Qionglin Yimen Sanjiefang Introduction
The Sanjie Archway of Qionglin is located on the ancient official road in the western suburbs of Qionglin Village, Jinhu Town. It 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 era (1831), seems to symbolize glorious honor, yet behind it lies the sorrowful tale of three widows from the same family. Recognized as a county-designated historical site, the story dates back to the Daoguang period when Tsai Chung-huan’s wife, Mrs. Chen, became a widow at the age of 29. She single-handedly managed the household and worked hard to raise her young sons, Fang-gui, Shang-wen, and the unborn child, Shang-shen. Later, Tsai Shang-wen married Chen Wen-hsin's daughter from Doumen, but unexpectedly, Tsai Shang-wen passed away at the age of 21, leaving Mrs. Chen to follow her mother-in-law's path of widowhood. Unfortunately, the third son, Tsai Shang-shen, also married but lost his wife, Huang, when she was just 29, turning her into a widow as well. Despite their hardships, the three widows of the Tsai family remained steadfast and virtuous, diligently managing the household. In their later years, they reaped the rewards of their perseverance, with Mrs. Chen being surrounded by five generations and over eighty descendants. The local authorities honored them by erecting the archway. The Sanjie Archway of Qionglin is constructed of white stone from Quanzhou and green stone from Qingdou, with couplets inscribed by officials on the stone pillars, each word poignantly expressing the resilience and chastity of the three widows.
