Page:Chinese Pictures.djvu/128

 '''A PAI-FANG, OR WIDOWS ARCH. '''

are often very fine structures in stone, wonderfully carved, or in wood highly decorated. It is not uncommon to enter a town under quite a succession of them. Very fine ones are often found at the entrance of very squalid villages. They are erections put up to honour widows who, faithful to the memory of their husbands, have remained widows, devoting themselves to good works and to the service of their parents-in-law, which is the great duty of every good wife. Permission of the Emperor has to be obtained for their erection. The various towns and villages take pride in their "widows' arches." It is not uncommon to find a shrine for the burning of incense beside the arch.