Songyang Academy
Songyang Academy was an institution of higher education in ancient China. Together with Yuelu Academy in Changsha in Hunan Province, Bailu Dong Academy on Lunshan Mountain in Jiangxi Province, and Suiyang Academy in Shangqiu in Henan Province, it was one of the four great academies in ancient China. In the yard there is a "General Cypress" that was planted in the Han Dynasty. Outside the gate, there is a tablet inscription of the Tang Dynasty which is called the "King Tablet of Songshan Mountain." The very old tree and tablet are just two of the ancient relics in this ancient academy.
Songyang Academy is beautiful. We can see the style of the Qing Dynasty in the layout of the academy. More than 500 rooms still exist. Songyang Academy consists of 5 areas. There is the Xianshi Temple in which teachers and masters of the past are enshrined. Behind it is the lecture hall. Behind the lecture hall is Daotong Temple, and behind Daotong Temple lies the Book Collection Building. The rooms on both sides are book rooms, classrooms and so on. On the walls of the bungalows in the yard, there are inscriptions of the scholars of the past dynasties. The content and calligraphy of those inscriptions have their own characteristic styles. In the west stand some buildings that were used as classrooms and examination rooms during the Qing Dynasty.
Songyang Academy was called the Songyang Temple in the past. Songyang Temple was set up in the 8th year of Taihe during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty. The temple had several hundred monks, and Songyang Temple used to be where Buddhist activities were held. During the years of Daye in the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, the temple's name was changed to Songyang Taoist Temple, and it was where Taoist activities were held. In the 2nd year of Jinghu during the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty, Songyang Taoist Temple became Songyang Academy, a major Confucian academy. Then, Songyang Academy was an educational institution where famous scholars gave lectures on classics. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Songyang Academy was destroyed in the war. Emperors of the Yuan Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty all helped to build Songyang Academy. Once, Songyang Academy had over 1750 mu of land, several hundred students and more than 2000 books. In the end of Qing Dynasty, the Imperial Civil Examination System was abolished and new schools were set up. As a result, the Confucian academic system that had a history of over 1000 years came to an end. However, as a bright pearl in the educational history of ancient China, Songyang Academy would be written into the annals of history.
The academies were a unique form of higher education in the society of China. The system appeared in the Tang Dynasty, reached its peak in the North Song Dynasty, and came to an end at the end of the Qing Dynasty only about 100 years ago.
Geographic Location: Songyang Academy is north of the central city of Dengfeng.
Distinctions: Songyang Academy was one of the four great Confucian academies in ancient China.
Opening Hours
In spring and summer: 8:00-18:30.
In autumn and winter: 8:00-18:00.
How to Get There:
Take Bus 2 or Bus 6 in the central city of Dengfeng and get off at the terminal station. It takes tourists about 10 minutes or so to go there.
