The initial college in the history of China emerged during the ending of Tang Dynasty and the period of five dynasties and ten states. At that time, the college was a place for free lecturing. Song Dynasty is an important period for the development of college. These colleges were mainly for lecturing of theorists and were considered as academic bases for a certain school. Each college had its own unique teaching characteristics. Many famous colleges established canons and rigorous disciplines. Many scholars came to listen to lectures without limitation of schools. The teaching attached importance on debating and arguing and encouraged students to make independent study.
Most
of colleges were established at self expenses, and
the sponsors were usually famous local teachers and
scholars or native administrators. The sponsor for
college affairs was called "Shanzhang" or "Dongzhu"
who made a living by lecturing. The teaching style
in colleges at that time was mainly self-study combined
with public lecture and teacher instruction. The students
came to colleges to listen to lectures and the colleges
were responsible to provide meal and books. The instruction
was performed in questioning and answering form. The
textbooks were "Four Books and Five Classics" (Confucian
classics used as textbooks in feudal schools for dynasties
in ancient China). "Four Books" are The General
Learning, The Doctrine of Mean, The Analects of Confucius,
and The Mencius; "Five Classics" are Shi Jing, Shang
Shu, Yi Li, Spring and Autumn, and Book of Changes.
There were also history books and poem collections
used as textbooks. The colleges encouraged active
academic dispute and debate among students, teachers
and other scholars; students could transfer in the
middle of study and select teachers; teachers with
noble virtues would recommend other excellent teachers
to his students and there were strong sensations between
teachers and students. This kind of college developed
with the change of political situation from Tang Dynasty
to the late Qing Dynasty. Sometimes it prospered,
and sometimes it decayed.
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