The Development History of Confucius Temple and imperial academy Museum in Beijing

The Confucius Temple covers an area of 22,000 square meters and has three courtyards. The buildings on the central axis are Shoushimen, Dachengmen, Dachengdian and Chongshengdian in turn. On the east side of the front yard, there are stele pavilions, chefs, provincial sacrifice pavilions and well pavilions. To the west, there is a pavilion of steles, a place of fasting and a gate of worship, which is connected with imperial academy. On both sides, there are inscriptions on 198 of three generations of scholars, Ming and Invited, which can contain the names, places of origin and rankings of 5 1624 scholars, and are valuable materials for studying the imperial examination system in China. Outside the gate of Dacheng, there is the Qianlong Stone Drum and two related Qing Dynasty stone tablets. The main buildings of the Intermediate People's Court are the East and West and the 13 Imperial Monument Pavilion; Chongsheng Temple in the backyard became an independent courtyard and assembled into a complete ancient building complex of Confucius Temple in Beijing.

Imperial academy is the highest institution of higher learning and the highest educational administrative institution established in Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, also known as "Imperial College" and "Chinese Studies". It was built from the Yuan Dynasty to the 24th year of Yuan Dynasty (AD 1287). In the Ming Dynasty, a large-scale renovation and expansion was carried out in Yongle. In the forty-eight years of Qing Qianlong, a group of royal buildings named "Biyong" was added, which formed the current regulations. The whole building in imperial academy faces south, and it is a courtyard with three entrances, covering an area of more than 27,000 square meters. The glass archways of Jixian Gate (gate) and Taixue Gate (gate 2), Biyong Hall, Yilun Hall and Jingyi Pavilion are arranged on the central axis in turn. In ancient times, students studying in imperial academy were called "Jianzi". Imperial academy not only accepts students from all ethnic groups in China, but also accepts foreign students, which has played an active role in cultivating talents from all ethnic groups in China and promoting cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. The main building in imperial academy is still well-preserved after more than 700 years, and it is the only well-preserved ancient ruins of the highest institution of higher learning. Imperial academy has a long history, unique architectural style and profound cultural connotation. Tracing back to the history of Confucius Temple, it has a long history. According to historical records, the year after Lu Aigong's death (478 BC), Lu Aigong ordered the construction of a temple in the former residence of Confucius in Qufu Queli. Keep clothes, crowns, cars, pianos, books, etc. Confucius used it before his death and sacrificed it according to the age. In this way, the first Confucius Temple in history was 2488 years ago.

Confucius Temple, also known as Confucius Temple and Confucius Temple, is a sacred temple dedicated to Confucius. In China, there are Confucius temples all over the country, but there are only two Confucius temples in China, one in Qufu, Shandong and the other in Quzhou, Zhejiang. The Confucius Temple in Beijing, with the highest specifications, was the place where the emperors of the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties held national ceremonies to pay homage to Confucius. In addition to China, Japanese, Korean, Southeast Asian and even European and American countries have also built Confucius temples.

Guozijian Street, the only Gu Xiang with four archways in Beijing.

Important streets and alleys in Beijing's history are often marked by arches. However, with the change of the city, this sign has almost been washed away. In today's capital, the only street with ancient signs still preserved according to the specifications of the Qing Dynasty only exists in Guozijian Street (also known as Chengxian Street) in Andingmen. Across the street, there are four single-room painted archways, which are decorated with ancient Zhuang customs. The famous Confucius Temple in Beijing is located at the eastern end of this street.

Because Confucius was called a saint, he still enjoyed the same treatment as the emperor after the Ming Dynasty. So, on the east and west sides of the gate of Confucius Temple, 20 meters away, a monument to dismount in the Qing Dynasty was erected. On the front and back of the monument, the words "officials are waiting to dismount here" are engraved, which are Manchu, Han, Mongolian, Hui, Tibetan and Toth. The civilian gets off the sedan chair here, and the military attache dismounts here. Even if the emperor comes in person, he will get off the chariot to show that the temple gate is strict, the sages are supreme, and Confucius is respected. At the same time, in front of the gate of the Confucius Temple, there is a screen wall inlaid with colored glass and carved bricks to show the majesty of the Confucius Temple.

Left Temple and Right Learning —— The Construction of Confucius Temple and imperial academy in Beijing

After Yuan Shizu Kublai Khan made Beijing his capital, in order to strengthen his ideological rule and win over the hearts of the Han people, he ordered an attack on the old codes of past dynasties and ordered Wang Xuan to build the Xuansheng Temple in the Privy Council of the Jin Dynasty to offer sacrifices to Confucius. According to Biography of the History of the Yuan Dynasty: "The Confucian Temple has not been in the capital for a long time, but the tradition of Chinese studies, combined with other departments, is called' Temple Studies'. In the sixth year of Dade in timur, Yuan Chengzong (1302), a temple was built on this site, which was completed in the tenth year of Dade in Yuan Dynasty (1306), with imperial academy (also known as "imperial academy") in the west, which constituted the rule of "left temple and right school".

The Confucius Temple in Beijing covers an area of more than 22,000 square meters, with Dacheng Hall as the center, north and south as the central axis and three courtyards. The buildings are symmetrical left and right, and the main buildings are: Xianshimen, Dachengmen, Dacheng Hall and Chongsheng Temple. After several generations of expansion and renovation, it was finally completed in the fifth year of the Republic of China (19 16). At this point, the Confucius Temple in Beijing has formed its present scale and layout, becoming the second largest Confucius Temple in China after the Confucius Temple in Qufu, Shandong.

