The Site of the Hanlin Academy

The Site of the Hanlin Academy

The Site of the Hanlin Academy is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Site of the Hanlin Academy is located south of East Chang’an Avenue in Beijing today, within —. Originally, this site was the former location of the Ming Dynasty’s Honglu Temple. In the seventh year of the Zhengtong era (1442), the Hanlin Academy was established here. In the early Qing Dynasty, the Hanlin Academy was incorporated into the Three Inner Courts. During the Kangxi reign, it was rebuilt on the original Ming site and designated as a third-rank government office. From the Yongzheng era onward, the Hanlin Academy became an important national institution for cultivating talent. Emperor Yongzheng once said: “In establishing government offices and assigning official duties, the selection of Hanlin scholars is conducted with particular care. Only those of upright character and pure scholarship are deemed worthy of the position, so as not to disgrace their office. This is how we nurture talent for the imperial libraries and cultivate future ministers and chancellors.” To demonstrate their esteem for the Hanlin Academy, Qing emperors often held banquets there with princes, ministers, and —, instructing relevant departments in advance to prepare settings such as thrones and musical instruments. On these occasions, they would compose poetry with the princes and ministers to commemorate the event. The stone stele shown in the photo above was left behind after Emperor Jiaqing’s visit.