應城(cheng)的孔廟在應城(cheng)公園內(nei),是一處具(ju)有千(qian)年歷(li)史的建筑景點和儒(ru)學圣地(di)。
應城孔廟(miao)作為儒學(xue)圣地,源于(yu)黌學(xue)。唐·顯慶元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(656年(nian)(nian)),韋思(si)謙任應城縣(xian)令,始建(jian)(jian)黌舍(she)。至北宋·元(yuan)符二年(nian)(nian)(1099年(nian)(nian)),令謝良(liang)佐于(yu)縣(xian)署衙的東邊,修建(jian)(jian)了(le)學(xue)宮(gong)(即孔廟(miao))。南宋·紹熙年(nian)(nian)間(1194年(nian)(nian)),劉(liu)炳宰(zai)應城,興建(jian)(jian)儒學(xue),后(hou)毀(hui)于(yu)兵(bing)火。明·洪武三年(nian)(nian)(1370年(nian)(nian)),知縣(xian)賈嚴又重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)。明·景泰七年(nian)(nian)(1456年(nian)(nian)),知縣(xian)夏(xia)璣修殿、廡、門(men)池;明·天順(shun)五年(nian)(nian)(1461年(nian)(nian)),知縣(xian)周鋒又增(zeng)飾(shi)一新,并建(jian)(jian)明倫堂(tang)。八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(1464年(nian)(nian)),推官章禺于(yu)堂(tang)前辟兩齋:左(zuo)曰(yue)“日新”,右曰(yue)“講(jiang)習”,后(hou)為講(jiang)堂(tang)。不久,又毀(hui)于(yu)兵(bing)禍。
孔廟正(zheng)式建成并傳于后世,則是(shi)在明·成化七(qi)年(nian)(1471年(nian)),由(you)知(zhi)縣汪(wang)清主持,重(zhong)建大(da)(da)成殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)五楹,高(gao)三丈,并有(you)大(da)(da)成門(men)、東西(xi)廡(wu)、明倫堂以及(ji)泮(pan)池(chi)、石(shi)橋、門(men)前三坊和石(shi)龜(gui)等,建筑(zhu)規模(mo)頗為(wei)(wei)壯觀。大(da)(da)成殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)總面積209平方米,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)高(gao)10米,歇山重(zhong)檐(yan),斗拱翹(qiao)角,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)寬(kuan)敞軒昂,屋脊為(wei)(wei)寶(bao)瓶頂與(yu)吻獸,造型壯麗(li),結構精巧。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)前臺基一米有(you)余,植(zhi)有(you)古柏兩(liang)株,蒼(cang)翠(cui)挺拔,西(xi)邊一棵曾遭雷擊,數年(nian)后重(zhong)發新枝(zhi);殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)后植(zhi)有(you)桂樹兩(liang)株。雙(shuang)柏、雙(shuang)桂相(xiang)映,更增幾分古香(xiang)。而孔廟大(da)(da)門(men)前的(de)泮(pan)池(chi)和建造于泮(pan)池(chi)上的(de)石(shi)拱橋,夜晚(wan)又有(you)“雙(shuang)月映照(zhao)”(在橋的(de)兩(liang)邊泮(pan)池(chi)中,能看(kan)到一左(zuo)(zuo)一右(you)的(de)明月),使古柏、雙(shuang)月映照(zhao)的(de)孔廟,更顯得莊嚴肅穆。大(da)(da)成殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei),供有(you)“至(zhi)圣(sheng)(sheng)先師(shi)孔子(zi)”塑像(xiang),并有(you)“至(zhi)圣(sheng)(sheng)先師(shi)孔子(zi)贊并序”的(de)碑文,系(xi)清·戶部尚書(shu)(shu)文華殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)大(da)(da)學士張至(zhi)書(shu)(shu)奉康(kang)熙(xi)二(er)(er)十五年(nian)七(qi)月初四勒文敬書(shu)(shu),由(you)湖廣德安府(fu)應城(cheng)知(zhi)縣許霖吉立。