Donglin Academy

"The sound of wind, the sound of rain, and the sound of reading, all these sounds enter the ears; family affairs, state affairs, and world affairs, all these affairs are of concern." The birthplace of this couplet is none other than Donglin Academy. Attracted by its reputation, I was surprised to find that the site was open to the public for free. The academy is not large in size, but it is exquisitely elegant, with a unique and ingenious layout, complete with pavilions, corridors, and halls. The pond's bonsai, vines, grasses, and bamboos all add a touch of refined tranquility to the academy. While at the academy, sometimes I would follow the path slowly, passing through halls and over corridors; at other times, I would stand still and observe quietly, my thoughts a thousandfold. Aptly, the broadcast was playing the guzheng music piece "High Mountains and Flowing Water". In a flash, it felt as if I had traveled through time and space, arriving in the Ming dynasty during the Wanli era, listening to the sage Gu Xiancheng lecturing below. Coinciding with the Dragon Boat Festival, the academy was hosting a public welfare event called "Appreciating the Elegance of Hanfu and the Flavor of Zongzi". The students, dressed in Hanfu, sang and danced, adding vitality to the inheritance and promotion of Chinese culture in the new era.