páifāng

Scope note: Meaning, literally, a "plaque" (-holding) "commemorative monument," paifang is a structure that functions to commemorate virtuous people and actions, markoff an area, and/or delineate space. Paifang adopt a wide variety of forms and are made of wood, stone, or brick. They are usually composed of two or more pillars connected by tie beams, which are covered by roofs called lou 樓. Paifang are often erected on streets and bridges, as well as near buildings such as government offices, schools, ancestral halls, temples, and tombs. The name of each paifang and the reason for its establishment were often inscribed on a plaque affixed to the tie beam and were sometimes inscribed directly onto the tie beam itself.

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Tesaurus d'Art i Arquitectura