gong" (Grand Preceptor, Grand Tutor, Grand Guardian) and "San Gu" (Junior Preceptor, Junior Tutor, Junior Guardian). Xu Guo had ascended to Shao Bao and Tai Zi Tai Bao, serving as an assistant minister, thus earning this title. All inscriptions on the stone arch are in Guange style and Bieke script, traditionally attributed to the Ming dynasty calligrapher Dong Qichang. Dong's calligraphy is characterized by its robust and graceful appearance, executed with ease and fluidity. Xuguo, courtesy name Weizhen (1527-1596), was a native of Shexian. He passed the imperial examination in the Jiajing era and served during the reigns of Jiajing, Longqing, and Wanli. During the Longqing period, the Ming dynasty granted him the rank of first-class official to serve as an envoy to Korea. When Wanli ascended the throne, he was promoted to Right Assistant and appointed as a lecturer. The title "Assistant" was merely a position serving the crown prince, but being appointed as a lecturer to discuss politics and philosophy with the emperor was a significant step in his career. Soon, he received the emperor's handwritten gift of the phrase "Zenan Chenshan," indicating favor and rapid advancement. In the eleventh year of Wanli, he became Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, becoming a key minister under Emperor Shenzong Zhu Yijun. Shortly after, he was promoted to Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince and appointed Grand Secretary of the Wenyan Pavilion. In September of the twelfth year of Wanli, due to his successful strategies in quelling a rebellion in Yunnan, he was further promoted to Junior Guardian and appointed Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall, becoming the second assistant, just below the chief assistant Shen Shixing. The Xuguo Stone Archway began construction just one month after the pacification of the Yunnan border unrest. Following the pacification, the Wanli Emperor was greatly pleased and generously rewarded his ministers. Xu Guo, as an assistant minister, was praised for his "loyalty and strategic planning, with outstanding achievements," and received "special favor and rewards." From the "Collected Works of Xu Wenmu Gong," it can be seen that Xu Guo submitted two memorials, repeatedly declining the "unusual favor," but the emperor did not allow it and issued an edict stating "do not refuse." Thus, Xu Ge Lao received the imperial favor, returned to his hometown, mobilized the local government, gathered craftsmen, and began the construction of the archway.