應城的孔(kong)廟在應城公(gong)園內,是一處具有千(qian)年歷(li)史的建筑(zhu)景點和儒學圣地。
應(ying)城孔(kong)廟作(zuo)為(wei)(wei)儒(ru)學(xue)(xue)圣地(di),源(yuan)于(yu)(yu)黌(hong)(hong)學(xue)(xue)。唐(tang)·顯慶(qing)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(656年(nian)(nian)),韋思謙任應(ying)城縣(xian)令(ling),始(shi)建(jian)黌(hong)(hong)舍。至(zhi)北宋(song)·元(yuan)符二年(nian)(nian)(1099年(nian)(nian)),令(ling)謝良(liang)佐(zuo)于(yu)(yu)縣(xian)署衙的東邊,修建(jian)了學(xue)(xue)宮(即(ji)孔(kong)廟)。南宋(song)·紹熙年(nian)(nian)間(1194年(nian)(nian)),劉炳宰應(ying)城,興建(jian)儒(ru)學(xue)(xue),后(hou)毀(hui)于(yu)(yu)兵(bing)火。明(ming)(ming)·洪武三年(nian)(nian)(1370年(nian)(nian)),知(zhi)縣(xian)賈嚴又重建(jian)。明(ming)(ming)·景(jing)泰七年(nian)(nian)(1456年(nian)(nian)),知(zhi)縣(xian)夏璣修殿、廡、門池;明(ming)(ming)·天順(shun)五年(nian)(nian)(1461年(nian)(nian)),知(zhi)縣(xian)周鋒又增飾(shi)一新,并建(jian)明(ming)(ming)倫堂(tang)。八年(nian)(nian)(1464年(nian)(nian)),推官章禺于(yu)(yu)堂(tang)前辟兩齋:左曰“日新”,右曰“講(jiang)習”,后(hou)為(wei)(wei)講(jiang)堂(tang)。不久(jiu),又毀(hui)于(yu)(yu)兵(bing)禍。
孔廟正(zheng)式建成并(bing)傳于(yu)(yu)后(hou)(hou)(hou)世(shi),則(ze)是在(zai)明(ming)·成化七年(nian)(nian)(1471年(nian)(nian)),由知縣汪清主(zhu)持,重(zhong)(zhong)建大(da)成殿(dian)(dian)五楹,高三(san)丈,并(bing)有(you)大(da)成門(men)(men)(men)、東(dong)西廡、明(ming)倫堂(tang)以(yi)及泮(pan)(pan)(pan)池、石橋(qiao)(qiao)、門(men)(men)(men)前三(san)坊和石龜等,建筑(zhu)規模頗為(wei)壯(zhuang)觀。大(da)成殿(dian)(dian)總面(mian)積209平方(fang)米,殿(dian)(dian)高10米,歇山重(zhong)(zhong)檐,斗拱翹角,殿(dian)(dian)內寬(kuan)敞軒昂,屋脊為(wei)寶瓶頂與(yu)吻(wen)獸(shou),造型壯(zhuang)麗,結構精(jing)巧(qiao)。殿(dian)(dian)前臺基(ji)一(yi)米有(you)余,植有(you)古柏兩(liang)株,蒼(cang)翠挺拔,西邊一(yi)棵曾遭(zao)雷擊,數年(nian)(nian)后(hou)(hou)(hou)重(zhong)(zhong)發新枝(zhi);殿(dian)(dian)后(hou)(hou)(hou)植有(you)桂樹兩(liang)株。雙(shuang)柏、雙(shuang)桂相映(ying),更(geng)增幾分古香(xiang)。而孔廟大(da)門(men)(men)(men)前的泮(pan)(pan)(pan)池和建造于(yu)(yu)泮(pan)(pan)(pan)池上的石拱橋(qiao)(qiao),夜晚又有(you)“雙(shuang)月(yue)(yue)映(ying)照(zhao)”(在(zai)橋(qiao)(qiao)的兩(liang)邊泮(pan)(pan)(pan)池中,能(neng)看到一(yi)左一(yi)右的明(ming)月(yue)(yue)),使古柏、雙(shuang)月(yue)(yue)映(ying)照(zhao)的孔廟,更(geng)顯得莊嚴(yan)肅穆。大(da)成殿(dian)(dian)內,供有(you)“至(zhi)圣(sheng)先師孔子(zi)”塑像,并(bing)有(you)“至(zhi)圣(sheng)先師孔子(zi)贊并(bing)序”的碑文,系清·戶(hu)部尚書(shu)文華殿(dian)(dian)大(da)學士張至(zhi)書(shu)奉康熙二(er)(er)(er)十五年(nian)(nian)七月(yue)(yue)初(chu)四勒文敬(jing)書(shu),由湖廣德安(an)府應城知縣許霖吉(ji)立。