Donglin Academy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Donglin Academy |
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| 東林書院 | |
The stone memorial arch in Donglin Academy
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| Location | Wuxi |
| Created | 1111 |
The Donglin Academy (Chinese: 東林書院; pinyin: Dōnglín Shūyuàn; literally "Eastern Grove Academy") was an important school in Wuxi, China. It was also known as the Guishan Academy.
It was first built in 1111 during the Northern Song dynasty. A famous scholar named Yang Shi taught there. However, over time, the academy was not used and fell apart.
The name "Donglin" came from the Donglin Temple. Yang Shi visited that temple and thought it was a great place for learning. Later, he came to Wuxi and saw that this academy looked similar. So, he taught there for 18 years, and that's how it got the name "Donglin Academy."
Contents
History of Donglin Academy
A New Beginning in 1604
In 1604, during the Ming dynasty, the academy was brought back to life. A smart government official named Gu Xiancheng (1550–1612) led this effort. He worked with other scholars like Gao Panlong and An Xifan.
Local leaders and officials helped pay for the repairs. This rebirth of the academy led to a group of scholars called the Donglin movement. They wanted to make things better in the government and society.
Destruction and Rebuilding
Sadly, in 1626, the Donglin Academy was badly damaged. Only a part of its stone entrance arch was left standing.
Later, during the Qing dynasty, the academy was rebuilt. Emperors like Yongzheng and Qianlong helped with this. They wanted to gain the support of scholars in Wuxi.
Modern Restoration
Much more recently, the government of China worked to fix up the academy. This happened between 1981 and 1982. Today, it stands as a reminder of its long history.
