Wujiang Academy Introduction
The rows of desks and chairs are arranged side by side, facing the statue of Zhu Xi, and the clear voices of students reading aloud seem to resonate in the air. In the bustling city area, Wujing Academy is a quiet corner that allows visitors to deeply feel the encouraging atmosphere of students in the lecture hall. It is also one of the attractions included in the free guided tours of Houping Township. Historically, Kinmen was renowned for its scholarly atmosphere. During the Southern Song Dynasty, the philosopher Zhu Xi served as the county clerk of Tong'an in the 23rd year of the Shaoxing era (AD 1153). At that time, Kinmen fell under the jurisdiction of Tong'an. It is said that Zhu Xi visited Kinmen Island twice during his tenure, and the local residents became more diligent in their studies due to his teachings. To express their gratitude, the people of Kinmen constructed Wujing Academy in the 45th year of the Qianlong era (AD 1780) and built the Zhuzi Shrine behind the academy to worship him. Wujing Academy is the only surviving one among the ancient four major academies of Kinmen, while the Zhuzi Shrine has been designated as a national historic site.