殿(dian)(dian)中還懸列清朝歷代皇帝御賜的匾額(e)(e)(e)(e):康熙二(er)(er)(er)十二(er)(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(1683年(nian)(nian)),御書(shu)“萬世(shi)師表”,雍正(zheng)二(er)(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(1724年(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)(e)(e)“生民未有(you)”,乾隆元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(1875年(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)(e)(e)“與(yu)天(tian)(tian)地(di)參”,嘉慶四年(nian)(nian)(1799年(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)(e)(e)“圣(sheng)集大(da)成”,道光元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(1821年(nian)(nian))頒(ban)額(e)(e)(e)(e):“圣(sheng)協時中”;咸豐(feng)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(1851年(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)(e)(e)“德齊幬載”;順(shun)治二(er)(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)(e)(e)“圣(sheng)神天(tian)(tian)縱”;光緒(xu)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(1875年(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)(e)(e)“斯文在(zai)茲(zi)”。為(wei)紀元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)盛典,殿(dian)(dian)左為(wei)祭器庫,右為(wei)樂(le)器庫;東(dong)西廡之南為(wei)更(geng)衣(yi)所。殿(dian)(dian)后(hou)(hou)(hou)有(you)魁星閣,閣壁彩繪魁星像。另有(you)戟門(men)(men)(men),在(zai)兩(liang)廡前,即(ji)大(da)成門(men)(men)(men),左建名(ming)宦祠,右建鄉賢祠。
在(zai)封建(jian)王朝(chao)科(ke)舉時(shi)代,孔(kong)廟(miao)(miao)歷為(wei)縣(xian)級生(sheng)(sheng)員(yuan)的(de)(de)(de)考場。每逢開科(ke)之時(shi),四鄉學(xue)子即(ji)赴考應試(shi),縣(xian)試(shi)及第(di)即(ji)為(wei)庠(xiang)生(sheng)(sheng),取得(de)府(fu)試(shi)資格,府(fu)試(shi)及第(di)即(ji)為(wei)“郡庠(xiang)生(sheng)(sheng)”,也就是(shi)(shi)秀才。再經省試(shi)及第(di)稱舉人,憑朝(chao)延會試(shi)及第(di)為(wei)進士(shi)。科(ke)第(di)蟬(chan)聯,成為(wei)歷代莘莘學(xue)子步入仕途的(de)(de)(de)必經之路(lu)。在(zai)應城,明清兩朝(chao)中(zhong)進士(shi)者達(da)40人之多。孔(kong)廟(miao)(miao)外的(de)(de)(de)北邊,還置有射(she)圃(pu),是(shi)(shi)監考武生(sheng)(sheng)的(de)(de)(de)考場。每逢孔(kong)子的(de)(de)(de)忌日,全縣(xian)生(sheng)(sheng)員(yuan)則相聚于孔(kong)廟(miao)(miao),舉行“祭禮(li)(li)”。而在(zai)送(song)學(xue)之日,則集新進生(sheng)(sheng)員(yuan)于大堂,簪掛花(hua)紅,新進生(sheng)(sheng)員(yuan)行庭參禮(li)(li),知縣(xian)拱立搭揖,鼓(gu)樂吹(chui)導,率領謁文廟(miao)(miao),詣大成殿,階下行三(san)拜九叩首(shou)禮(li)(li)。
孔(kong)廟(miao)雖歷(li)代有(you)所毀,而各朝又都有(you)所興(xing)建,且漸臻完善。諸如“崇圣(sheng)”、“忠義”、“孝悌(ti)”、“賀文(wen)忠公(gong)”諸祠(ci)以及“名宦祠(ci)”、“鄉賢(xian)祠(ci)”等也(ye)相繼修建。千百年來,孔(kong)廟(miao)一直(zhi)成為應城尊儒興(xing)學的圣(sheng)地傳承于世。至今古(gu)跡猶(you)存,形貌仍在(zai)。