1. What is imperial academy?

In ancient books, there is often an institution called imperial academy. What kind of organization is imperial academy? Is it a prison? In fact, imperial academy, the highest institution of higher learning and education management in ancient China, is equivalent to the functions of today's top universities and the Ministry of Education.

Second, the history of imperial academy

1, Han Wei Jin

During the Han Dynasty, the highest institution of learning in China was called "Imperial College", and the establishment of "Imperial College" by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty also inherited the function of teaching Confucian classics to the highest institution of learning. In 278, Emperor Xianning of the Western Jin Dynasty founded Sinology, which was the beginning of the establishment of Sinology in the history of ancient education in China. After the death of Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty, the clans headed by Wang Dao and Xie An surrounded Si Marui, the evil king of the Western Jin Dynasty, crossed to Jianye (Nanjing) to establish the Eastern Jin Dynasty, which was partial to Anjiang, and established Jiankang imperial academy at the foot of Jilong Mountain.

2. Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties

In the Sui Dynasty, Yang Di changed imperial academy to imperial academy, which was mainly responsible for the national education administration, and its function was equivalent to the current Ministry of Education. Since then, the capital has established imperial academy, and its functions have also changed. In the Tang Dynasty, imperial academy was established in Chang 'an and Luoyang, and there were six schools, including Guo Zi, imperial academy, Four Schools, Law, Arithmetic and Calligraphy. Imperial academy itself still mainly undertakes the function of education administration.

In the Song Dynasty, imperial academy began to have the function of an aristocratic school, enrolling children of officials above grade seven as students, and once became the highest institution in China. Because the children of these officials are often only nominal, without classes, the school will not be a climate, and its highest institutional function will still be replaced by imperial academy. Imperial academy is only responsible for the national education administration and the national schools.

3. Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties

After the Yuan Dynasty, imperial academy, as the highest educational administrative institution and institution of higher learning, was subordinate to the Ministry of Rites. Students studying in imperial academy are called "Gong Sheng" or "blade master". In the Ming Dynasty, imperial academy was divided into Beijing's "northern prison" and Nanjing's "southern prison" because Emperor Yongle moved the capital to Beijing. By the middle of Qing Dynasty, imperial academy had become an examination institution that only cared about examinations, regardless of education.

In the late Qing Dynasty, imperial academy was reduced to an official selling institution. Anyone who pays a certain amount of money to the court according to the regulations can become a "Guo Jianzi". In the 31st year of Guangxu reign (1905), the imperial examination system was abolished, and so was imperial academy. The newly established department became an educational administrative institution, and later became the Ministry of Education in the early years of the Republic of China.

Third, imperial academy offered wine.

The post of "offering wine" has been a fixed title for officials in charge of education since ancient times. As early as before imperial academy, imperial academy in the Han Dynasty had set up a "wine-offering doctor" as the highest official in imperial academy; In the western Jin dynasty, there was a "national son offering wine"; The Sui and Tang Dynasties imitated the gold system and set up a "imperial academy Wine Festival". The official position was subordinate to the doctrine and the highest leader of imperial academy. This system was used until the end of Qing Dynasty.

As for the origin of the word "offering wine", it is said that when the ancients held a banquet or sacrifice, they elected an elder to raise a glass as a sacrifice first, which was called "offering wine". Ancient society has always respected the old and loved the young, and attached importance to sacrifice, so taking "offering wine" as the title of chief executive in charge of education is also a sign that the ancients attached importance to education.