Wujin Academy Introduction
With desks and chairs arranged side by side, facing the statue of Zhu Xi, the clear voices of students studying can be heard. In the bustling city area, Wujin Academy is a quiet corner that allows visitors who step in to deeply feel the encouragement of students in the classroom. This location is also one of the stops in the free guided tour of Houping Town. Historically, Kinmen was known for its flourishing literary culture. During the Southern Song Dynasty, the philosopher Zhu Xi served as a clerk in Tong'an County in the 23rd year of the Shaoxing era (A.D. 1153). At that time, Kinmen was under the jurisdiction of Tong'an, and it is said that Zhu Xi visited Kinmen Island twice during his tenure. The people of Kinmen, influenced by Zhu Xi's teachings, developed a stronger culture of studying. To express their gratitude to Zhu Xi, the Wujin Academy was established in the 45th year of the Qianlong reign (A.D. 1780), along with the construction of the Zhuzi Temple behind the academy for worship. Wujin Academy is the only remaining one of the ancient four major academies in Kinmen, while the Zhuzi Temple is designated as a national historic site.
