Linjiang Academy

　　The “Linjiang Academy” was originally located on West Street within the old Zhaohua City (now Zhaohua Middle School), surrounded by mountains such as Niutou, Qutou, Yinping, and Shiku, with towering, majestic peaks; further adorned by the Qingjiang and Baishui rivers, which flow gently like ribbons into the Jialing River. With its beautiful landscape and abundant natural charm, the academy was built at the foot of Xishan Mountain. Overlooking the steep cliffs and gazing down at the surging river, it thus earned the name “Linjiang Academy” (Academy by the River). In the 38th year of the Qianlong reign (1773 AD), the surveillance commissioner Mr. Zha Jiantang passed by, admired the picturesque mountain scenery and clear waters, and renamed it “Congling Academy” (Green Ridge Academy). Due to the terrain and mountain features, it was later successively renamed “Fengshan Academy” (Phoenix Mountain Academy) and “Longmen Academy” (Dragon Gate Academy).

　　In the 3rd year of the Qianlong reign (1738 AD), County Magistrate Cheng Yuqing allocated over 400 taels of silver to construct more than 30 warehouses. However, as there were no grain supplies to store, in the 23rd year of the Qianlong reign (1757 AD), County Magistrate Wu Bang...

　　...led local gentry and citizens in advocating for donations. He personally donated 200 taels first, and together they raised a total of 1,500 taels. These funds were used to transform the original warehouses into an inner hall with three rooms, a lecture hall with three rooms, two side gates with three rooms, and eight rooms for both inner and outer study halls—thus forming the academy.

　　The academy was overseen by the headmaster (equivalent to today’s principal), who was appointed by the county magistrate from among respected individuals. The headmaster then hired renowned, upright (in the Qing Dynasty, those with poor conduct could not serve as teachers), morally noble, and highly knowledgeable licentiates or juren (successful candidates in the imperial examinations) to serve as faculty. In the 18th year of the Qianlong reign (1753 AD), Jin Tang licentiate He Ji was hired as the instructor, and in the 22nd year (1757 AD), Xuyong licentiate Pu Lide was employed as the academy’s teacher.

　　Students were admitted to the academy free of charge. Among them were shengyuan (successful candidates in the preliminary examinations) who had passed the prefectural exams and entered the academy to focus on studying the “Four Books and Five Classics” in preparation for the provincial exams. There were also child students who had passed the county-level exams and joined the academy; their curriculum still centered on the “Four Books and Five Classics,” supplemented by Zhu Xi’s “Collected Commentaries on the Four Books.” Student members primarily practiced essay writing, mainly following the “Collected Commentaries” for exposition and not allowed to express ideas freely. The writing style was the “eight-legged essay.” They were also required to compose poetry and practice matching couplets, actively preparing for the imperial examinations. The educational mission of the academy was: to repay imperial grace above, cultivate personal virtue below, bring honor to one’s lineage, and aspire to become loyal officials. It aimed to nurture talents who would serve the ruling class.

　　According to the old “Zhaohua Annals”: the academy’s funding relied on two sources—educational estates and donations—hence its simplicity. It was not until the 19th year of the Daoguang reign (1839 AD) that Acting Magistrate Mao Shiji converted the academy into an examination hall, providing students with a proper venue for tests. This academy still stands today.