Guozijian


The Guozijian, sometimes translated as the Imperial College, Imperial Academy, Imperial University, National Academy, or National University, was the national central institution of higher learning in Chinese dynasties after the Sui. It was the highest institution of academic research and learning in China's traditional educational system, with the function of administration of education.
In Vietnam, the Imperial Academy existed after the Lý dynasty. Several notable chairmen of Guozijian in Vietnam history are Chu Văn An, Nguyễn Phi Khanh, Vũ Miên, and Lê Quý Đôn.

History

Formerly it was called the Taixue, literally meaning "Imperial University". The Taixue for Gongsheng from the populace was part of Guozijian, along with Guozixue for noble students. The central schools of taixue were established as far back as 3 CE, when a standard nationwide school system was established and funded during the reign of Emperor Ping of Han. Since the Sui dynasty, it was called Guozijian.
At the Guozijian, law, math, calligraphy, equestrianism, and archery were emphasized by the Ming Hongwu Emperor.
Guozijian was shut down in 1905. From then on the modern school system including universities was adopted. At first, it mainly embodied the modern European and Japanese model, and afterwards was heavily influenced by American model.

Locations

Guozijian were located in the national capital of each dynasty, such as Chang'an, Luoyang and Kaifeng. In early years of Ming, Guozijian was in Nanjing, and then there were two capitals, thus there were two Guozijian, one in Nanjing and one in Beijing. During the Qing dynasty, Guozijian was in Beijing.
The Beijing Guozijian, located at the Guozijian Street in the Dongcheng District, was the imperial college during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties; most of the current buildings were built during the Ming Dynasty. It is the last Guozijian in China and the predecessor of Peking University.
In Vietnam, the Imperial Academy was based at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi.

Citations