Nanxi Academy

Nanxi Academy

Nanxi Academy is located at the foot of Gongshan Mountain, south of Youxi County.

As a provincial-level cultural heritage site and the birthplace of Zhu Xi, Zhu Xi was born here in the fourth year of the Jianyan era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1130). In the first year of the Jiari era (1237), buildings such as the Wengong Shrine, Weizhai Shrine, Half-Mu Square Pond, and Zundao Hall were constructed to enshrine the Zhu family father and son. Later, Emperor Lizong of the Song Dynasty conferred the name “Nanxi Academy.” During the Yuan Dynasty, two separate shrines were built, and the site underwent multiple renovations and expansions after the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The academy is simple and solemn, covering a construction area of 1,000 square meters, and includes structures such as the Weizhai Shrine, Guanshu Di (Study Hall), Yuxiu Fang (Elegant Talent Archway), and Yuxiu Ting (Elegant Talent Pavilion). In the main hall stands a plaster statue of Zhu Xi, flanked by four plaques inscribed with his calligraphy: “Studying is the foundation for building a family; Harmony is the foundation for managing a family; Thrift is the foundation for governing a family; Following principles is the foundation for safeguarding a family.” The surrounding walls display portraits of eight generations of Zhu Xi’s ancestors. The square pond within the academy was where Zhu Xi studied as a child. In his poem “Reflections on Reading,” Zhu Xi wrote: “A half-acre square pond opens like a mirror; the light of sky and clouds linger together. How can it be so clear? Because it has a constant spring of fresh water.” The “half-acre square pond” mentioned in the poem refers to this very place. To the left of the courtyard stand two ancient camphor trees over 30 meters tall, with trunk circumferences of 10.8 meters and 7.8 meters respectively. Legend says they were planted by Zhu Xi in his childhood and are known as the “Shenlang Camphor Trees.”

Nearby, there is also a stone stele inscribed with the words “Weizhai Old Administration,” handwritten by Zhu Xi when he returned to Youxi in the seventh year of the Qiandao era of the Song Dynasty (1171) and recarved in the early years of the Republic of China. The stele is about 2 meters long and 0.7 meters wide, featuring powerful and dynamic brush strokes.