Academies Of Jiangxi And The Social Condition Of Its Development In Song Dynasty

Academy (书院) was a kind of special(half private and half public) school or academic institute in ancient China. In Song dynasty, many academies were established in Jiangxi Province. Why academies of Jiangxi came to its most flourishing period in Song dynasty? What kind of social condition helped the development of academies of Jiangxi in Song dynasty? This dissertation gave a brief summary on academies of Jiangxi in Song dynasty and a description on its relationship with the culture, economy and social condition. The paper has four chapters:Chapter I:The flourishing of academies of Jiangxi in Song dynastyJiangxi province was the area where most China ancient academies build. The first of them were built at the end of Tang dynasty, and which were also one of the earliest academy in Tang and Song dynasty in ancient China. From then to Ming dynasty, the number of academies in Jiangxi province was always at first column in China. And many academies could be seen as paradigm on teaching and institution. There were many famous academies such as Bailudong Shuyuan, Lianxi Shuyuan, Xiangshan Shuyuan, Bailuzhou Shuyuan and Ehu Shuyuan, and many masters such as Zhuxi, Lujiuyuan had taught and lived in it.Chapter II:The thought and culture dynamics of development of academies of Jiangxi in Song dynasty. The renaissance movement of Confucianism at the end of Tang dynasty and North Song dynasty created a good condition of culture and thought for the development of academy. The renaissance movement of Confucianism began in north China at the end of Tang dynasty, and come on to its climax in North Song dynasty. With the lack of official school, the academy , which aimed to renaissance of Confucianism, developed gradually. The tradition of Confucianism's private school found its continuer in academy. In South Song dynasty, with the Neo-Confucianism promoted by the government, the academy came to a flourishing period. Many masters of Neo-Confucianism including Zhoudunyi, Zhuxi and Lujiuyuan had promoted the advancement of academy. Because Jiangxi province was one of the basic area of Neo-Confucianism, many academies developed there. Neo-Confucianism absorbed many contents from Buddhism and Taoism, and the religion culture influenced academies of Jiangxi in many ways. The prosperous Buddhism and Taoism also helped the development of academy.Chapter III:The economical condition of the development of academies of Jiangxi in Song Dynasty Because of the economic center of China moved to South in Song dynasty and the innovation in Tang and Song dynasties, Jiangxi province became a rich area and people feel shame of lack of learning. The agriculture, manual industry, mining industry, and ship building in Jiangxi province all were the first column in Song dynasty. The prosperous paper making and print industry also gave a support for the education of academy. The perfect economical environment promoted the flourishing of academies of Jiangxi.Chapter IV:On some else problems of the development of academies of Jiangxi in Song dynasty The development of academy had close relationship with its social condition. When the government advocated reading, the social ethos changed greatly. Academy was not at the opposite of official school and imperial examinations, they were in fact the double sides of one coin. The flourishing of economy enlarged the developing space and ensure the subsistence of academy.