In the early days of Kamakura (12-13rd century), there was a family school in Ashimachi (now Ashimachi City, Tochigi Prefecture), which was located at the southern end of Zuwei Mountain, and its north side was a sunlight scenic spot. The Southern and Northern Dynasties (14th century) tended to decline during the war. In the Muromachi era (14-16th century), because Kanto was in charge of Shan 'an Prefecture and kept the constitution, it presented Confucian books and fields in 1432 (four years of eternal enjoyment), and personally wrote the Five Classics in Ashikaga School to protect the knowledge of ancient books, which was later revived in 170. The purpose of this school is to teach samurai and monks and to improve their cultural literacy. Yao's master (master) is usually a famous monk, and the most famous is Kuaiyuan, a monk in Yuanjue Temple and a master of Yi Studies. 1439 (the 11th year of Yongxiang) was hired as Master Yao, making this place the center of Yi Studies in Japan. Besides the Yi-ology, other teaching subjects include the Classic of Filial Piety, The Analects of Confucius, The Five Classics, Laozi, Zhuangzi, The Art of War, Medicine and Divination, and famous swords are also made. At the peak, there were as many as 3000 students in the school. It is no wonder that in 1549, ﹝Francisco Xavier﹞, the founder of Japanese Catholicism and Jesuit missionary, called it "Japan's famous Bandong University". Many historians think that he is the real founder of Ashikaga School because of his great contribution to the revival of Ashikaga School. In addition, there is a saying that Ashikaga School was founded by Xiao Ye in the early period of Heian (8th century), with a longer history.
This school went through the periods of Kamakura, Muromachi, Antu Taoshan and Edo, and it lasted until the fifth year of Meiji (1872), only to come to an end with the comprehensive westernization of Japanese education. Its historical remains still exist today, and it is a famous tourist destination in East Japan and Mount Fuji.
This school system is completely modeled after the ancient schools in China. It has three gates, which are named "Jinde" (gate), "Xuetang" (middle gate) and "Xingtan" (inner gate) in turn. There is a Dacheng Hall in front, in which a wooden statue of Confucius is enshrined. In the past, every special festival, students would gather here to hold a solemn ceremony to pay tribute to Confucius. The courtyard is shaded by pines and cypresses, among which is the oldest "Jiangzisong", which is more than ten feet high and means "reading Chinese characters". Nowadays, scholars from all walks of life in Japan often hold academic lectures in this monument, teaching Confucian classics such as The Analects of Confucius and Four Books, adding infinite homesickness to this ancient courtyard.