明代桐城教育兴起之历史审视

A Historical Survey of Tongcheng Education in the Ming Dynasty

桐城自明代中后期声名勃兴,至清代走向鼎盛,享誉海内外。今人论桐城文化,言必称其教育发达,然细究其实,值得探讨。明代教育有官学和私学之分,桐城官学包括县学和社学,于明代中后期随着整个封建社会官学体制的衰败而衰落;反之,私学兴起,最为突出的表现为众多学者私人讲学之风盛行,开馆聚徒授学,推动了桐城文风与学风的昌盛,极大地促进了桐城教育的发展。正是私学的兴盛为桐城教育做出了重大的贡献,铸就了明清时期桐城文化的辉煌。

Tongcheng began to flourish since the late Ming Dynasty and reached its peak in the Qing Dynasty, enjoying a great reputation both at home and abroad. As is known to all, Tongcheng is well developed in education, which is worth exploring. In the Ming Dynasty education fell into official school and private school education. Tongeheng official school education included county schools and community schools, which declined in the late Ming Dynasty with the decay of the official school system in the whole feudal society. On the eontrary, the private school was on the rise, with many scholars giving lectures by opening up their own teaching centers, which promoted the prosperity of Tongcheng education. It is the rising of private school education that has made a significant contribution to Tongcheng education and the glory of Tongcheng culture in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.