Origin
It is suggested that the Chinese paifang may have been derived from the torana temple-gate in ancient India, though it has taken on traditional Chinese architecture characteristics such as multi-tiered roofs, various supporting posts, and archway-shapes of traditional gates and towers. However, city gates are not particular to India.
During the Tang dynasty, it was called wutoumen (simplified Chinese: 乌头门; traditional Chinese: 烏頭門; literally "black top gate"), because the top of the two posts were painted black. Wutomen was reserved for officials of rank 6 or higher.
The construction of wutomen was standardized in Yingzao Fashi of the Song dynasty. It consisted of two posts and a horizontal beam forming a frame and two doors. By the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was called pailou or paifang, and evolved into more elaborate structure with more posts and gates, with superstructural gable on top; the highest rank was five gate-six post-eleven gable pailou.
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