Duanming Academy

Duanming Academy

Duanming Academy is located at the eastern foot of Mount Wu'an and was where Wang Yingchen, a grand scholar of the Duanming era in the Song Dynasty, lectured. Wang Yingchen was a native of Yushan. In the fifth year of the Shaoxing reign (1135) during the Song Dynasty, he passed the imperial examination as the top scholar (zhuangyuan) and was bestowed the name Yingchen by imperial decree. At that time, the Jin army was invading from the north and threatening the Southern Song. Qin Hui, who held significant power, sought peace negotiations with the Jin. Wang Yingchen strongly advocated resisting the Jin and submitted candid memorials to the emperor. Qin Hui was greatly displeased and spread slanderous accusations, leading to Wang Yingchen’s demotion. After Emperor Xiaozong ascended the throne, he admired Wang Yingchen’s character and talent, appointing him to reform court malpractices. Wang Yingchen achieved remarkable political accomplishments, rising to the position of Hanlin Academician of the Duanming Hall, was ennobled as the Marquis of Yushan and later promoted to the Marquis of Shangrao. In his later years, he returned to his hometown to teach, established Duanming Academy, and endowed it with educational fields. In the fifty-seventh year of the Qianlong reign, Duanming Academy was relocated to the site of the former Suihan Hermitage (to the left of Puning Temple) at the eastern foot of Mount Wu'an, south of the Bingxi River. The academy had three rooms on each side, with the lecture hall at the front facing the Bingxi River. Inside the gate, the left side housed the imperial examination storage room, and the right side the administrative office. Behind the two corridors were five study rooms each, and in the northwest corner, there were four more study rooms. The academy was later destroyed twice and underwent several reconstructions. Its current scale remains largely preserved, with most of the structures still standing.

Wang Yingchen (1118–1176), originally named Yang, with the courtesy name Shengxi, was a native of Yushan in Xinzhou (present-day Yushan County, Jiangxi Province). He was an official, poet, and essayist of the Southern Song Dynasty. He was born in the first year of the Zhenghe reign during the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song and died in the third year of the Chunxi reign during the reign of Emperor Xiaozong, at the age of fifty-nine.

Wang Yingchen was a child prodigy known for his exceptional intelligence. By the age of five, he could read and spontaneously compose couplets that amazed those around him. Coming from a poor family, he often borrowed books from others and had a photographic memory. He became the top scholar (zhuangyuan) at just eighteen years old. During the palace examination, Emperor Gaozong questioned him on governance, the strength of the people, and military affairs. Wang Yingchen responded that the foundation of good governance lies in utmost sincerity, stating that “the key to governance… More details about Wang Yingchen++