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Where learning takes pride of historical place
By Zhang Qian |
June 11, 2009, Thursday
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OVER 1,000 years Wansong School was abandoned, destroyed and rebuilt several times. The present Wansong School was rebuilt in 2001 on the exact site of the original school. Zhang Qian looks at a unique establishment.
The Wansong School on the Wansong Ridge of Fenghuang Mountain enjoys a wondrous view of the West Lake in the north, Qiantang River in the south, and the luxuriant pine trees on the mountain.
The school used to be the Bao'en Temple and was built around 785-804 AD in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It became a school in 1498 in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and later became one of the biggest academic centers in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1644-1911).
Like all the other Chinese schools in ancient times, Wansong had three major functions - teaching, sacrificing and collecting books. Famous scholars like Wang Yangming, an idealist neo-Confucian philosopher of the Ming Dynasty, and Qi Zhaonan, a famous geographer of the Qing Dynasty, all lectured at the school. Both the emperors Kangxi and Qianlong visited the school during their inspections and granted boards to the school.
Throughout the years the school was abandoned, destroyed and rebuilt several times. The present Wansong School covers 50,000 square meters and was rebuilt in 2001 on the exact site of the original school with a Ming Dynasty design.
Three decorated archways meet you when you enter the school displaying the three historical phases of the school. Wansong School, Fuwen School and Taihe School, the three different names of the school from different times are written on the archways. The three archways are placed in a pattern similar to the Chinese character pin (character and moral), to remind students that we have to keep moral standing in mind whether we are men or officials.
The Yangsheng Gate meets visitors after passing through the archways, and the Yucui Gate sits right behind. Yucui means cultivating people so they become knowledgeable and virtuous. The Yangsheng Gate reminds students to dress tidily and to respect Confucius every time they enter the school, while the Yucui Gate promotes the school's motto.
Go upstairs for a bit and you will come to the schoolroom - the Mingdao Hall. In ancient times students used to attend classes here but now it is a museum of the imperial examinations in ancient China. Scenes of students studying, candidates taking exams and the students waiting for the list of the top candidates are pictured with clay models and paintings, recreating history from hundreds of years ago.
The side rooms attached to the hall used to be the dormitories for the students. The Dacheng Palace where Confucius is worshipped sits behind the Mingdao Hall with more stairs to climb. A statue of Confucius sits in the middle while the other four saints Yanzi, Zengzi, Zisi and Mengzi (Mencius) surround him. Frescos on the wall tell the story of Confucius' life. Steles copying the granted boards from emperors Kangxi and Qianlong are placed in pavilions in the front.
As well as being an academic center in the olden days, Wansong School is also a place of romance. Scholars say that Wansong School is very likely the school where Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, the Oriental Romeo and Juliet, studied together. That's where their romantic yet tragic love story began.
Yuxiu Pavilion, a small quadrangle, was built in the Ming Dynasty and used to be a reception center for scholars from all over the country. Now it has become a memorial for Liang and Zhu. Wooden statues re-act the scenes of the lovers studying together.
Regular performances of traditional Chinese dancing and ritual ceremonies are staged to give visitors more insight into the traditional culture of scholars.
Address: 76 Wansongling Rd
Tel: (0571) 8607-9490
The Wansong School on the Wansong Ridge of Fenghuang Mountain enjoys a wondrous view of the West Lake in the north, Qiantang River in the south, and the luxuriant pine trees on the mountain.
The school used to be the Bao'en Temple and was built around 785-804 AD in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It became a school in 1498 in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and later became one of the biggest academic centers in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1644-1911).
Like all the other Chinese schools in ancient times, Wansong had three major functions - teaching, sacrificing and collecting books. Famous scholars like Wang Yangming, an idealist neo-Confucian philosopher of the Ming Dynasty, and Qi Zhaonan, a famous geographer of the Qing Dynasty, all lectured at the school. Both the emperors Kangxi and Qianlong visited the school during their inspections and granted boards to the school.
Throughout the years the school was abandoned, destroyed and rebuilt several times. The present Wansong School covers 50,000 square meters and was rebuilt in 2001 on the exact site of the original school with a Ming Dynasty design.
Three decorated archways meet you when you enter the school displaying the three historical phases of the school. Wansong School, Fuwen School and Taihe School, the three different names of the school from different times are written on the archways. The three archways are placed in a pattern similar to the Chinese character pin (character and moral), to remind students that we have to keep moral standing in mind whether we are men or officials.
The Yangsheng Gate meets visitors after passing through the archways, and the Yucui Gate sits right behind. Yucui means cultivating people so they become knowledgeable and virtuous. The Yangsheng Gate reminds students to dress tidily and to respect Confucius every time they enter the school, while the Yucui Gate promotes the school's motto.
Go upstairs for a bit and you will come to the schoolroom - the Mingdao Hall. In ancient times students used to attend classes here but now it is a museum of the imperial examinations in ancient China. Scenes of students studying, candidates taking exams and the students waiting for the list of the top candidates are pictured with clay models and paintings, recreating history from hundreds of years ago.
The side rooms attached to the hall used to be the dormitories for the students. The Dacheng Palace where Confucius is worshipped sits behind the Mingdao Hall with more stairs to climb. A statue of Confucius sits in the middle while the other four saints Yanzi, Zengzi, Zisi and Mengzi (Mencius) surround him. Frescos on the wall tell the story of Confucius' life. Steles copying the granted boards from emperors Kangxi and Qianlong are placed in pavilions in the front.
As well as being an academic center in the olden days, Wansong School is also a place of romance. Scholars say that Wansong School is very likely the school where Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, the Oriental Romeo and Juliet, studied together. That's where their romantic yet tragic love story began.
Yuxiu Pavilion, a small quadrangle, was built in the Ming Dynasty and used to be a reception center for scholars from all over the country. Now it has become a memorial for Liang and Zhu. Wooden statues re-act the scenes of the lovers studying together.
Regular performances of traditional Chinese dancing and ritual ceremonies are staged to give visitors more insight into the traditional culture of scholars.
Address: 76 Wansongling Rd
Tel: (0571) 8607-9490
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