應(ying)城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)孔廟(miao)在應(ying)城(cheng)(cheng)公園內,是一處具(ju)有(you)千年(nian)歷(li)史的(de)(de)建筑景點和儒學圣地(di)。
應(ying)城孔廟作為儒學(xue)圣(sheng)地,源于(yu)黌(hong)學(xue)。唐·顯慶(qing)元(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(656年(nian)(nian)),韋思謙任應(ying)城縣(xian)令(ling),始建黌(hong)舍。至北宋(song)·元(yuan)(yuan)符(fu)二年(nian)(nian)(1099年(nian)(nian)),令(ling)謝良佐于(yu)縣(xian)署衙(ya)的東邊,修(xiu)建了學(xue)宮(即(ji)孔廟)。南(nan)宋(song)·紹熙年(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1194年(nian)(nian)),劉炳宰應(ying)城,興建儒學(xue),后毀(hui)于(yu)兵火。明·洪武三(san)年(nian)(nian)(1370年(nian)(nian)),知(zhi)縣(xian)賈嚴(yan)又(you)重建。明·景泰七年(nian)(nian)(1456年(nian)(nian)),知(zhi)縣(xian)夏璣修(xiu)殿、廡、門池(chi);明·天順五年(nian)(nian)(1461年(nian)(nian)),知(zhi)縣(xian)周鋒又(you)增飾一新,并建明倫堂。八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(1464年(nian)(nian)),推官章禺于(yu)堂前辟兩齋(zhai):左曰(yue)“日新”,右曰(yue)“講習”,后為講堂。不久,又(you)毀(hui)于(yu)兵禍。
孔(kong)廟正式建(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)并傳于后(hou)(hou)世,則(ze)是在明·成(cheng)(cheng)化七年(nian)(nian)(1471年(nian)(nian)),由知(zhi)縣汪清主持(chi),重建(jian)(jian)大(da)成(cheng)(cheng)殿五(wu)(wu)楹,高三丈,并有(you)(you)大(da)成(cheng)(cheng)門、東西廡(wu)、明倫(lun)堂以及泮池、石橋(qiao)(qiao)、門前(qian)三坊和(he)石龜等,建(jian)(jian)筑規(gui)模頗為(wei)壯觀(guan)。大(da)成(cheng)(cheng)殿總面積209平方米(mi),殿高10米(mi),歇山重檐,斗拱(gong)翹角,殿內寬敞(chang)軒昂,屋脊為(wei)寶瓶頂與(yu)吻獸,造型(xing)壯麗,結構精巧。殿前(qian)臺基一(yi)米(mi)有(you)(you)余(yu),植(zhi)有(you)(you)古(gu)(gu)(gu)柏兩株,蒼翠挺(ting)拔(ba),西邊一(yi)棵曾遭(zao)雷擊(ji),數年(nian)(nian)后(hou)(hou)重發新枝;殿后(hou)(hou)植(zhi)有(you)(you)桂(gui)樹(shu)兩株。雙(shuang)柏、雙(shuang)桂(gui)相映,更增幾分古(gu)(gu)(gu)香。而孔(kong)廟大(da)門前(qian)的(de)泮池和(he)建(jian)(jian)造于泮池上的(de)石拱(gong)橋(qiao)(qiao),夜(ye)晚(wan)又有(you)(you)“雙(shuang)月(yue)映照”(在橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)兩邊泮池中,能(neng)看到一(yi)左(zuo)一(yi)右的(de)明月(yue)),使古(gu)(gu)(gu)柏、雙(shuang)月(yue)映照的(de)孔(kong)廟,更顯得(de)莊嚴(yan)肅穆。大(da)成(cheng)(cheng)殿內,供有(you)(you)“至(zhi)圣先師(shi)孔(kong)子(zi)”塑像,并有(you)(you)“至(zhi)圣先師(shi)孔(kong)子(zi)贊并序”的(de)碑文(wen),系清·戶部尚書文(wen)華殿大(da)學士張至(zhi)書奉康(kang)熙(xi)二(er)十五(wu)(wu)年(nian)(nian)七月(yue)初四(si)勒文(wen)敬書,由湖廣(guang)德安(an)府應城知(zhi)縣許霖吉(ji)立。