Zhu Xi Cultural Park

Zhu Xi Cultural Park

Zhu Xi Cultural Park is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

The Zhu Xi Cultural Park scenic area is situated in Shuinan, Chengguan Town, Youxi County. Youxi County has a long history, profound cultural heritage, and numerous historical relics, and is the county seat. It is the birthplace of Zhu Xi, a celebrated Neo-Confucian scholar and educator of the Southern Song Dynasty, and is known as the "Pearl of Central Fujian." Zhu Xi, courtesy name Yuanhui, was one of ancient China’s most eminent philosophers, thinkers, and educators, as well as an accomplished poet and litterateur. He synthesized the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, creating an extensive and profound system of Neo-Confucian philosophy that exerted tremendous influence on Chinese and East Asian societies for over seven hundred years after the Southern Song Dynasty. Renowned for his vast knowledge and noble character, he stands as another great Eastern cultural sage—after Confucius—who made remarkable contributions to the history of human thought.

The Zhu Xi Cultural Park covers a total land area of 44,000 square meters, with a total construction area of approximately 14,600 square meters. Its main structures include Shenlang Camphor, Wengong Shrine, Weizhai Shrine, Banmu Square Pond, Guanshu Mansion, Yi Yi Site, Kaishan Academy, the Museum, the Zhu Xi Gallery relief sculptures, Huaguo Islet, and Qingyin Stone. It has now become a sacred tourist destination in the central inland region of Fujian, steeped in rich Zhu Xi cultural ambiance. The architectural style primarily features traditional-style buildings, with distinctive upturned eaves inspired by local design—the “Dragon Tongue Swallowtail Ridge.” In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, this design also offers practical benefits, such as lightning dissipation. The Zhu Xi Cultural Park scenic area mainly consists of:

① Zhu Xi Culture Garden. Covering a land area of 2,300 square meters and a total construction area of 7,316 square meters, it is the first “Museum of Chinese Ming and Qing Dynasty Plaques” in the country, primarily housing over 1,500 plaques from the Ming and Qing periods, along with more than 1,000 pairs of central hall couplets. As one of the six construction projects of Zhu Xi Park, the Zhu Xi Culture Garden is a new type of cultural-tourism destination that integrates modern cultural experiences with the inheritance of traditional culture, focusing on sightseeing, cultural exploration, leisure, experiential travel, and religious tourism.

② Museum. The Youxi County Museum covers a land area of 3,605 square meters and a total construction area of 7,324 square meters. Established in May 1985, it is recognized as a Patriotic Education Base by the Fujian Provincial Party Committee and Government, a Second-Class Qualified Museum in Fujian Province, and an Advanced Unit in Rural Cultural Construction by the Publicity Department of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee. The museum houses five exhibition halls: the “Zhu Xi Sacred Traces Colored Sculpture Hall,” “Zhu Xi Life Exhibition Hall,” “Minjun Lu Department Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall,” “Cultural Relics Fine Works Exhibition Hall,” and “Red Soviet Area Exhibition Hall.” The exhibits include nearly 700 precious cultural relics such as Neolithic, Shang-Zhou, and Song Dynasty artifacts, jade articles, and pottery, as well as around 200 items such as Red Soviet Area relics, Zhu Xi-related items, and Minjun Lu Department relics.

③ Zhu Xi Statue Square. The statue of Zhu Xi stands 9.15 meters tall, symbolizing his birth on the 15th day of the ninth lunar month. The statue faces south while its back is to the north, with an overall height of 13.55 meters, including a base that is 3.9 meters high—representing the date of Zhu Xi’s death on the ninth day of the third lunar month in 1200—and a foundation that is 0.5 meters high, symbolizing the age of five when Zhu Xi began primary school. This statue was designed by artist Ye Zonghao, who previously served as a First-Class Artist at the Jiangsu Art Museum and Director of the Jiangsu Oil Painting and Sculpture Institute.

④ Nanxi Academy. The predecessor of Nanxi Academy was the Shuinan Villa of Zheng Andao (Yizhai). The entire architectural complex consists of a two-courtyard, double-eave, hip-and-gable roof wooden structure. The main structures, in sequence, include Kaishan Academy, Weizhai Shrine, Yi Yi Site, Wengong Shrine, Banmu Square Pond, Huoshui Pavilion, and Zhenshan Academy. Based on the historical layout and current conditions, the designed landscape includes: restoring the neighborhood streets in front of the academy; reviving Huagu Islet and Qingyin Stone along the waterfront; reconstructing the Banmu Square Pond and Huoshui Pavilion within the academy according to the adjusted architectural layout; and arranging a small square in front of Yuxiu Pavilion for worship.

⑤ Kaishan Academy. As one of the important architectural complexes of Nanxi Academy, Kaishan Academy features a bamboo-lined pathway characteristic of Youxi at its entrance. The building itself is a three-courtyard, single-eave, hip-and-gable roof wooden structure, while the mountain gate is a double-eave, hanging-hip roof wooden structure. The main purpose of Kaishan Academy was to disseminate Zhu Xi’s teachings and orthodox Confucian doctrines in ancient times.

Zhu Xi, courtesy name Yuanhui (later changed to Zhonghui), art name Hui’an, also known as Ziyang, was originally from Wuyuan, Jiangxi, but was born in Youxi, Fujian. His father, Zhu Song, served as the magistrate of Youxi County during the fifth year of the Xuanhe era of the Song Dynasty (1123) and, after completing his term, took up residence at the guesthouse of Zheng Andao in Shuinan. On September 15 of the fourth year of the Jianyan era (1130), Zhu Xi was born. From a young age, Zhu Xi was intelligent and studious. At the age of seven, he moved with his parents to Jianzhou (now Jian’ou, Fujian). At fourteen, following his father’s dying wish, he went to live with his friends Hu Xian and Liu Mianzhi in Chongan County. Hu and Liu treated Zhu Xi like their own nephew, arranged for his living needs, and taught him earnestly. Liu Mianzhi even married his daughter to Zhu Xi. … More details about Zhu Xi ++