Research On Four Great Academies’Style Of Study In Song Dynasty

Song Dynasty witnessed the peak period of ancient Chinese Academies that made remarkable progress in both quantity and quality. Among them, the Four Great Academies are the best, known for their high education quality and talent cultivation modes. Academies of this period not only attracted a large number of first-rate scholars to give lectures but also cultivated many outstanding talents. With their continuous improvement and development, Academies of Song Dynasty developed a style of study different from that of former generations of Academies and government-sponsored schools of the same period. This style of study, in turn, produced positive influences on the teachers and students of the Academies, which further influenced the development direction of its time and later generations.The thesis is divided into four parts. Part One introduces the significance and purpose of this study and reviews the domestic and foreign researches on the Academies. Then, based on the historical background and cultural traditions of Song Dynasty, this part discusses the selection criteria for the Sample Academy, including the influence of the Academy in its time and later ages, the proportion of nongovernment force in the Academy, the state of development of Neo-Confucianism in the Academy and the influence of Neo-Confucians on the Academy and its students. Besides, this part also investigates several Academies that are frequently mentioned in books and articles on the history of the Academies to choose the best Four Academies. Through a comparative study of ancient and contemporary concepts and categories of style of study, this part draws a conclusion that the concepts and contents of style of study vary according to different historical times and the situations of social development.The second part analyses the formation of the style of study which prevailed in the Academies of Song Dynasties. Putting it in its historical setting, this part expounds on the formation, development and rise of the Academies of Song Dynasty. The Academy system before Song Dynasty is also introduced. Yuelu, Bailudong, Shigu and Songyang are the Four Great Academies of the time that were emulated by other academies. Next, through the analysis of the influences of Neo-Confucianism on the style of study of Academies in Song Dynasty, this thesis studies Neo-Confucianism, its relationship with the Academies, the formation of Academy education and the influence of Neo-Confucianism on the educational purposes, teaching methods and contents in the Academies. Finally, this part reveals the important role of Neo-Confucianism in promoting the style of study in the Academies of Song Dynasty.The third part studies the content and characteristics of the Academies in Song Dynasty, including the school regulations, teachers and students. The school regulations restrained both the students and the teachers. As the main force of teaching the style of study, the teachers dominated the development of it. The students, as beneficiaries, became a carrier of the style of study. This part further elaborates on the characteristics of the style of study in the Academies of Song Dynasty which originated in the process of correcting the unhealthy tendencies of the Imperial Examination. The style of study was formed through, the combination of the exploration of Neo-Confucianism with the teaching activities in the Academies as well as the combination of academic researches with lecturing, This process featured a free atmosphere of debates and discussions as well as the pursuit of truth among teachers and students.The last part is about the implications of the study. The influence of the style of study of the Academies in Song Dynasty on its time and later generations has practical implications for today’s universities.