Mingxin Academy

Mingxin Academy is a traditional Fujian-style courtyard building with an ancient, simple appearance. At its center is a main hall with three bays, surrounded on three sides by red brick walls. In the early years of the Guangxu era in Jiji, due to the development of the Central Mountain Range and the flourishing camphor industry, the town prospered, and cultural activities became vibrant. Consequently, local gentry proposed building Mingxin Academy in Chaiqiao Village. Coincidentally, in 1883 (the ninth year of Guangxu), the Zhuoshui River overflowed, carrying down numerous large logs. These timbers, flowing down from the mountains, were then utilized to construct the temple. The main shrine primarily enshrines Wenchang Dijun (God of Culture and Literature). Accompanying deities include Zhizi Sheng (Sage of Written Characters), Master Ziyang, and Confucius (Greatest Sage and Teacher). Couplets adorning the shrine, suspended plaques, main entrance hall, and side corridors all highlight Mingxin Academy's grand vision of inheriting and propagating Confucian teachings. In recent years, the academy has combined festival celebrations with a series of folk events and cultural festivals. This not only serves an artistic and cultural function but also drives local industrial culture and tourism. The academy's main hall serves as the place for lectures. The hall is soaring and majestic. On the roof ridge, there is an ornament of a child riding a qilin, vividly lifelike. A pair of dragons adorn the two sides, along with symmetrical floral and quadrupedal decorations, all with lively expressions. In 1985, Mingxin Academy was designated as a Class III historical monument by the Ministry of the Interior. Its repairs have all followed its ancient appearance and utilized traditional materials, incorporating a Japanese style, which serves as proof of its history during the Japanese colonial period. However, its simple and unadorned layout embodies the spirit of early Han Chinese settlers.