Wujiang Academy Introduction
The rows of desks and chairs stand in parallel, facing the statue of Zhu Xi at the front, where the clear voices of students appear to echo in the air. In the bustling city area, Wujian Academy is a quiet corner that allows visiting travelers to deeply appreciate the scene of students encouraging each other in the classroom. It is also one of the attractions included in the free guided tours of Houping Town. Historically, Kinmen experienced a flourishing literary culture. During the Southern Song Dynasty, the philosopher Zhu Xi served as the county clerk of Tong'an in the 23rd year of the Shao Xing era (AD 1153). At that time, Kinmen was under the jurisdiction of Tong'an. It is said that Zhu Xi visited Kinmen Island twice during his tenure, and the people of Kinmen were influenced by Zhu Xi's teachings, leading to an even stronger reading culture. To honor Zhu Xi, the people of Kinmen built Wujian Academy in the 45th year of the Qianlong era (AD 1780) and also constructed the Zhuzi Temple behind the academy for worship. Wujian Academy is the only remaining one of the four ancient academies in Kinmen, while the Zhuzi Temple behind it is designated as a national historical monument.
