Here is a photo of a simple memorial archway from the late Qing dynasty. These archways, some very elaborate, commemorated virtuous widows. They typically featured inscriptions like "Chaste and Filial" along with the widow's name. The Ming and Qing governments encouraged the cult of chaste widowhood, and archways like this were often constructed following official certification of the chasteness of a widow in the household and a grant of money for the construction.

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