Site of Chongwen Academy

Site of Chongwen Academy

The site of Chongwen Academy is located on the hill behind Yangkengkou Village, Daxibian Township · Southern Song Dynasty to Qing Dynasty · First Batch of County-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units. According to the Guangxu-era "Kaihua County Annals": “Xiyang (West Rock), sixty li north of the county, rises over ten ren in height and is twice as wide; a thin stream of clear spring water drips ceaselessly from the cave ceiling. On the left side, there is a small opening through which light shines inward. By crouching low, one can enter dozens of steps, entering into a completely different realm. It extends more than five zhang deep, and if you look up, you can see the sky. The Junior Supervisor Cheng Ju often lived in seclusion here. During the Tongzhi era, Chongwen Academy was built in front of the rock.” Tang Zhaoxi wrote a poem: “Striding through autumn fields in straw hat and clogs, / A natural cottage forms by the rocky wall. / Where is the ancient cave hidden amid clouds and mist? / A solitary crane laments in the empty mountain with feeling. / This place suits well an old man’s leisurely sway, / Best to teach and nurture the students here. / I still recall events from childhood days, / With lamplight at midnight and moonlight at dawn.” Now, only ruins and broken walls remain of Chongwen Academy. Inside the cave, stone pedestals and tables can be found, with the reign title of the Guangxu era of the Great Qing carved on the stone table. Cheng Ju, styled Zhidao (1077–1144), was a scholar of the Southern Song Dynasty and a native of Beiyuan Village (now Changhong Township). He authored works such as Lin Tai Gu Shi (Stories of the Forest Terrace) and Beishan Xiao Ji (Small Collection of the Northern Mountain), all of which are included in the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries.

Daxibian Township: A township under the jurisdiction of Kaihua County. Established in 1950 as Daxibian Township, it was renamed Shengli Township in 1956, became the Daxibian Management Area of Cuntou Commune in 1958, was reorganized as a commune in 1961, and reverted to township status in 1983. Located in the northeastern part of the county, it is 21.8 kilometers from the county seat. Covering an area of 40.2 square kilometers, it has a population of 8,000. The Diben-Daqiaotou Highway passes through the area. It administers twelve village committees: Dongshan, Daxibian, Yangkeng, Yangkengkou, Kan Shang, Dun Shang, Dun Xia, Dawukou, Shang An, Yueling, Chaitang, and Gongyu. The main agricultural products are rice, wheat, and tea. The area is rich in silkworm cocoons and citrus fruits. … More detailed information about Daxibian Township ++