Everything about Academies Shuyuan totally explained
The
Shūyuàn (书院), usually known in English as
Academies or
Academies of Classical Learning, were a type of school in ancient
China. Unlike
national academy and district schools,
shuyuan were 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
The
shuyuan originated in 725 during the
Tang 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 the
Northern Song (960-1127), 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:
Besides signboards, emperors also bestowed books. In 977, the Taizong Emperor bestowed on the
White Deer Grotto Academy a copy of the Nine
Confucian Classics printed by the
Guozijian. 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 12th century. The White Deer Grotto Academy, which had fallen into ruin, was rebuilt by the prominent neo-Confucianist
Zhu Xi in 1179-80 during the
Southern Song dynasty and reopened in 1180. It became an important centre of Confucian thought during eight centuries. Zhu Xi himself taught here during the Southern Song as did
Wang Yangming during the Ming. As a result of Zhu Xi's efforts, the
shuyuan became a permanent feature of Chinese education, taking up major responsibilities of local education.
The system of academies was dismantled under the
Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty (1271-1368) and all academies were placed under government control to became preparatory schools for the
Imperial Examinations. However, the system was revived under the
Ming (1368-1644) and the
Qing (1644-1911).
In the Ming dynasty, academies devoted to discussing political issues appeared, such as the
Donglin Academy, often resulting in political repression. According to one study, 40% of the 1239 known Ming academies were built during the
Chia-ching era (1522-1566). During the
Qing dynasty, 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 the
Hundred Days' Reform in 1898 at the end of the Qing dynasty.
There were more than 7,000 academies of Shuyuan recorded. In the late Qing dynasty, some of the Shuyuan became universities, middle schools, public libraries and museums.
In Korea, which also adopted Confucianism, the
shuyuan were known as
Seowon.
Shuyuan as a modern term
In the late Qing dynasty, schools teaching Western science and technology were established. Many such schools were called
Shuyuan in Chinese. Despite the common name, these
shuyuan are quite modern in concept and are quite different from traditional academies of classical learning.
Notable Shuyuan
In discussing the
shuyuan, it's common to speak of the "Four Great Academies" (四大书院) 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 academy, the Yuelu Academy, appears in all lists. Each school went up or down the list in different periods.
White Deer Grotto Academy had long been an outstanding academy. As for the impact on the politics of China,
Donglin Shuyuan in
Ming Dynasty is 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
Yingtianfu Academy
Yuelu Academy
White Deer Grotto Academy
Sometimes the Shigu Academy is substituted for the Songyang Academy.
The Four Great Academies of the Early Song
Shigu Academy
Jinshan Academy
Yuelu Academy
Culai Academy
White Deer Grotto Academy
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
plus
Shigu Academy
Maoshan 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 AcademyFurther Information
Get more info on 'Academies Shuyuan'.
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