Research On Zhuxi And Academies In Northern Parts Of Fujian Province In South-Song Dynasty

Founded in the Five-Dynasty in Tang dynasty, Minbei College arose to its prosperity in South-Song dynasty. Throughout its development, Neo-Confucianism was exerting great influence, coexisting with the college together in a harmonious way. As a scholar there, Zhuxi's growth was closely related to the college, including his kindergartening and schooling. And he lived most of his life in that part of the province, where he himself established and repaired three representative colleges: Hanquan College, Wuyi College, and Kaoting College. In those colleges and those where he delivered lectures, he kept the door open to students and employed a "questioning and debating" teaching method. And furthermore, he advocated a policy where teachers were respected while students loved. Upholding this principle, he succeeded in teaching and educating in Minbei College, the school of Kaoting serving as a good example. There both teachers and students were exploring, researching and scholaring, a perfect integration of men and the college. The great virtue of the College finds a better expression in its characteristic study of Neo-Confucianism, where students were tutored by teacher's friends and in its lecture regulation where freedom of expressing different opinions spoke first. Therefore, it is an institute of both educating, teaching and academy, thus pushing the colleges there to their unprecedented development and prosperity, which would have been impossible without Zhuxi's indelible contribution. In South-Song dynasty, the college played a part of significance, even in the history of college in China. And its unique managing, teaching mechanisms and methods have forseen the modern education, especially giving some inspirations for current high education.