A Study Of Memorial Arches On The Architectural Form And Related Problems Of Ming And Qing Dynasties In Zhejiang Province

This paper takes the existing ancient Ming and Qing dynasty memorial arches as the main research object in Zhejiang province,and has a systematic combing of its number,geographical distribution and the saving state.Through the investigation,we know that there are 81 Ming dynasty memorial arches and 203 Qing dynasty memorial arches.The main distribution is Wenzhou and Jinhua.Through a comprehensive analysis of the building shape,specific components and construction materials,this paper divided the development evolution of memorial arches into five periods.The first is from Hongwu to Zhengtong,the second is from Chenghua to Wanli,the third is the end of Ming dynasty,the forth is the time of Kangxi,Yongzheng and Qianlong,the last period in the end of Qing dynasty.On the basis of the evolution of the age,this paper analyzes the arch characteristics and influencing factors of different regions in Zhejiang.We found that the memorial arches in the northern area is complicated and in the southern area is simple and plain.Combined with the social and cultural background of the Ming and Qing dynasties,this paper also focused on two issues.According to the existing arch and the records of local records,we found that there lots of arches for imperial examinations in Ming dynasty and lots of arches for chastity in Qing dynasty.This difference may related to the changes in the current policy.And in the late Qing Dynasty,the memorial arches all over the country from the "special" into "the total",while the Zhejiang region still focus on the special arches.The late Qing Dynasty,people can donate an arch,is this time,Zhejiang economic and cultural level is relatively high,and thus mostly for the gentry big family funded to build a special memorial arch,not a total one.