Home › Tourist Attractions › Chen Gang Academy in Zixing

Chen Gang Academy in Zixing

Category: Tourist Attractions 👁 100 views

Chen Gang is located in Xingning, Chenzhou, Hunan (now part of Zixing), also known as Chen Gang Study Hall. In the ninth year of the Xianchun era of the Song Dynasty (1273), local gentry Yuan Wenfu established it on a rocky hill “to accommodate the talented among his fellow villagers,” setting up an endowed estate to cover expenses. The teaching “focused primarily on academic advancement,” “to inspire their clan.” It was based on the principles of “distinguishing between righteousness and profit, understanding firmness and gentleness in terms of good and evil, restraining oneself and discarding selfishness to restore one’s innate sense of reason.” The academy produced many accomplished individuals and, along with the “Guanlan” built by the Cao family and the “Wenfeng” built by the Jiao family, was collectively known as the Three Academies of Chengshui. In the 30th year of the Yuanyou era of the Yuan Dynasty (1293), it was rebuilt, with a head instructor overseeing teaching and a manager in charge of finances. In the 30th year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1397), clan member and imperial censor Yuan Kejun relocated the academy to the northern side of Chen Gang Mountain. “The buildings were majestic, and the scale grand. All material costs amounted to over 300 strings of cash, all diligently raised by the clan,” while each family also contributed “according to their means, donating over 400 strings of cash” to acquire more land “as resources for education, maintenance, and repairs.” It was rebuilt in the ninth year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1670). Magistrate Geng Nianqu wrote the “Sequel Record of Chen Gang Academy” to “document the realities of the academy and its endowed estate.” It fell into disrepair during the Jiaqing era. In the second year of the Tongzhi era (1863), Magistrate Wan Shiruo, noting that academies privately controlled by single families or clans could not endure long, pooled the resources of the three academies to rebuild on the original site of Chen Gang, naming it “Chengshui” to “demonstrate impartiality.” A scholar from Guizhou, Shen Qinglian, wrote: “Retaining the site shows remembrance of the past; changing the name demonstrates impartiality... Furthermore, academies are often named after mountains, symbolizing the pursuit of truth in lofty surroundings. But this one uniquely takes its name from water... Observing the unceasing flow of Chengshui, one may grasp the flow of the Dao; observing its vastness, one may perceive the grandeur of literary tides; observing its boundless expanse, one may further comprehend the depth and breadth of learning.” In the 31st year of the Guangxu era (1905), Chengshui Academy was converted into Chengshui Advanced Primary School. In 1941, it was renamed Luming Township Central National Primary School, in 1951 it became Chen Gang Higher Primary School, and in 1969 it was demolished.

Overview Transport Tickets Specialties

Chen Gang is located in Xingning, Chenzhou, Hunan (now part of Zixing), also known as Chen Gang Study Hall. In the ninth year of the Xianchun era of the Song Dynasty (1273), local gentry Yuan Wenfu established it on a rocky hill “to accommodate the talented among his fellow villagers,” setting up an endowed estate to cover expenses. The teaching “focused primarily on academic advancement,” “to inspire their clan,” based on the principles of “distinguishing between righteousness and profit, understanding firmness and gentleness in terms of good and evil, restraining oneself and discarding selfishness to restore one’s innate sense of reason,” achieving great success. It was recognized alongside the “Guolan” built by the Cao family and the “Wenfeng” built by the Jiao family as one of the Three Academies of Chengshui. In 1293 (the 30th year of the Yuanyou era), it was rebuilt, with a head instructor managing teaching and a finance officer handling funds. In 1397 (the 30th year of the Hongwu era), clan member and imperial censor Yuan Kejun relocated the academy to the northern slope of Chen Gang Mountain. “The buildings were imposing and the layout grand. All construction materials cost over 300 strings of cash, all gathered through the full efforts of the clan,” while families also contributed “based on their financial capacity, donating over 400 strings of cash,” acquiring more land “as a resource for education and upkeep.” It was rebuilt in 1670 (the ninth year of the Kangxi era). County magistrate Geng Nianqu authored the “Continued Record of Chen Gang Academy” to “document the academy and its endowment estate.” It fell into ruin during the Jiaqing period. In 1863 (the second year of the Tongzhi era), magistrate Wan Shiruo, believing that academies owned by individual families or clans could not last long, combined the assets of the three academies to build a new one at the original Chen Gang site, naming it “Chengshui” to reflect “great impartiality.” A scholar from Guizhou, Shen Qinglian, remarked: “Keeping the site shows remembrance of the past; changing the name signifies impartiality... Moreover, most academies are named after mountains, symbolizing the pursuit of truth on lofty peaks. This one uniquely takes its name from water... Observing Chengshui’s ceaseless flow reveals the movement of the Dao; viewing its vastness reflects the grandeur of literary waves; gazing at its boundless reach teaches the depth and breadth of knowledge.” In 1905 (the 31st year of the Guangxu era), Chengshui Academy became Chengshui Advanced Primary School. In 1941, it was renamed Luming Township Central National Primary School, in 1951 it was called Chen Gang Higher Primary School, and in 1969 it was torn down.

It was said that in those days, if the sound of drums came from Chen Gang Ridge before exams, those taking them would surely pass. Coupled with the ancient trees and beautiful scenery of Chen Gang Ridge, it was included as one of the former Eight Scenic Spots of Zixing—“Chen Gang Responding to the Call.”

After Chen Gang Academy had disappeared from public view for about 40 years, on October 13, 2009, a joint team from the Chenzhou Cultural Relics Survey and the Zixing Cultural Relics Survey discovered an academy stele in Yangtian Village, Liaojian Town, Zixing. Preliminary research identified it as the “Chen Gang Academy Stele.” This is currently the earliest discovered academy stele in Chenzhou, dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty, approximately 800 years ago. The stele is large, standing 1.8 meters high and 1 meter wide, and is well-preserved. Carved in the sixth year of the Dade era of the Yuan Dynasty (1302), it is a commemorative stele notable for its exquisite calligraphy. It holds significant importance for the study of the cultural and educational history of Zixing and even Chenzhou during that time.