Qiu Liang-gong Mother Chastity Arch, briefly called the "Chastity Arch,"(1) is located in Jincheng Town and is the only first-class national historic relic in Kinmen. It was built in 1812, during the Qing dynasty. The raw materials used for the arch are Quanzhou granite from Fujian (known as Quanzhou White) and blackish(2) green Qingdou Rock (also Grass Rock), and the carving is very exquisite.(3) The arch is about three stories high. It is one of the highest and the most magnificent arches in the Taiwan and Fujian area. Because of its height and to prevent it from shaking too hard, stationed by the pillars there are four pairs of stone lions to stabilize the arch.
邱良功母節孝坊又稱貞節牌坊，位於金城鎮市區，是金門島上唯一的一級古蹟。牌坊建於清嘉慶十七年（西元1812年），建材是採用福建泉州的花崗石（俗稱泉州白）和墨綠的青斗石（也稱青草石），雕刻非常的精細；牌坊約有三層樓高，是台閩地區牌坊中最為壯觀的一座。也因牌坊很高，為了防止搖晃，所以，牌坊的柱子前後立著四對雄雌的石獅來穩定牌坊。

The arch is to commemorate Madam Xu-Shi, the mother of Governor Qiu Liang- gong of Zhejiang Province in the Qing dynasty, for her maintaining chastity for 28 years during her widowhood.(4) When Qiu Liang-gong had lived for only 35 days, his father died. His mother endured all kinds of hardships and raised him to adulthood. Finally he became an excellent government official and contributed a great deal to his country. Madam Xu-Shi's great deeds won the praise of the Emperor, who gave an imperial decree(5) to build the arch.
牌坊是為了表揚清朝浙江總督邱良功的母親許氏守節二十八年而建。邱良功出生三十五天，父親就過世了，母親含辛茹苦將他撫養長大，並且成為朝廷的良將，貢獻良多。許母教子成龍的感人事蹟，獲得皇帝的讚賞，因而下聖旨建造這座牌坊。


Tourist: The arch is very high and magnificent. It's much bigger than the Qionglin Arch (the Three widows Chastity Arch).
遊客：這牌坊很高大、雄偉，比起在瓊林村所看到的牌坊（一門三節坊）大了許多。

Tour Guide: You are right. This is one of the most magnificent arches in Taiwan and Fujian. It's also the only arch graded as a first-class national historic relic in Kinmen.
導遊：是啊，這個牌坊是台閩地區最雄壯的，也是金門唯一列為國家一級古蹟的牌坊。

Tourist: Does it have any special stories?
遊客：有什麼傳說故事嗎？

Tour Guide: It's said that out of the eight stone lions in front of the arch, the one right in the middle used to display its power, representing Madam Xu-Shi's reincarnation;(6) therefore, this lion is also called the "Goddess the Stone Lion". Furthermore, the lion is considered particularly powerful due to its ceaseless exposure to sunlight and moonlight, so that local residents keep on worshipping it as a deity.(7) One other special thing is that some soldiers drew a grenade(8) on the lion when repainting it, thus the grenade is thought of as symbol of luck.
導遊：據說牌坊前的八隻獅子，位於中間的這一隻曾經顯靈過，代表邱良功母親許氏顯靈，所以這隻獅子被封為『石獅仙姑』。而且無論是白天的太陽或是晚上的月亮，都可以照射到這隻獅子，因此特別有靈性，地方居民也視為神並且供奉。更特別的是，早期阿兵哥在油漆獅子時，在獅子身上畫上一顆手榴彈，而後人也將此手榴彈，視為吉祥的象徵。
Tourist: How amazing it is that the statue of traditional history has been painted with a modern grenade.
遊客：在傳統的歷史建築上，畫上現代感的手榴彈，真是令人讚嘆。

Tour Guide: By the way, the arch was built under the decree of the Emperor. So it is historically significant.
導遊：另外，這牌坊是當時皇帝下「聖旨」建造的，是非常具有歷史性意義的。

Tourist: I must say that the arch isn't just historical, but architecturally speaking, it is a masterpiece of exquisite art.
遊客：這牌坊不僅是具有歷史意義的建築，也可說是藝術上的傑作。

Tour Guide: Surely it is. Besides that, there is a street called "Mofan Street," also called "ZiQiang Street," by the side of the arch. The street shows a mixture of Japanese style and Southern Fujian style architecture. It's one of most characteristic old streets in Kinmen. You should take your time to visit there. Moreover, the arch is situated at the site of a traditional market. At the market, many local specialties of Kinmen are sold. You can go and try them.
導遊：的確是如此。在牌坊旁有一條融合日本風格與閩南建築味道的『模範街』，又叫做自強街，是金門具有特色的老街之一，可以利用點時間去看看。還有，這牌坊的所在地是金門傳統的市場，販售許多金門風味的小吃，你可以品嚐看看。

Tourist: Can you recommend some of the market specialties?
遊客：可以介紹一下風味小吃嗎？

Tour Guide: Yes, the most flavorful and juicy ones are fried oyster omelets,(9) sesame balls, fried salty pancakes,(10) egg rolls, and so on. In the morning, they sell Canton porridge, baked flat bread, and deep-fried twisted dough that you just can't miss.
導遊：好的。附近有名又好吃的小吃有：炸蚵粿、芝麻球、鹹粿炸、蛋捲等；早上來時，還有不可不吃的廣東粥和燒餅、油條呢！

Tourist: Sounds good, and I am starving. I can't wait for a snack. Will you join me?
遊客：聽你這樣說，我快餓扁了。我可要大吃一頓囉，要不要一起來？（二十七）

■1. Chastity Arch-節孝坊，此處，chastity是貞節，禁慾、獨身生活，純潔、正派的意思；arch指拱門、牌樓。
■2. blackish-(adj.)呈現黑色的。
■3. exquisite-(adj.)精美、精緻的，製作精良的。
■4. widowhood-(n)守寡；寡婦的身份。
■5. decree-(n)命令；法令；教令。imperial decree字面上的意思就是皇帝的命令，即「聖旨」。
■6. reincarnation-(n)化身；轉世。
■7. deity-(n)神；女神。
■8. grenade-(n)手榴彈。
■9. omelet-(n)煎蛋餅；煎蛋捲。此處係沿用台灣對「蚵仔煎」的英語翻譯oyster omelet來形容金門的炸蚵粿（油炸的蚵仔煎）。
■10. pancake-(n)薄煎餅，鬆餅。此處以鬆餅來形容金門的鹹粿炸（油炸的、鹹的鬆餅）。
資料來源：金門縣政府
原書作者：陳建民、漢貴恩

【本系列及新聞英文解說，由金門技術學院Patti老師指導，本報編輯部提供，歡迎各界指正或提供建議】