Academies (Shuyuan)

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:

997: Taishi Academy (Songyang Academy), bestowed by the Taizong emperor
1009: Yingtianfu Academy, bestowed by the Zhenzong emperor
1015: Yuelu Academy, bestowed by the Zhenzong emperor
1035: Shigu Academy, bestowed by the Renzong emperor

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. 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 modern academy

In the late Qing dynasty, schools teaching western modern science and technology were established. Many such schools were called Shuyuan in Chinese. Such kind of Shuyuan are different from traditional Chinese Shuyuan and are more similar to modern academy.

Notable Shuyuan

In discussing the shuyuan, it is 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 in defferent period. So top lists in different era are not the same. White Deer Grotto Academy had long been very outstanding. 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 Academy

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