應城(cheng)的孔廟在應城(cheng)公(gong)園內,是一處具有千年歷史的建筑(zhu)景點和儒學(xue)圣(sheng)地。
應城(cheng)(cheng)孔廟(miao)作為(wei)儒學(xue)(xue)圣地(di),源(yuan)于(yu)(yu)黌學(xue)(xue)。唐(tang)·顯慶元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(656年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),韋(wei)思(si)謙任應城(cheng)(cheng)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)令(ling),始建(jian)(jian)黌舍。至(zhi)北宋·元符二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1099年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),令(ling)謝良(liang)佐于(yu)(yu)縣(xian)(xian)(xian)署衙的東邊(bian),修建(jian)(jian)了學(xue)(xue)宮(gong)(即孔廟(miao))。南(nan)宋·紹熙年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1194年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),劉炳宰應城(cheng)(cheng),興建(jian)(jian)儒學(xue)(xue),后(hou)毀(hui)于(yu)(yu)兵火。明(ming)·洪武三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1370年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),知縣(xian)(xian)(xian)賈嚴又重建(jian)(jian)。明(ming)·景泰(tai)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1456年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),知縣(xian)(xian)(xian)夏璣(ji)修殿、廡、門池;明(ming)·天順五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1461年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),知縣(xian)(xian)(xian)周鋒又增(zeng)飾一(yi)新,并(bing)建(jian)(jian)明(ming)倫堂(tang)。八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1464年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),推(tui)官章禺于(yu)(yu)堂(tang)前辟兩齋:左曰“日(ri)新”,右曰“講習”,后(hou)為(wei)講堂(tang)。不(bu)久,又毀(hui)于(yu)(yu)兵禍。
孔(kong)廟正式建(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)并傳(chuan)于后(hou)世,則是在(zai)(zai)明·成(cheng)(cheng)化七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1471年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),由知縣(xian)汪清主持,重建(jian)大(da)成(cheng)(cheng)殿(dian)(dian)五楹,高(gao)(gao)三丈,并有(you)大(da)成(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men)、東西廡、明倫堂以及泮(pan)池(chi)、石橋、門(men)(men)前三坊和(he)石龜等,建(jian)筑規模頗為(wei)壯觀。大(da)成(cheng)(cheng)殿(dian)(dian)總面(mian)積209平方米(mi)(mi),殿(dian)(dian)高(gao)(gao)10米(mi)(mi),歇山(shan)重檐,斗拱(gong)(gong)翹角,殿(dian)(dian)內寬(kuan)敞(chang)軒昂(ang),屋脊為(wei)寶瓶(ping)頂與(yu)吻(wen)獸,造(zao)型壯麗,結(jie)構精(jing)巧。殿(dian)(dian)前臺基一米(mi)(mi)有(you)余,植有(you)古(gu)柏兩(liang)株(zhu),蒼(cang)翠(cui)挺(ting)拔,西邊一棵曾遭雷擊,數年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)后(hou)重發(fa)新枝;殿(dian)(dian)后(hou)植有(you)桂(gui)樹兩(liang)株(zhu)。雙(shuang)柏、雙(shuang)桂(gui)相映(ying)(ying),更增幾分(fen)古(gu)香。而孔(kong)廟大(da)門(men)(men)前的(de)泮(pan)池(chi)和(he)建(jian)造(zao)于泮(pan)池(chi)上的(de)石拱(gong)(gong)橋,夜晚又有(you)“雙(shuang)月(yue)映(ying)(ying)照”(在(zai)(zai)橋的(de)兩(liang)邊泮(pan)池(chi)中,能看(kan)到一左一右(you)的(de)明月(yue)),使古(gu)柏、雙(shuang)月(yue)映(ying)(ying)照的(de)孔(kong)廟,更顯(xian)得莊(zhuang)嚴肅穆。