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)中還懸列清朝歷代(dai)皇帝御(yu)(yu)賜(si)的(de)匾(bian)額:康(kang)熙(xi)二(er)(er)十二(er)(er)年(nian)(1683年(nian)),御(yu)(yu)書(shu)(shu)“萬世師(shi)表”,雍正(zheng)二(er)(er)年(nian)(1724年(nian)),頒(ban)額“生(sheng)民未有(you)”,乾隆元(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(1875年(nian)),頒(ban)額“與(yu)天(tian)地參”,嘉(jia)慶四年(nian)(1799年(nian)),頒(ban)額“圣(sheng)(sheng)集大(da)(da)成”,道(dao)光(guang)元(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(1821年(nian))頒(ban)額:“圣(sheng)(sheng)協時中”;咸豐元(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(1851年(nian)),頒(ban)額“德齊幬載”;順治二(er)(er)年(nian)(1863年(nian)),頒(ban)額“圣(sheng)(sheng)神(shen)天(tian)縱”;光(guang)緒元(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(1875年(nian)),頒(ban)額“斯文在茲”。為(wei)(wei)紀元(yuan)(yuan)盛典,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)左(zuo)(zuo)為(wei)(wei)祭器(qi)庫(ku),右(you)為(wei)(wei)樂器(qi)庫(ku);東西(xi)廡(wu)之(zhi)南為(wei)(wei)更衣所。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)后有(you)魁(kui)星閣,閣壁彩繪魁(kui)星像(xiang)。另有(you)戟門(men),在兩(liang)廡(wu)前,即大(da)(da)成門(men),左(zuo)(zuo)建名宦祠,右(you)建鄉賢祠。
在(zai)封建王朝科(ke)舉時(shi)代(dai),孔廟歷(li)為縣(xian)級生(sheng)(sheng)員(yuan)的考(kao)場(chang)。每逢開科(ke)之時(shi),四鄉學(xue)子(zi)即赴考(kao)應試(shi)(shi),縣(xian)試(shi)(shi)及(ji)第(di)(di)即為庠生(sheng)(sheng),取得(de)府(fu)試(shi)(shi)資格(ge),府(fu)試(shi)(shi)及(ji)第(di)(di)即為“郡庠生(sheng)(sheng)”,也就是(shi)(shi)秀才。再(zai)經省試(shi)(shi)及(ji)第(di)(di)稱(cheng)舉人,憑(ping)朝延會試(shi)(shi)及(ji)第(di)(di)為進(jin)(jin)士(shi)。科(ke)第(di)(di)蟬聯,成為歷(li)代(dai)莘(xin)莘(xin)學(xue)子(zi)步入仕途的必經之路。在(zai)應城,明清(qing)兩朝中進(jin)(jin)士(shi)者達40人之多。孔廟外(wai)的北邊(bian),還(huan)置(zhi)有射圃,是(shi)(shi)監(jian)考(kao)武生(sheng)(sheng)的考(kao)場(chang)。每逢孔子(zi)的忌日,全(quan)縣(xian)生(sheng)(sheng)員(yuan)則相聚于孔廟,舉行“祭禮”。而(er)在(zai)送學(xue)之日,則集新進(jin)(jin)生(sheng)(sheng)員(yuan)于大(da)堂(tang),簪掛花紅,新進(jin)(jin)生(sheng)(sheng)員(yuan)行庭參(can)禮,知縣(xian)拱立搭揖(yi),鼓樂吹導(dao),率領(ling)謁文廟,詣(yi)大(da)成殿,階(jie)下行三拜九叩首禮。
孔(kong)廟雖歷(li)代(dai)有所毀,而各(ge)朝又都(dou)有所興(xing)建(jian)(jian),且漸臻完善。諸如(ru)“崇(chong)圣”、“忠義”、“孝悌”、“賀文忠公”諸祠以及(ji)“名宦祠”、“鄉賢祠”等也相(xiang)繼修(xiu)建(jian)(jian)。千百年來,孔(kong)廟一直成(cheng)為應城(cheng)尊儒興(xing)學的圣地傳承于(yu)世。至今古跡猶存,形貌仍在。