Huangxi Academy

Huangxi Academy, also known as Wenchang Temple, is located in Dadu District, Taichung City. It is the only surviving ancient academy in Taichung, built in 1887 during the Qing Dynasty by local scholars and gentry. It served as a cultural and educational hub for the Dadu, Wuri, and Longjing areas.

This architectural complex is renowned for its Minnan-style quadrangle courtyard, featuring seven bays, two courtyards, and four pavilion wings. The intricate details of the San Chuan Hall and the Worship Hall, with their swallowtail roof ridges and decorative fish and dragon motifs, are particularly striking. The brick-carved window lattices and crescent-shaped doors showcase exquisite craftsmanship, blending architecture with geometric artistry seamlessly.

I am especially fascinated by its "integration of worship and education" design—the main hall dedicated to the Five Wenchang Deities is combined with a spacious lecture hall in front, creating a space where scholars of the past could study and worship simultaneously. The academy offers a silent cultural tension, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of Qing Dynasty examination halls and literary gatherings amidst its stone pillars and red beams.

The most unforgettable experience is the play of light and shadow in the afternoon: sunlight spills over the tiles and red bricks, casting silhouettes of stone lions and carved door lintels. Walking through the academy is not just a journey but a step into a timeless space where ancient charm, scholarship, and faith resonate together. Huangxi Academy is not merely a historical site but a classroom of time—a quiet, deep breath of Taichung's cultural heritage.

Post by Andy05x | Jul 30, 2025