A Study Of Families And Scholars In Xianyou In The Song Dynasty

Fujian Road developed rapidly in the Song Dynasty.Xianyou,as a county of Xinghua Jun（the military prefecture）of Fujian Road（the circuit）,also kept in step with the whole Fujian road at this period.Many families coming from other regions migrated to Xianyou since the late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties.Those families moved to Xianyou for various reasons,such as avoiding conflict,taking charge of office,education,etc.And some families have sought their survival and development since they resided in Xianyou.With the entry of those families,local education,culture and belief of Xianyou were all developed in the Song Dynasty.The style of each family in Xianyou was also gradually presented.The most important thing related to the belief of scholars in Xianyou was the pray for imperial examinations.So scholars were keen to participate in the religious activities.The styles of Xianyou families include good collection of books,loyalty and honesty,etc.These styles are usually imprinted on the process of learning and officials,influence scholars profoundly.In the Song Dynasty,there was a strong tendency towards studying in Xianyou,which not only showed that the government attached great importance to education,but also showed that local families and scholars supported local education to the best of their ability.In order to promote the development of local culture and education,officials actively repaired and expanded the county school and purchased the school fields.Local scholars contributed money to help the official schools,as well as spending money on clothing allowance for poor scholars.With the support from the government and local families and scholars,the proportion of Xianyou people going to school has increased.Scholars developed themselves through education and chose different life goals in the process of development.The life goals of Xianyou scholars were mainly manifested as either the ambition of official career,or the pursuit of academic level,or seclusion.Different choices often caused the different life patterns of the scholars.Based on the support of local and their families,scholars from Xianyou were diligent in learning.And they also made friends with other scholars,joined the academic community.In the Northern Song Dynasty,the academic interpersonal communication of Xianyou scholars was manifested as the communication with “the four gentlemen of Haibin”.In the Southern Song Dynasty,the academic interpersonal communication was manifested as the communication with Zhu Xi,his students and the scholars from Putian.For the Xianyou scholars who actively sought the success in the imperial examination and official advancement,the interpersonal relationship of official was also important when they making friends.Scholars got the appreciation and recommendation of celebrities and famous ministers for the knowledge and political conduct.Sometimes they were involved in some political disturbances.The vast majority of Xianyou scholars insisted on their own standpoints in the complicated political situation and spoke out against wrongs.However,another scholars schemed and lost in the officialdom.