Huang Daozhou's Lecture Hall

Huang Daozhou's Lecture Hall

Huang Daozhou's Lecture Hall is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Fujian Province.

Huang Daozhou's Lecture Hall, located in front of Shizhai Village on the eastern outskirts of Zhangpu County, was the former residence and teaching site of Huang Daozhou, known as Donggao Shushe. In the 17th year of the Chongzhen era (1644), when the Ming Dynasty fell, it was renovated and renamed "Mingcheng Hall" to express his loyalty. In 1646, when Huang Daozhou died for his country, the Southern Ming Emperor Longwu bestowed upon it the title "Wenming Academy."

Huang Daozhou (1585-1646) was a master of Neo-Confucianism during the transition from the Ming to the Qing Dynasty, combining expertise in the I Ching, philosophy, and calligraphy and painting. He lectured in Fuzhou, Dadi Mountain in Yuhang, Zhangpu, and other places, attracting scholars from all over. The Huang Daozhou Lecture Hall in Zhangzhou is located in Shizhai Village, Suian Town, Zhangpu County. Originally named Donggao Shushe, also known as Mingcheng Hall or Wenming Academy, it was first built in the 37th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1609). The current structure was rebuilt in the 17th year of the Chongzhen era (1644). With funding from disciples and friends, Huang Daozhou converted the study into Mingcheng Hall, which was completed in March of that year. On March 10, Huang Daozhou presided over a lecture conference attended by hundreds of people at Mingcheng Hall.

Covering an area of 1,058 square meters, Huang Daozhou's Lecture Hall faces south and features a central axis layout comprising an entrance hall, courtyard, corridor, and main hall. The building is five bays wide, with the main hall extending three bays deep. It uses a post-and-lintel wooden structure with stone bases and wooden pillars supporting the load, topped with a gable-and-hip roof. The eaves corridor has a coffered ceiling. A couplet at the entrance hall, “One must see the heart of heaven and earth only after being stripped bare; how could I be content with pleasure farming the land while rejoicing in the Way of Yao and Shun,” was written by Huang Daozhou himself. The main building is enclosed by walls, with a hanging flower gate on the southeast side and a well on the southwest side.

The courtyard is 9.5 meters deep and 9.8 meters wide. The corridor is supported by four pillars, with a stone disc placed in the center, known as the Tianfang Pan (Heavenly Square Plate), highlighting its role as the main structure, surrounded by auxiliary buildings. The Tianfang Pan is square, measuring 3.78 meters on each side. Its surface is inscribed with over ten thousand small squares and eight concentric circles. The grid and circles intersect intricately, giving it a mysterious appearance. It was created by Huang Daozhou himself to interpret the I Ching and is associated with his works I Xiang Zheng (The Correct Images of the I Ching) and San Yi Dong Ji (The Profound Pivot of the Three I Chings). However, the mysteries of its design remain unsolved to this day.

The lecture hall served as the primary site where Huang Daozhou taught, lectured, and wrote after the age of 25. Due to his great patriotic spirit, it received official protection after the Qing Dynasty took power and was used for annual spring and autumn worship ceremonies. In 1961, it was listed among the first batch of provincial-level key cultural heritage sites. The Huang Daozhou Memorial Hall was established here, making it an important cultural and tourist destination in Zhangpu County.

In October 2019, Huang Daozhou's Lecture Hall was designated by the State Council as part of the eighth batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites.

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites