Songyang Academy is situated in the northern section of Songyang Road in Dengfeng City. It is a 4A-level scenic area and holds the prestigious status of being a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Among the four renowned academies of the Northern Song Dynasty in China, it stands as one. Esteemed scholars such as Sima Guang, Fan Zhongyan, and Zhu Xi have graced its halls, contributing their writings and delivering lectures. Notably, during the Song Dynasty, the eminent Confucian scholars Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi established the renowned "Ertong School of Neo-Confucianism" here, which gained global recognition. The surviving architectural structures include the Hall of the Sage, the lecture hall, the Pan Pond, the ancestral temple of the Daoist tradition, and the library. Of special significance are the two ancient cypresses within the academy, which were designated as generals by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty over 4,500 years ago. Their age and historical importance make them a rare sight of immense value. The "Inscription of Praise for the Virtuous Influence of Emperor Wu at Mount Songyang in the Great Tang Dynasty" is a monumental stone inscription that commemorates the Taoist monk Sun Taichong of Songyang Temple, who practiced alchemy and provided medical treatment to Emperor Xuanzong (Li Longji) of the Tang Dynasty. It is the largest surviving stone inscription in Henan Province and holds the distinction of being a key national cultural relic under protection.
Source: Zhengzhou Municipal People's Government
Zhengzhou Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism