"Scholars of Neo-Confucianism" Archway

"Scholars of Neo-Confucianism" Archway

The "Scholars of Neo-Confucianism" Archway is located in Xinju Natural Village, Nan'an Village, Yangxi Town, Anfu County, Ji'an City, Jiangxi Province, historically known as Lijiang. The Liu family residing here were relatives of Zou Shouyi (whose name is inscribed on the China Millennium Monument in Beijing), a renowned scholar of Neo-Confucianism, educator, and the third-place scholar (Tan Hua) in the imperial examination of the sixth year of the Zhengde era. The inscription reads: "The sixth year of Zhengde, the year of Xinwei, on a propitious winter day", and "Bestowed scholar, top scholar, Tan Hua, and third-place scholar, Zou Shouyi, in the year of kinship, erected this for the scholars of Neo-Confucianism, the Lijiang relatives Liu Tang, Liu Di, Liu Xiang, and Liu Gai." The existing structure is a Qing Dynasty reconstruction of the gatehouse, which has been repaired through the generations.

The discovery of the "Scholars of Neo-Confucianism" Archway building holds significant importance for the study of the spread of Neo-Confucianism.

The "Scholars of Neo-Confucianism" Archway is approximately 8.9 meters high, 14.9 meters long, and 9.41 meters wide, covering an area of 136.19 square meters. It faces south and is built with a brick-and-wood structure, housing two empty rooms inside. In front is an open plaza and a feng shui pond, while at the back it leans against the Liu ancestral hall of Xin Lijiang, with residential houses on both sides. The feng shui here is considered excellent. Legend has it that this branch of the Liu family relocated here from their old residence after being massacred during resistance against the Yuan Dynasty.