CHINA CONFUCIUS

Archways, also know in Chinese as "pailou" or "paifang", is a typical Chinese architecture of a memorial or decorative nature. In the old days, they often stood at thoroughfare crossroads, or in front of such buildings as temples, government offices, imperial gardens and mausoleums. That is why that you can easily notice such buildings at some famous historical resorts nowadays. It is recorded that there used to be around 60 archways in old Beijing, and most of them have been well preserved.
Traditionally, archways could be made of wood, brick or stone, and sometimes with glazed tiles. They are a perfect example of the primary principles of traditional Chinese architecture: balance and symmetry. Composed of several columns, it often forms more than just one arch, with that in the middle as the axis, while those positioned on each side as two wings of secondary structures. This style, reflecting Chinese social and ethnical values, also well suit the purpose of dignity.
Many ancient archways would carry some inscriptions to propagate certain moral principles, such as those from Buddhism, Confucianism or Taoism. Some of them, however, were constructed simply to praise the so-claimed "lofty virtues" of certain individuals who followed those moral principles, especially Confucianism. For instance, in the old days, there were many "archway of chastity" erected to preach up those widowed women who refrained remarriage in their whole life.