Hunan University originated from Yuelu Academy, which was founded in the ninth year of Kaibao (976) by Taizu of the Song Dynasty, and has always been well-known in China as a "thousand-year-old school". In addition to Yuelu College, Hunan University has become a popular attraction for tourists because of its early buildings. In 2013, the early buildings of Hunan University were included in the seventh batch of national key cultural relics protection units. Most of these preserved buildings are from the hands of famous architects - Liu Shiying and Liu Dunzhen, reflecting the architectural styles of different periods in the 20~50s of the last century: Western classicism and eclectic architecture in the 20s and 30s, early modernist buildings in the 40s, and traditional Chinese architecture in the 50s. The stylistic changes of the early buildings of Huda University show the epitome of China's modern architectural history, and also reflect the development process from ancient academies to modern universities.
There are 9 buildings in the early building complex of Hunan University, including: the Second Courtyard (now the Laboratory Building of the School of Physics), the Science Museum (now the University Office Building), the Engineering Hall (now the North Teaching Building), the Great Hall, the Old Library, the Shenglizhai Faculty Dormitory, the First Student Dormitory (now the Office Building of the Infrastructure Construction Office), the Seventh Student Dormitory (now the Office Building of the Retirement Office), and the Old Nine Houses (now the Key Laboratory). Since these buildings are not specifically for tourists, many of them are teaching and office clubs of Huda University, so it is recommended that tourists can enjoy the appearance of the buildings.
Completed in 1929, the Second Courtyard is the oldest surviving modern building. The Second Courtyard was the first teaching building built by Huda beyond the external development of Yuelu Academy, hence the name (Yuelu Academy is the first courtyard). With a construction area of 2,929 square meters, it is a typical representative of modern eclectic architectural style, designed by the famous architect Liu Dunzhen. The second courtyard is 3.9 meters high, with a Western-style roof and a "mountain" shape. The exterior walls are made of exquisite red brick walls, with original wooden doors, windows, stairs and railings, and the original appearance has been preserved.
Built in 1937 and designed by Professor Cai Zefeng of Hunan University, the Science Museum is a representative of Western classicism architectural style. Although it was bombed by the Japanese army the following year, the main body remained intact. At the end of the Anti-Japanese War, the surrender ceremony of Hunan was carried out here. In 1948, under the auspices of Professor Liu Shiying, a three-story brick and wood structure of the Science Museum was added. The original tower, parapet and cornice were retained, and the original flat roof became the third floor slab, on which a Western-style pitched roof with glazed tiles was added.
An example of early modernist architecture is the Engineering Museum, designed by the famous architect Liu Shiying. The exterior of the building, interior doors and windows and other details are all in good condition. The Engineering Museum is the most typical representative work of Liu Shiying's modernist style. The building uses a number of circular elements, such as the curved walls of the stairwell, as well as the curved eaves, window sills and window walls, as well as horizontal lines on the walls, showing the flowing lines of German Expressionism. Liu Shiying skillfully uses circles and curves to create the effect of movement and stillness, which is known as the "Liu's circle".
Visitors who love traditional Chinese architecture can enjoy the Great Hall and the Old Library. These two are popular spots. The remaining buildings are also quite period-like, so visitors who have time can take their time to take a leisurely tour.
Yuelu Academy
Probably due to cultural habits, various "Big Four" competitions have been produced in China, for example, there are many versions of the "Four Great Academies of China". However, in the vast majority of versions, only Yuelu Academy is jointly promoted by all families, which shows its popularity. Today, Yuelu Academy is a subordinate institution of Hunan University and is located on the South Campus of Hunan University.
In 976 A.D., Tanzhou Taishou Zhudong founded Yuelu Academy at the foot of Yuelu Mountain, and initially set up "five lecture halls and fifty-two rooms", laying the foundation for the academy to teach. Since then, the academy has experienced many wars, and has been destroyed seven times and built seven times, but the learning vein is continuous, and the strings and songs are endless. As early as the Song Dynasty, the folk song "3,000 people in Daolin, 1,000 disciples in the academy" was circulated here, and the famous physicists Zhu Xi and Zhang Yan carried out the "Neutralization Debate" (known as "Zhu Zhanghui Lecture" in history) here to determine the status of the college as an important center of science in the country; In the Ming Dynasty, Wang Fuzi, who pushed classical Chinese philosophy to its peak, studied here; In the Qing Dynasty, Yuelu Academy also came out of Wei Yuan, Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Yang Changji and other talents who helped the people in the world. It can be said that Yuelu Academy is a well-deserved cultural window and cultural business card of Changsha.
In 1986, Hunan University completed the restoration of Yuelu Academy and officially opened it to the public. Today, Yuelu Academy has a total area of 31,000 square meters, consisting of the main body of the academy, the affiliated Confucian Temple, and the Chinese Academy Museum. The ancient buildings of the academy originated from the last form left after the large-scale construction in the seventh year of Tongzhi (1868), and are divided into five architectural patterns: teaching, book collection, sacrifice, garden, and commemoration. The ancient building adopts the courtyard layout with symmetry on the central axis and multiple depths, which not only creates a sense of depth, but also reflects the cultural characteristics of Confucianism, which is respectful and orderly, and has different hierarchies.
The main structure of the academy has the main gate, the second gate, the lecture hall, the half-school house, the teaching house, the Baiquanxuan, the imperial library, the Xiangshui school scripture hall, the Confucian Temple, etc., and the later period also restored the Yan Hotel, Wenchang Pavilion, Chongsheng Temple, Minglun Hall, and the reproduction of the temple buildings dedicated to Confucius, Zhou Lianxi, Ercheng, Zhu Xi, Zhang Yan, Wang Chuanshan, and Luo Dian. The gates, two gates, lecture halls and other buildings that are hung with reproduced handwriting and even authentic plaques are very worthy of tourists to take pictures, but the ancestral hall buildings dedicated to Confucius and others are slightly monotonous, and the tour value is not high. It is recommended that tourists give priority to the historical display of Yuelu Academy, which will have a deeper understanding of the entire academy and have a better experience of the scenic spots. Of course, ask the tour guide to explain the experience.
The China Academy Museum is the only museum in China that displays the history of Chinese academies and the history of culture and education. The museum is mainly composed of the "Xiange Millennium Exhibition Hall" that displays the history of the development of ancient seowons, the "Seowon Education Exhibition Hall" which displays school supplies and teaching methods, and the "Seowon Academic Exhibition Hall" which introduces famous seowon and representative figures. For those who are interested in the history and culture of the seowon, it is definitely worth exploring slowly.
Information Reference
Hunan University
Admission: Free
Opening Hours: Open all day
Yuelu Academy
Tickets: 50 RMB/person
Opening hours: 7:30~18:00 (May 1 to October 31); 8:00~17:30 (November 1 to April 30)
(Note: The opening and closing times of the China Academy Museum will be postponed by half an hour)