殿中還懸列(lie)清朝歷代皇帝御(yu)(yu)賜的(de)匾額(e)(e)(e):康(kang)熙(xi)二(er)十二(er)年(nian)(nian)(1683年(nian)(nian)),御(yu)(yu)書“萬(wan)世師(shi)表(biao)”,雍(yong)正二(er)年(nian)(nian)(1724年(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)(e)(e)“生民未有(you)(you)”,乾(qian)隆元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(1875年(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)(e)(e)“與(yu)天地參”,嘉(jia)慶四(si)年(nian)(nian)(1799年(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)(e)(e)“圣集(ji)大(da)成(cheng)(cheng)”,道光元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(1821年(nian)(nian))頒(ban)(ban)額(e)(e)(e):“圣協(xie)時中”;咸豐(feng)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(1851年(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)(e)(e)“德齊幬載”;順治(zhi)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)(e)(e)“圣神天縱”;光緒元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(1875年(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)(e)(e)“斯文(wen)在茲(zi)”。為(wei)紀元(yuan)盛典(dian),殿左(zuo)為(wei)祭(ji)器庫,右為(wei)樂器庫;東西廡(wu)之南(nan)為(wei)更衣所。殿后(hou)(hou)有(you)(you)魁星(xing)閣,閣壁彩繪魁星(xing)像。另有(you)(you)戟門,在兩廡(wu)前(qian),即大(da)成(cheng)(cheng)門,左(zuo)建(jian)(jian)名(ming)宦祠,右建(jian)(jian)鄉賢祠。
在封建王朝(chao)(chao)科(ke)舉時(shi)代(dai),孔(kong)廟歷(li)為(wei)縣(xian)(xian)級生(sheng)(sheng)員(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)的(de)考(kao)場(chang)。每逢(feng)(feng)開科(ke)之時(shi),四鄉(xiang)學子(zi)(zi)即(ji)赴(fu)考(kao)應試(shi),縣(xian)(xian)試(shi)及(ji)第(di)(di)即(ji)為(wei)庠生(sheng)(sheng),取得(de)府試(shi)資格,府試(shi)及(ji)第(di)(di)即(ji)為(wei)“郡庠生(sheng)(sheng)”,也就是秀才。再經(jing)省試(shi)及(ji)第(di)(di)稱舉人(ren),憑朝(chao)(chao)延會試(shi)及(ji)第(di)(di)為(wei)進士。科(ke)第(di)(di)蟬聯,成為(wei)歷(li)代(dai)莘莘學子(zi)(zi)步入仕(shi)途的(de)必經(jing)之路。在應城,明清(qing)兩朝(chao)(chao)中進士者達(da)40人(ren)之多。孔(kong)廟外的(de)北邊,還置有射圃,是監考(kao)武生(sheng)(sheng)的(de)考(kao)場(chang)。每逢(feng)(feng)孔(kong)子(zi)(zi)的(de)忌日(ri),全縣(xian)(xian)生(sheng)(sheng)員(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)則(ze)相(xiang)聚于(yu)孔(kong)廟,舉行(xing)“祭禮”。而在送(song)學之日(ri),則(ze)集新(xin)進生(sheng)(sheng)員(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)于(yu)大堂,簪掛花紅,新(xin)進生(sheng)(sheng)員(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)行(xing)庭參禮,知縣(xian)(xian)拱立搭揖(yi),鼓樂吹導,率(lv)領謁文廟,詣大成殿,階下行(xing)三(san)拜九叩首禮。
孔(kong)廟雖歷代有所(suo)毀,而(er)各朝又都有所(suo)興建,且漸(jian)臻完善。諸(zhu)如“崇圣”、“忠義”、“孝悌”、“賀文(wen)忠公(gong)”諸(zhu)祠以及“名宦祠”、“鄉賢祠”等也(ye)相繼修(xiu)建。千百年來(lai),孔(kong)廟一直(zhi)成(cheng)為(wei)應城尊儒興學(xue)的圣地(di)傳承(cheng)于世。至今(jin)古(gu)跡(ji)猶存(cun),形貌仍在(zai)。