Yanxi Academy

Yanxi Academy is called as Xixi Academy in the past, which is built by famous politician and poet in Northern Song Dynasty and the officer of salt in Xixi, Yan Shu. So, the academy is called as Yanxi Academy by the offspring to show the respect to Yan Shu.

The Academy is opposite to the Nanfeng Pavilion of Xixi Town and the relics belongs to Residential Committee of Taishan Temple, Dongtai Town.  

Yanxi Academy is the oldest academy built in the ancient Yangzhou, which is 220 years earlier than the Anding Academy in Taizhou.

Yanxi Academy is equipped with comprehensive functions, including lecturing, lectures, collections, sacrifices, so it had been the education and culture center at that time. It is in important position in the education history of Dongtai.

Xiyan Academy advocates the Suhu Methodology that in knowledge lectures, we should instill ethical and moral norms, cultivate the moral character of the audience, pay attention to the training of life and behavior habits. In basic knowledge lectures, we should pay attention to reading and remembering, and pay attention to the cultivation of learning attitudes and learning habits. For example, Reading emphasizes conscientiousness, attentiveness, and cherishing time; and writing requires correct posture, respectful attitude and several clean cases. There are specific requirements on the dressing and behavior in the Notices of Academy. 

It is said that Emperor Zhenzong of Song Dynasty did think highly of Yan Shu and the Emperor had promoted his teaching method to the whole country.

In the first year of Tiansheng in Northern Song Dynasty (1023), Fan Zhongyan had lectured in Yanshu Academy in the post of officer of salt warehouse.

Chen Xuan, a poet of Ming Dynasty and a famous professor of Yangzhou Prefecture, had lived in Xixi and he described the situation of the Academy with the Poet for Xixi Academy.