The earliest academy in Northeast China is Tieling "Yin Gang Academy", the original "Yin Gang Academy", where Zhou Enlai teenagers study. This academy was established in the 15th year of Shunzhi (1658), and it has been more than 300 years. It should be said that it is the earliest institution of higher learning in Northeast China.
.. Cuisheng College
The earliest institution of higher learning in Shenyang is probably the Cuisheng Academy, which was founded in the 58th year of Kangxi (17 19), with a history of more than 290 years. Cuisheng Academy, also known as Shenyang Academy, together with Yin Gang Academy in Tieling and Xiangping Academy in Liaoyang, was the most famous institution of higher learning at that time. Unfortunately, like Yin Gang Academy and Xiangping Academy, it is not as successful as Yuelu Academy and has become a truly modern university.
Shenyang Cuisheng Academy was founded by Feng Tianfu and Cheng Renyi in the 58th year of Kangxi (17 19), located in the east of Fu Chengfu, Tianyoumen (Xiaonanmen). At first, there were only three houses. In the first year of Qianlong (1736), Li, assistant minister of the Ministry of Industry, founded Yixue in the east and west of Deshengmen (south gate) inner street (now Chaoyang Street 175- 1, in the courtyard of Shenyang ballpoint pen factory, now northwest of Chaoyang No.1 Middle School), and later renamed it "Shenyang Academy". Since then, Yin Fu Hobe advocated the expansion of five lecture halls and 21 lent houses with public and private donations. In the twenty-seventh year of Qianlong (1762), Ouyang Jin, a constitutional scholar and calligrapher, hung his own handwritten plaque "Cuisheng Academy" on the instrument door of Shenyang Academy, so as not to forget the contribution of Cuisheng Academy. Since then, Cuisheng College and Shenyang College have merged into one. In order to fund the operation of the college, it was allocated to research fields in Fengtian and Jinzhou, and borrowed money to generate income. Students admitted to the hospital have to pass rigorous examinations, and in addition, there are several class examinations every year, and meals (gas money and fire money) and expenses are rewarded according to the results.
Wang Erlie, a Kanto genius who "overwhelmed the Three Rivers", worked in Shao Qing of Dali Temple for four years in Jiaqing (1799), and then came to Shengjing to take charge of the promotion of the academy, and wrote the plaque of "Shenyang Academy".
His calligraphy "Two Kings of Patriarchal Law" is a delicate and graceful pavilion, which has been hung above the gate of the academy. Cheng Weiyuan (word Koizumi), who continued the forty chapters of A Dream of Red Mansions with Gao E, also applied to give lectures in the academy when he was a staff member of General Jinchang in Shengjing. Jin Hajj, a famous poet in Northeast China, once taught under him. In his "Mr. Cheng Koizumi's Album", there is a sentence "Learn calligraphy in Linchi", which shows that Jin Hajj studied calligraphy with Cheng Weiyuan when he was promoted to college. There are famous "university professors" such as Wang Erlie and Cheng Weiyuan, and some outstanding students from various counties come to study.
.. Wang Erlie's calligraphy.
During the Daoguang period, the gentry, Jishi Shu of the Hanlin Academy and the famous poet Wang Shuzi donated huge sums of money to rebuild the Academy, and built a new Wenchang Pavilion behind the ordinary pavilion, with a hall for filial piety and a hall for virtuous women on the left. The number of bookstores has expanded from more than ten to more than twenty, and there is a hospital for every three. After several renovations during Daoguang period, the academy began to take shape. The whole academy is carved with beams and painted with buildings, and the hall is resplendent and magnificent, showing a solemn atmosphere. At the same time, the rules and regulations of the academy have been re-formulated, public and private financial support for the academy has been increasing, and the external influence of the academy has been expanding day by day.
Successive mountain leaders of Cuisheng Academy (dean of the Academy, also known as lecturers) are respected scholars recommended by gentry and Dong Gong. For example, Liu Wenlin, a scholar in Daoguang period, gave a lecture at Cuisheng College. He used to be the magistrate of a county in Guangdong, and was highly valued by Governor Lin Zexu. Later, he was impeached for breaking the law, so he returned to his hometown and enjoyed a high reputation in the literary world of Shengjing. Another example is Zeng Peiqi, a scholar during the Tongzhi period. He was an editor and censor of the National Museum of History and returned to China after his father died. He has lectured in the college for many years. He is also a famous poet. Later, such as Yin Guo and Li Weishi, they were all famous scholars. In their senior year, they all trained a lot of talents.
After the middle of Qing Dynasty, the academy became a place for students to take the imperial examinations. In the 24th year of Guangxu (1898), Shang Xian, a bachelor of cabinet, was transferred to preside over the academy, making suggestions for the current situation and emphasizing practical learning. Three years later, Cuisheng College was changed into a school scholar's hall, and Guangning was invited to give lectures, customized according to the examination room, and changed to Confucian classics. During the Russo-Japanese War, Russian troops occupied the courtyard, set it on fire, and turned it into a stable, which seriously damaged this long-established institution of higher learning. Since then, the Fengtian Education Association has taken the Academy as its meeting place, and after several repairs, it has generally recovered its old appearance.
.. Zhang Xueliang
During 1928, Zhang Xueliang was in charge of Northeast China. Some scholars strongly suggest reopening Cuisheng College to teach classics, history and literature, so as to inherit and carry forward the traditional culture of China. Zhang Xueliang agreed and donated tens of thousands of yuan as funds. So, we called craftsmen to repair the courtyard, set up new teaching equipment, sent people to buy books everywhere, and changed Wenchang Pavilion into a library. Subsequently, the constitution of the academy was formulated, with Zhang Xueliang as the dean and Yu, an expert in literature and history, as the provost. In addition, Wang Shunan (word Jin Qing), Wu (word Beijiang) and Wu (word) were specially invited from Beijing to teach, and later Gao Buying (word Langxian) was hired to teach various subjects respectively. Take the form of open enrollment. At first, only 50 students were registered in the hospital, but there was no fixed number of students outside the hospital. There are four courses: classics, history, literature and poetry. The teaching method is a combination of lectures and self-study. Thesis writing test is put forward by the college once a month, and 200 yuan is funded to give bonuses to outstanding students respectively. Every time a class begins, lecturers flock to the classroom and the room is packed. After class, scholars who come to ask for advice are also in an endless stream. Cuisheng Academy, which has been silent for many years, has heard the sound of books, showing a thriving scene. Yuelu College of Hunan University still treasures the Lecture Notes of Cuisheng College in Fengtian, which was printed by Fengtian Zuo Xin Publishing House in the 16th year of the Republic of China (1927). It contains some advanced contents such as style of writing, literature and history, which shows the great influence of Cuisheng College at that time.
However, the good times did not last long. Shortly after the September 18th Incident in 193 1, the Academy was dissolved. Since then, this famous academy with a history of more than 200 years has disappeared. Today, the ruins of Yin Gang Academy and Xiangping Academy are still well preserved, but Cuisheng Academy has disappeared, leaving only the names of "Rebuilding Monument in the 24th Year of Daoguang" and "Cuishengli" to remind people of its contribution to Shenyang's culture and education.