YueluAcademy is one of the four famous academies in China, and it was established at the time of Northern Song Dynasty.The academy accepted disciples throughout the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.It was only in 1903 that the academy was transformed from a school of traditional Confucian learning to a modern university and in 1926 it was officially named Hunan University.
many famous scholars and great thinkers gave lectures here, among them were Zhangshi, Zhuxi and WangYangming, thus making a great impact on the province’s culture and education.Most of the existing buildings here were constructions of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and the bulk of the engraved stone plates and inscribed tablets have all been kept intact, In 1956 the academy was listed as a historical site at the provincial level and later, in 1988 it became a historical site at the state level.
Now, here we are at the “He Xi Platform”, “He Xi” means the “the splendour of the sunrise”, It was named by Zhuxi, a Song DynastyConfucian scholar who became the leading figure of the School of Principle and the most influential rationalist Neo-Confucian in China.his emphasis on the investigation of things (gewu), and the synthesis of all fundamental Confucian concepts.Zhu Xi maintained that all things are brought into being by the union of two universal aspects of reality: qi, sometimes translated as vital (or physical, material) force; and li, sometimes translated as rational principle
On the inner walls of the platform are two big Chinese characters “Fu” and “Shuo”, which mean “bleing” and “longevity” respectively.
This gate in front of us is the Main Gate, the gate was formerly built at the time of the Song Dynasty, and was then called “Central Gate”.The main gate underwent both destruction and reconstruction in the course of time.The present structure was once thoroughly renovated in 1868.
The characters “Yuelu Academy” on the horizontal tablet were inscribed by Emperor Zhen Zong of the Song Dynasty.On both door posts are couplets which read “The kingdom of Chu, unique home of the talents, The Academy of Yuelu, the very cradle of all ”
This gate was the Second Gate, It was first built during the Ming Dynasty.It underwent repairs and restoration many times .It was completely devastated during the Anti-Japanese War .In 1984, the gate was restored to its former state.
This is the Lecture Hall, where the students had leons here, it was first built at the time of the Song Dynasty and was once named “Jing Yi Hall”.Now, it has a more elaborate name “The Hall of the Loyalty, Filiality Honesty and Integrity”, because on the inner walls of the hall are engraved four big Chinese Characters:“ loyalty, finicality, honesty and integrity.They were handwriting by the great scholar, Zhuxi, who once lectured here.Others, such as the School Regulations, the Administrations and Way to Read were masterpieces of the masters of the academy.On the two horizontal tablets hanging on top were written:
“Learn before you can probe the infinitene of the universe.”
“The doctrines taught here in the south are genuine Confucian doctrines.”
They were inscribed by the emperor Kangxi and Qianlong respectively during the Qing Dynasty.
The building in front of us is the Yushu Library, “yushu” literally means “imperial books”, so Yushu Library ,built in 999A.D in the early Song Dynasty, was a place to keep imperial books.Books were continuously sent here during the succeeding dynasties..It had been repaired and expanded many times, and now it has a collection of over twenty thousand Chinese claics.This building was rebuilt on its original site in 1986.
The two small pavilions Xi Quan and Ni Lan , built during the Song and Ming Dynasties, were restored to the right and left of the compound galleries in order to display cultural relics.
Confucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher ConfuciusHumanity is core in Confucianism.A simple way to appreciate Confucian thought is to consider it as being based on varying levels of honesty, and a simple way to understand Confucian thought is to examine the world by using the logic of humanity.In practice, the elements of Confucianism accumulated over time.There is the claical Wuchang (五常) consisting of five elements: Ren (仁, Humanity), Yi (義, Righteousne), Li (禮, Ritualceremonial
behavior, and eventually referred also to the propriety or politene), Zhi (智, Knowledge), Xin (信, Integrity), and there is also the claical Sizi (四字) with four elements: Zhong (忠, Loyalty), Xiao (孝, Filial piety), Jie (節, Continency), Yi (義, Righteousne).There are still many other elements, such as Cheng (誠, honesty), Shu (恕, kindne and forgivene), Lian (廉, honesty and cleanne), Chi (恥, shame, judge and sense of right and wrong), Yong (勇, bravery), Wen (溫, kind and gentle), Liang (良, good, kindhearted), Gong (恭, respectful, reverent), Jian(儉, frugal), Rang (讓, modestly, self-effacing).Among all elements, Ren (Humanity) and Yi (Righteousne) are fundamental.Sometimes morality is interpreted as the phantom of Humanity and Righteousne.[3]
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