Qionglin Yimen Sanjie Lane Introduction
The Qionglin Sanjie Archway, located on the ancient official road in Qionglin Village, Jinhou Town, is one of the three remaining Qing Dynasty archways in Kinmen and has the most poignant story. This stone archway, built in the 11th year of the Daoguang reign (1831), appears to be a symbol of glorious honor, but behind it lies the heart-wrenching story of three widows in one family. It is now designated as a county-level historic site. During the Daoguang years, Cai Zhonghuan's wife, Chen, who was 29 years old, became a widow after her husband died but managed the household and painstakingly raised her young sons, Fanggui, Shangwen, and the posthumous child, Shangshen. Later, Cai Shangwen married the daughter of Chen Wenxin from Doumen, but unexpectedly, Cai Shangwen passed away when Chen was just 21, leading her to follow the path of widowhood like her mother-in-law. Unfortunately, their third son, Cai Shangshen, married the daughter of Huang Zhichuan from Wenshui but also passed away when Huang was 29, leaving her a widow as well. However, the three widows of the Cai family remained steadfastly loyal and frugal, ultimately enjoying a flourishing late life. By the time Chen reached her old age, five generations lived together, with over eighty descendants, prompting the authorities to erect an archway in their honor. The Qionglin Sanjie Archway is constructed of white stone from Quanzhou and blue stone from Qingdou, with couplets inscribed on the stone pillars by officials, each word poignant, telling of the resilience and virtue of the three widowed women.
