Zhenwen Academy (Wenchimiao Temple) Introduction
The Zhenwen Academy, established in 1797, has its origins as the Wenchang Emperor Temple. It has been a gathering place for many literati engaged in poetry societies, exuding a rich cultural atmosphere. It is one of the few remaining academies among the four major academies in Yunlin. The plaque from the Jiaqing period preserved on the beams is considered a national treasure. Zhenwen Academy is located at the intersection of Xingnong West Road and Wenchang Road, originally built as the Wenchang Emperor Temple in 1797 (the second year of the Jiaqing era) to honor the Wenchang Zitong Emperor, Wenheng Emperor, Fuyou Emperor, Red Robe Emperor, and Green Robe Emperor, commonly referred to as the Five Wenchang Emperors. The locals call it the "Wenchang Temple." The academy was home to several societies, including the Zhenwen Society and the Tan Society, the Yifu Society, among others, where enthusiasts of poetry and literature gathered. In 1812 (the 17th year of Jiaqing), Wang Youcheng and others advocated for the establishment of the academy, and local gentry such as Liao Chenghe generously donated funds for its construction. The following year, it was completed, and a plaque dating back to 1813 (the Year of the Water Rooster in Jiaqing) hangs on the beams, inscribed with "Thousand Autumns of the Ancestral Scholar," making it one of the few remaining academies in Yunlin County.
