Academies of Classical Learning

The Huazhou Academy in Henan

TheShuyuan(traditional Chinese:Thư viện;simplified Chinese:Thư viện;pinyin:shūyuàn), usually known in English asAcademies of Classical Learningor simplyAcademies,were a type of school inImperial China.Unlike national academies and district schools,shuyuanwere usually private establishments built away from cities or towns, providing a quiet environment where scholars could engage in studies and contemplation without restrictions and worldly distractions.

History

Main articles:TaixueandAncient higher-learning institutions

Theshuyuanoriginated in 725 during theTang dynasty.They were places where scholars could teach and study the classics, and where books collected from around the country could be preserved. By the late Tang dynasty, private academies had appeared all over China.

During theNorthern Song (960–1126),many academies were established with government encouragement. Each academy had its own teaching and administrative structure and was economically independent.

The bestowal of a calligraphic signboard by the emperor was an extremely important symbol of an academy's status during the Northern Song period. The following academies received this honour:

• 997:Taishi Academy(Songyang Academy), bestowed by theEmperor Taizong of Song
• 1009:Yingtianfu Academy,bestowed by theEmperor Zhenzong
• 1015:Yuelu Academy,bestowed by Emperor Zhenzong
• 1035:Shigu Academy,bestowed byEmperor Renzong of Song

Besides signboards, emperors also bestowed books. In 977, the Taizong Emperor bestowed on theWhite Deer Grotto Academya copy of the NineChinese classicsprinted by theGuozi gian.The Yuelu Academy, the Songyang Academy and other academies also received books from the Emperor on a number of occasions.

However, academies had begun to decline by the twelfth century. The White Deer Grotto Academy, which had fallen into ruin, was rebuilt by the prominent neo-ConfucianistZhu Xiin 1179–80 during theSouthern Song (1127–1279)and reopened in 1180. It became an important centre of Confucian thought during eight centuries.Zhu Xihimself taught here during the Southern Song as didWang Yangmingduring the Ming. As a result of Zhu Xi's efforts, theshuyuanbecame a permanent feature of Chinese education, taking up major responsibilities of local education.

The system of academies was dismantled under theYuan dynasty(1271–1368) and all academies were placed under government control to become preparatory schools for theimperial examinations.However, the system was revived under theMing(1368–1644) and theQing(1644–1911).

In the Ming dynasty, academies devoted to discussing political issues appeared, such as theDonglin Academy,often resulting in political repression. According to one study, 40% of the 1239 known Ming academies were built during theJiajing era(1522–1566).During the Qing, thousands of academies were created for the purpose of preparing students for the Imperial Examination, although there were still some that functioned as centres of study and research.

The academies were finally abolished under theHundred Days' Reformin 1898 at the end of the Qing dynasty.

There were more than 7,000 academies recorded. In the late Qing dynasty, some became universities, middle schools, public libraries and museums.

In Korea, which also adopted Confucianism, theshuyuanwere known asSeowon.

Shuyuan as a modern term

In the late Qing dynasty, schools teaching Western science and technology were established. Many such schools were calledShuyuanin Chinese. Despite the common name, theseshuyuanare quite modern in concept and are quite different from traditional academies of classical learning.

Notable academies

In discussing theshuyuan,it is common to speak of the "Four Great Academies" ( tứ đại thư viện;sì-dà shū-yuàn) of ancient China. Usually the "Four Great Academies" refers to the Four Great Academies of the Northern Song. However, sources give a number of different lists, sometimes expanded to Six or Eight Great Academies. Only one, theYuelu Academy(later becomeHunan University), appears in all lists. Each school went up or down the list in different periods.White Deer Grotto Academyhad long been important. As for the impact on the politics of China,Donglin Academyin theMing Dynastyis especially notable.

The Four Great Academies

Also known as the Four Great Academies of the Northern Song or the Four Northern Song Academies.

• Songyang Academy (in modernDengfeng) - founded in 1035
• Yingtianfu Academy (in modernShangqiu) - founded in 1009
• Yuelu Academy(in modernChangsha) - founded in 976
• White Deer Grotto Academy(in modernJiu gian g) - founded in 940

Sometimes the Shigu Academy is substituted for the Songyang Academy.

The Four Great Academies of the Early Song

• Shigu Academy (in modernHengyang) - founded in 810
• Jinshan Academy (in modernJurong, Jiangsu) - founded in 1024
• Yuelu Academy
• Culai Academy(in modernTai'an) - founded in 1038

The Four Great Academies of the Southern Song

• Lize Academy
• Xiangshan Academy
• Yuelu Academy
• White Deer Grotto Academy

The Six Great Academies

• Songyang Academy
• Yingtianfu Academy
• Yuelu Academy
• White Deer Grotto Academy
• Shigu Academy
• Maoshan Academy (renamed Jinshan Academy)

(An alternative list of "Six Great Academies of the Northern Song" contains the same academies in a different order.)

The Eight Great Academies of the Northern Song

• Shigu Academy
• Yingtianfu Academy
• Yuelu Academy
• White Deer Grotto Academy
• Songyang Academy
• Maoshan Academy
• Longmen Academy
• Culai Academy

See also

• Donglin Academy
• Dongpo Academy
• Yuelu Academy
• Seowon,the Korean equivalent of Shuyuan