Qishan Academy

Qishan Academy

Qishan Academy, located on the opposite bank of the river from the Grand Theater. The plaque hanging above the academy’s main gate bears the four large characters “Qishan Academy,” inscribed by the renowned Chinese calligrapher Teacher Li Hui.

The academy is essentially today’s school. It gradually evolved from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties to become what we now know as schools. The difference is that in the past, lecturers, instructors, and teachers were referred to as such, but are now called teachers.

The people of Weng’an have always placed great importance on education. As early as the Ming and Qing dynasties, there was an institution called “Qishan Academy.” The Republican-era *Weng’an County Annals* recorded: “Today’s schools are yesterday’s academies. Weng’an once had Qishan Academy…”. The Qing-era *Sangzi’s Collected Accounts* by Fu Yushu noted: “Qishan Academy is located to the northwest of the county. Magistrate Han Yong, Instructor Jin Hui, and Teaching Assistant Wu Tianchun, together with local gentry who donated funds, built three lecture halls, six study rooms, and one main gate on the former site in front of the Wenchang Pavilion. Now in ruins, the Minglun Hall and the corridors of the Confucian temple serve as lecture spaces.”

Why is it called “Qishan Academy”? Qishan is a fairly well-known peak within Weng’an County, named for its resemblance to a flag due to its shape. Mr. Fu Yushu’s *Sangzi’s Collected Accounts* records: “Qishan, also known as Chuanyan, is about five li southeast of the city, with a cave at the summit.”

Qishan Academy has a rather literary atmosphere. As early as the Ming dynasty, the poet Zhu Yingzheng wrote in his poem “Qishan”: “Protecting the town, the green ridges open askew and wondrously; ascending the tower, all point to the Top Scholar’s flag. The spring breeze brushes so lush and green — it is precisely the time when literary banners are raised.”

The architecture of Qishan Academy still belongs to the Huizhou style, though it follows the specifications of ancestral halls of wealthy families during the Ming and Qing periods. It was later donated as an academy for local teaching purposes. Qishan Academy has a depth of 58.3 meters, a width of 32.4 meters, covering an area of 1,888.92 square meters. It is 12.2 meters high; the main gate is 4.1 meters high and 4.6 meters wide; the front courtyard is 15.3 meters long and 15.3 meters wide; the rear courtyard is 11.3 meters long and 15.3 meters wide; the platform inside the academy is 10.6 meters long and 11.05 meters wide.

The main gate of Qishan Academy is designed in the form of a “Five Phoenix Tower,” with the beam above the door called a “curved beam,” carved with wooden reliefs depicting the “Four Arts” (qin, qi, shu, hua – zither, chess, calligraphy, painting). Above the “curved beam” is carved the story “The Grand Tutor Admires the Painting.”

Inside the central hall of Qishan Academy, there is also a 0, because the builders enshrined a statue of a bodhisattva, this bodhisattva is called “Wenchang Star,” so we might as well call it the “Wenchang Star” Pavilion.

Qishan Academy displays exhibits reflecting the long-standing history and culture of Weng’an County, comprehensively showcasing the profound heritage and continuity of Chinese civilization. It is organized around five major cultural halls: the “Auditorium,” “Lecture Hall,” “School Hall,” “Essence Hall,” and “Exhibition Hall.” It is rich in cultural atmosphere, well-founded and credible, offering much to see and reflect upon. It allows dialogue with the ancients and interaction with culture.

Weng’an Caotang Millennium Ancient Town

Ancient Town Grand Theater

Qianshan Jinshi Tower