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Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Jiangxi.
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Jiangxi is widely regarded as the hometown of ancient academies in China.
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With a long-standing and profound academy culture, this province holds an extremely vital position in the long evolution of Chinese traditional education.
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From the Tang Dynasty to the late Qing Dynasty, which spanned more than one thousand years, numerous ancient academies were built in cities and counties across Jiangxi.
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Unlike common private schools or old-style private tutorials at that time, these academies functioned as significant and professional centers for traditional education, academic exchanges and cultural inheritance.
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It was in these quiet and elegant academies that scholars from different regions gathered to give lectures, share academic ideas and pass down the essence of traditional Chinese culture continuously.
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Among all these time-honored ancient academies, Bailudong Academy, situated quietly at the foot of the magnificent Lushan Mountain, is universally honored as “The First Academy Under Heaven”.
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It boasts a long history of more than a thousand years and profound cultural heritage.
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In the Southern Song Dynasty, it was systematically reconstructed by Zhu Xi, the great master and representative figure of Neo-Confucianism.
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He personally formulated the Regulations of Bailudong Academy, which set a complete and scientific standard for the operation, teaching and management of ancient academies nationwide, and became a classic model followed by almost all academies all over China ever since.
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Apart from the world-famous Bailudong Academy, Bailuzhou Academy in Ji’an City also enjoys a distinguished and long-lasting reputation in Chinese history.
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It has long been committed to cultivating versatile and moral talents, and fostered a great number of patriotic scholars, literary masters and outstanding historical figures in ancient China, among which the most famous one is Wen Tianxiang, the national hero known for his unyielding loyalty and noble integrity.
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Another renowned cultural landmark with great academic value is Ehu Academy.
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The historically significant Ehu Academic Conference was held here, where top ancient philosophers and academic masters gathered to debate different academic thoughts and theories openly.
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This grand academic event promoted the innovation and development of ancient Chinese philosophy, leaving precious and inexhaustible spiritual wealth for later generations.
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The ancient academies in Jiangxi have always upheld and carried forward the fine traditional virtue of respecting teachers and valuing education.
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They are not only important carriers of Confucian culture, but also a precious treasure of ancient Chinese wisdom.
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Today, they are not only precious historical relics witnessing the long development of China’s ancient education, but also an indispensable and important part of Jiangxi’s unique and brilliant cultural heritage.
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Up to now, the rich spiritual connotation of these ancient academies still exerts a far-reaching and positive influence on us.
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It fully demonstrates Jiangxi’s profound and thick cultural accumulation, and also helps people from all over the world better understand and appreciate the unique charm and long-standing history of traditional Chinese culture.