Imperial academy, called Imperial College in ancient times, actually has a longer history. By the legendary Five Emperors period, imperial academy had begun to take shape, and Xia, Shang and Zhou also had their own names: Xia Yue School, Xu and Zhou Yueyao. There are five schools of the Emperor of Heaven in the Zhou Dynasty, namely, East, West, North and South (namely, East Order, Zhezong, Shang Yang and Cheng Jun), and the central school is called Bi Yong. In 124 BC, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty established the imperial academy and established the Doctor of Five Classics. It was not until the third year of Yang Di's great cause (607) that imperial academy was formally established, and the Jinshi branch was opened, which created a precedent for selecting scholars in the imperial examination.

Imperial academy was founded in the Yuan Dynasty (1287) in the 3rd century. It was the administrative organ and the highest institution of national management education in Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, and has a history of more than 700 years.

As an ancient central university, imperial academy has always been highly valued by the state, and many buildings have been built, especially after the large-scale renovation in Yongle and Zhengtong years of Ming Dynasty and the addition of Biyong in Qianlong years of Qing Dynasty, which has formed the scale and pattern of today's buildings. During the period of the Republic of China and after the founding of the People's Republic of China, imperial academy was also renovated to varying degrees, which made this ancient university well preserved. 196 1 was announced by the State Council as the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

Imperial academy is rectangular, north-south and consists of three large courtyards, covering an area of more than 27,000 square meters. On the central axis, Jixian Gate, Taixue Gate, Liuli Archway, Biyong Hall, Yilun Hall and Jingyi Pavilion are arranged in sequence from south to north. On both sides of the main building are "two halls and six halls", the Imperial Monument Pavilion and the Bell and Drum Pavilion, forming a traditional symmetrical pattern. The east side of the front yard of imperial academy is connected with the Confucius Temple through the "Shoujingmen".

Students enrolled in imperial academy come from all over the country, including ethnic minority students in remote areas. Imperial academy is the only school in China that can accept foreign students: students from Ryukyu, Japan, North Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Russian and other countries have also studied in imperial academy. Imperial academy has played an active and important role in cultivating students of various nationalities in China and promoting cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries.

196 1 was announced by the State Council as the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units. 200 1 By 2005, with the relocation of the Capital Museum, the Capital Library and the Children's Hall, Confucius Temple and imperial academy were reunited. On the eve of the 2008 Olympic Games, the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government and the Cultural Relics Bureau specially invested huge sums of money to carry out large-scale renovation, and finally today's Confucius Temple and imperial academy have a brand-new look. In June 2008, imperial academy Museum of Confucius Temple was formally established and fully opened to the outside world.

The Historical Significance of Confucius Temple and imperial academy

Confucius Temple and imperial academy in Beijing, as important places for the royal sacrifice to Confucius in Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, as well as the highest institutions of higher learning and educational administrative institutions, once assumed the cultural and educational functions of modern Peking University, Tsinghua, the Central Party School and the Ministry of Education. 190 1 year, the traditional academy was changed into a school (such as Shi Jing University Hall), and then 1905, the study of Confucian classics was abolished, and the imperial examination system that lasted for more than 1300 years was also abolished. The educational and administrative functions of Confucius Temple and imperial academy also tend to decline, and the education of Confucius and Confucianism is weakened in an all-round way. The party and state leaders fully realize the importance of traditional culture in reshaping the national spirit, and modern education reform is also being carried out step by step, gradually increasing the proportion of traditional culture, Confucianism and its spirit in the teaching content. For example, junior high school textbooks have added 10 or 20 Analects of Confucius, and senior high schools have opened elective courses for pre-Qin philosophers. As a result, Confucius and Confucianism gradually moved from outside the system into the system, although it was partially introduced. We should continue to strive to increase the proportion of traditional cultural elements in the future.

Imperial academy, Confucius Temple, is the holy land of Chinese studies in Beijing and even the whole country. In order to fully implement the strategy of "People's Beijing, Science and Technology Beijing, Green Beijing", accelerate the cultural development of the functional core area of the capital, and promote the construction of a world city with China characteristics, according to the Beijing Urban Master Plan (2004 -2020), the decision-making arrangements of the municipal party committee and municipal government, and the Opinions on Vigorously Promoting the Cultural Development of the functional core area of the capital, the municipal party committee and municipal government proposed to establish a Chinese cultural exhibition area centered on Confucius Temple and imperial academy. Special emphasis should be placed on reviving the cultural functions of Confucius Temple and imperial academy, building "Jinshi Forest of Steles Exhibition Hall" and "Thirteen Classics Forest of Steles Exhibition Hall" with high standards, high taste and high quality, further improving the cultural relics environment and infrastructure quality, building a world Confucian research and communication center, holding influential activities to promote Chinese studies and inheriting Chinese culture.

In accordance with the requirements of the municipal party committee and municipal government, focus on displaying and promoting national culture, and do a good job in cultural activities with traditional characteristics. One is to plan and launch traditional cultural activities such as Confucius Temple and imperial academy Chinese Culture Festival. The second is to promote festival culture, combine modern cultural activities with national traditional festivals, and hold large-scale festival activities in the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival to attract cultural organizations from sister cities in Beijing and countries with the same festivals.