大(da)成(cheng)(cheng)殿(dian)(dian)內,供(gong)有(you)“至(zhi)(zhi)圣(sheng)(sheng)先(xian)師孔(kong)子”塑像(xiang),并有(you)“至(zhi)(zhi)圣(sheng)(sheng)先(xian)師孔(kong)子贊并序”的(de)碑文(wen),系清·戶部(bu)尚書(shu)文(wen)華殿(dian)(dian)大(da)學士(shi)張至(zhi)(zhi)書(shu)奉康熙二(er)(er)十五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)七月(yue)初四勒文(wen)敬書(shu),由湖廣德安府應城(cheng)知縣(xian)許(xu)霖吉立(li)。殿(dian)(dian)中還懸列(lie)清朝歷代皇帝(di)御賜的(de)匾額(e)(e):康熙二(er)(er)十二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1683年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),御書(shu)“萬世師表”,雍正二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1724年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)“生民未有(you)”,乾隆元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1875年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)“與(yu)天地參”,嘉慶四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1799年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)“圣(sheng)(sheng)集大(da)成(cheng)(cheng)”,道(dao)光元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1821年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))頒(ban)額(e)(e):“圣(sheng)(sheng)協時中”;咸豐元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1851年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)“德齊幬載”;順治二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)“圣(sheng)(sheng)神天縱(zong)”;光緒(xu)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1875年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)“斯文(wen)在(zai)(zai)茲(zi)”。為(wei)紀元(yuan)盛(sheng)典,殿(dian)(dian)左為(wei)祭器庫,右(you)為(wei)樂(le)器庫;東西廡之南為(wei)更衣所。殿(dian)(dian)后(hou)有(you)魁星(xing)閣,閣壁彩繪魁星(xing)像(xiang)。另有(you)戟門(men)(men),在(zai)(zai)兩(liang)廡前,即大(da)成(cheng)(cheng)門(men)(men),左建(jian)名宦祠,右(you)建(jian)鄉賢祠。
在(zai)封建王朝(chao)科(ke)舉(ju)時代,孔廟歷為(wei)縣級生(sheng)員(yuan)的(de)(de)考(kao)(kao)場。每逢開科(ke)之(zhi)(zhi)時,四(si)鄉學子(zi)(zi)即赴考(kao)(kao)應(ying)(ying)試(shi)(shi),縣試(shi)(shi)及(ji)第(di)即為(wei)庠(xiang)生(sheng),取得府試(shi)(shi)資格(ge),府試(shi)(shi)及(ji)第(di)即為(wei)“郡庠(xiang)生(sheng)”,也(ye)就是秀才。再經(jing)省試(shi)(shi)及(ji)第(di)稱(cheng)舉(ju)人,憑朝(chao)延會試(shi)(shi)及(ji)第(di)為(wei)進士。科(ke)第(di)蟬聯,成(cheng)為(wei)歷代莘莘學子(zi)(zi)步入仕途(tu)的(de)(de)必經(jing)之(zhi)(zhi)路(lu)。在(zai)應(ying)(ying)城,明清兩朝(chao)中(zhong)進士者達40人之(zhi)(zhi)多。孔廟外的(de)(de)北邊,還置有射圃,是監考(kao)(kao)武生(sheng)的(de)(de)考(kao)(kao)場。每逢孔子(zi)(zi)的(de)(de)忌日(ri)(ri),全縣生(sheng)員(yuan)則(ze)(ze)相聚(ju)于(yu)孔廟,舉(ju)行“祭(ji)禮(li)”。而(er)在(zai)送學之(zhi)(zhi)日(ri)(ri),則(ze)(ze)集新進生(sheng)員(yuan)于(yu)大堂,簪(zan)掛花紅,新進生(sheng)員(yuan)行庭參禮(li),知縣拱立搭揖,鼓(gu)樂吹導,率(lv)領謁文(wen)廟,詣(yi)大成(cheng)殿,階下行三拜九叩(kou)首禮(li)。
孔(kong)廟(miao)雖歷代有(you)所(suo)毀,而(er)各朝又都有(you)所(suo)興建,且漸(jian)臻完善。諸(zhu)如“崇圣(sheng)”、“忠(zhong)義”、“孝悌”、“賀文忠(zhong)公”諸(zhu)祠(ci)(ci)以及“名(ming)宦(huan)祠(ci)(ci)”、“鄉賢(xian)祠(ci)(ci)”等也(ye)相繼修建。千百年來,孔(kong)廟(miao)一直(zhi)成為應城尊儒興學的圣(sheng)地傳承于世。至(zhi)今古跡猶(you)存,形貌仍在。