Longchuan Examination Shed

Longchuan Examination Shed

The Longchuan Examination Shed is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

The so-called examination shed, also known as a Gongyuan, was the site of imperial examinations during ancient China’s civil service selection system, usually established only in major prefectures or counties. The Longchuan Examination Shed was built in the second year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1876), located at the west gate of Tuocheng Town, Longchuan County. It features a two-courtyard, quadrangle-style layout with a brick-and-timber beam structure, covering an area of approximately 6,000 square meters. Currently, only two examination halls, one office building, and one residential building remain.

According to local historical records, the Longchuan Examination Shed, located at the west gate of Tuocheng Town, Longchuan County, was built in the second year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1876) and has a history of 134 years. Among the 204 extant academies and 14 examination sheds in China, only in Hebei’s Dingzhou, Guangdong’s Longchuan, Yunnan’s Jianshui, Anhui’s Jixi, and Taiwan’s Taipei can both the academy and examination shed be found together. At present, Guangdong only retains the Longchuan Examination Shed in Tuocheng, which is also the most well-preserved imperial examination site in northeastern Guangdong. Since the new examination shed was built in Longchuan during the Guangxu reign, the annual provincial imperial examinations were held here, attracting great activity. Scholars from many nearby counties such as Heyuan, Heping, Lianping, Zijin, Xingning, and Wuhua came here to take the exams. Experts have confirmed that the Longchuan Examination Shed is the only remaining examination facility in northeastern Guangdong and provides valuable physical evidence for studying the imperial examination system of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Originally, there was a stone carving of “a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate” in front of the Longchuan Examination Shed, now housed in the Cultural Heritage Office of Tuocheng. It is considered a very precious artifact among existing records. According to written sources, it was carved from red granite, and on its reverse side is a crouching qilin (mythical Chinese creature).

Tuocheng Town in Longchuan County also has a Confucius Temple built in the seventh year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, also known as the Gongyuan. In traditional Chinese culture, a Confucius Temple is a place for public worship of Confucius and the management of Confucian studies. Historical records confirm that education in Longchuan began as early as the pre-Qin period (before 221 BC). The ancestors of the renowned scholar Huo Long migrated from Wu to Yue and settled in Longchuan. Huo Long revered Confucian teachings and spread Central Plains culture, which had a profound influence on the scholarly tradition of Longchuan.

The history of establishing a Gongyuan in Longchuan dates back to the Tang Dynasty, when studying Confucian classics had become fashionable. By the seventh year of the Kangxi reign in the Qing Dynasty (1668), the current Gongyuan was constructed on Xueqian Street in Tuocheng Town. At that time, the Gongyuan was a grand architectural complex, spanning more than 7,000 square meters, and consisting of over ten structures including a screen wall, corridors, the Golden Water Bridge, the Dacheng Hall, the Zunjing Pavilion, and the martial arts training hall. Its construction took decades to complete.

Longchuan’s emphasis on education led to remarkable success in the imperial examinations in ancient times. Statistics show that from the Tang and Song dynasties onward, Longchuan produced 28 successful imperial examination candidates (Jinshi), 112 provincial degree holders (Juren), and over 2,000 local degree holders (Xiusheng). The strong influence of Confucian culture has added deep cultural richness to Tuocheng in Longchuan.

On December 10, 2015, the Longchuan Examination Shed was approved and announced by the People's Government of Guangdong Province as part of the eighth batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Tuocheng Town: Located at the southernmost tip of Longchuan County, Tuocheng Town has a history of 2,221 years and is one of the first historical and cultural towns in Guangdong Province. It has long been a hub of political, economic, and cultural activities in Longchuan County. The town covers a total area of 218 square kilometers, governs 17 administrative villages and one neighborhood committee, with a total population of 43,218. In 2006, the town achieved a gross domestic product of 260 million yuan. With a long history and many historic sites, the town’s agriculture mainly focuses on developing three pillar industries: aquaculture, fruit, and vegetables. It boasts abundant natural resources and several county-level cultural relics protection units… Detailed information about Tuocheng Town++

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units