Yuelu Academy

Introducing Yuelu Academy
Yuelu Academy is one of the four most renowned academies of classical learning in China. Yuelu Academy is situated at the foot of Mount Yuelu. Founded in 976 AD during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the Academy has thrived as a renowned institution of higher learning and a center of academic activity for over a thousand years. It has endured through changing dynasties and periods of upheaval, playing a crucial role in the development of Confucianism and fostering generations of prominent scholars and officials.

Today, Yuelu Academy continues its legacy as a college within Hunan University, carrying forward over a millennium of educational, academic, and research traditions. Its evolution into its present form within Hunan University exemplifies the modernization of higher education in China.

Yuelu Academy Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Yuè Lù Shū Yuàn 岳麓书院
• Date Established: 976
• Area: 31,000 square meters (7.66 acres)
• Best Time to Visit: March to November
• Recommended Visiting Hours: About 1 to 2 hours
• Things to Do: Photography, Architecture, Chinese History and Culture
• Opening Hours: 7:30 – 18:00 (May – Oct), 7:50 – 17:30 (Nov – Apr)
• Entrance Fee: CNY40
• Address: 273 Lushan Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan Province

What to Expect at Yuelu Academy
Step into the Yuelu Academy, a sprawling 7.66-acre complex of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) dynasties buildings. Wander along the central axis, where courtyards unfold to reveal classrooms, libraries, sacred spaces, tranquil gardens, and memorials. Experience the unique atmosphere of solemnity and mystique, imbued with Confucian principles of social harmony and hierarchy.

The Main Gate
The main gate of the Academy, rebuilt in 1868, presents an image of grandeur and imposing dignity. The inscription “Yuelu Academy” (岳麓书院) on the gate plaque, written in the calligraphy of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty, testifies to the imperial favor it enjoyed. A couplet flanks the gate: “In Chu, land of talent, Yuelu stands supreme” (惟楚有材，于斯为盛). This captures the historical nuance, the connection to the Chu region, and the academy’s role in fostering scholarly achievement.

The Second Gate
The Second Gate served as the entrance to the Hall of Ceremony during the Song and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties. A plaque bearing the inscription “Famous Mountain Academy” (名山坛席) hangs above the gate, signifying its importance as a center for scholarly discourse. A couplet on either side reads, “Embraced by the vast foothills; Hidden within the famous mountain,”(纳于大麓；藏之名山) evoking the Academy’s tranquil location, nestled among the trees on Mount Yuelu.

The Lecture Hall
The lecture hall stands at the heart of Yuelu Academy, serving as its primary venue. Its walls display numerous stone inscriptions, including the “Loyalty, Filial Piety, Integrity, and Sense of Shame” (忠孝廉节) stele, handwritten by Song Dynasty philosopher Zhu Xi (朱熹). Of particular note is the Yuelu Academy Record (岳麓书院记), carved into the front screen wall. Composed in 1166 by leading scholar and Neo-Confucianist Zhang Shi (张栻), this essay articulates the academy’s educational mission and philosophy, serving as its educational charter and profoundly influencing subsequent generations.

The Imperial Library
Originally located behind the lecture hall, the Imperial Library was renamed the “Imperial Library” after Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty gifted books to the academy. Its location shifted several times during the Yuan and Ming dynasties, when it was also called the “Hall of Venerating the Classics.” By the mid-Qing dynasty, it had become one of China’s largest private libraries, holding 14,130 volumes. Today, the library’s collection exceeds 50,000 volumes and continues to serve as a valuable resource for the academy’s faculty and researchers.

The Confucian Temple
The Confucian Temple, located to the left of the academy, comprises a screen wall, gatehouse, Dacheng Gate, Dacheng Hall, two side halls, Chongsheng Shrine, and Minglun Hall. Veneration of Confucius at Yuelu Academy began with the academy’s founding. During the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), a ceremonial hall was constructed in front of the lecture hall, housing statues of Confucius and his ten most distinguished disciples, along with portraits of the Seventy-two Sages. Following renovations in 1624, it was formally designated as a Confucian Temple, adhering to the standard layout of county-level Confucian temples.

The Shenzhai Shrine
The Shenzhai Shrine, also known as the Luo Shanzhang Shrine, commemorates Luo Dian, a distinguished headmaster (Shanzhang) of the Yuelu Academy. Built during the Xianfeng era (1850-1861), the shrine honors Luo Dian’s substantial contributions during his remarkable twenty-seven-year tenure, which began in 1782. He nurtured the development of numerous scholars and oversaw the expansion of the academy’s physical infrastructure.

How to Get to Yuelu Academy
• By Bus: Take bus 118, 318 to Hunandaxue (Hunan University) Station.
• By Subway: Take subway line 4 to Hunandaxue (Hunan University) Station.