應(ying)城的(de)孔廟在應(ying)城公園內,是一處(chu)具有(you)千年歷史的(de)建筑景點和儒(ru)學圣地。
應(ying)城(cheng)孔廟作為儒學圣地,源于(yu)黌學。唐·顯慶元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(656年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),韋思謙任應(ying)城(cheng)縣(xian)令,始(shi)建(jian)(jian)(jian)黌舍。至(zhi)北宋·元符二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1099年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),令謝(xie)良佐(zuo)于(yu)縣(xian)署衙的東邊,修建(jian)(jian)(jian)了學宮(即孔廟)。南宋·紹熙年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(1194年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),劉炳(bing)宰(zai)應(ying)城(cheng),興建(jian)(jian)(jian)儒學,后(hou)毀于(yu)兵火。明·洪武三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1370年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),知縣(xian)賈嚴又(you)重建(jian)(jian)(jian)。明·景泰七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1456年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),知縣(xian)夏(xia)璣修殿、廡、門池;明·天(tian)順(shun)五(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1461年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),知縣(xian)周鋒又(you)增(zeng)飾(shi)一新,并建(jian)(jian)(jian)明倫堂。八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1464年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),推官章(zhang)禺(yu)于(yu)堂前辟兩齋:左曰(yue)“日新”,右曰(yue)“講習”,后(hou)為講堂。不久,又(you)毀于(yu)兵禍。
孔(kong)(kong)廟正式建(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)并傳(chuan)于(yu)后世,則是在(zai)明·成(cheng)(cheng)化七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1471年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),由(you)知縣(xian)汪清主持(chi),重建(jian)(jian)大(da)(da)成(cheng)(cheng)殿五楹,高三丈,并有(you)(you)(you)(you)大(da)(da)成(cheng)(cheng)門、東西廡(wu)、明倫堂以及(ji)泮池、石橋(qiao)、門前三坊(fang)和石龜等,建(jian)(jian)筑規模頗為(wei)(wei)壯(zhuang)觀。大(da)(da)成(cheng)(cheng)殿總(zong)面(mian)積(ji)209平方米,殿高10米,歇山重檐,斗(dou)拱翹角(jiao),殿內(nei)寬敞軒(xuan)昂,屋脊為(wei)(wei)寶瓶頂與吻(wen)獸,造型壯(zhuang)麗,結構精巧。殿前臺基(ji)一米有(you)(you)(you)(you)余,植(zhi)有(you)(you)(you)(you)古柏(bo)兩(liang)(liang)株(zhu),蒼翠挺拔,西邊一棵曾遭(zao)雷擊(ji),數年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)后重發新枝;殿后植(zhi)有(you)(you)(you)(you)桂樹兩(liang)(liang)株(zhu)。雙(shuang)(shuang)柏(bo)、雙(shuang)(shuang)桂相映(ying),更增幾(ji)分古香。而(er)孔(kong)(kong)廟大(da)(da)門前的(de)泮池和建(jian)(jian)造于(yu)泮池上的(de)石拱橋(qiao),夜晚又有(you)(you)(you)(you)“雙(shuang)(shuang)月(yue)映(ying)照”(在(zai)橋(qiao)的(de)兩(liang)(liang)邊泮池中(zhong),能看到一左(zuo)一右的(de)明月(yue)),使古柏(bo)、雙(shuang)(shuang)月(yue)映(ying)照的(de)孔(kong)(kong)廟,更顯(xian)得莊嚴(yan)肅穆。大(da)(da)成(cheng)(cheng)殿內(nei),供有(you)(you)(you)(you)“至圣(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)先師孔(kong)(kong)子”塑像,并有(you)(you)(you)(you)“至圣(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)先師孔(kong)(kong)子贊并序(xu)”的(de)碑文,系清·戶部(bu)尚書(shu)文華殿大(da)(da)學士張至書(shu)奉康(kang)熙二(er)(er)十(shi)五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)七(qi)月(yue)初四(si)勒文敬書(shu),由(you)湖廣德(de)安府應城知縣(xian)許霖(lin)吉立。殿中(zhong)還(huan)懸列(lie)清朝歷代皇(huang)帝御賜的(de)匾額(e):康(kang)熙二(er)(er)十(shi)二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1683年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),御書(shu)“萬世師表”,雍(yong)正二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1724年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)“生民(min)未有(you)(you)(you)(you)”,乾隆元(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1875年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)“與天(tian)地參”,嘉慶(qing)四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1799年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)“圣(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)集大(da)(da)成(cheng)(cheng)”,道(dao)光元(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1821年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))頒(ban)(ban)額(e):“圣(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)協(xie)時(shi)中(zhong)”;咸豐元(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1851年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)“德(de)齊幬載(zai)”;順治二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)“圣(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)神天(tian)縱(zong)”;光緒元(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1875年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)“斯(si)文在(zai)茲”。為(wei)(wei)紀(ji)元(yuan)(yuan)盛典,殿左(zuo)為(wei)(wei)祭(ji)器庫(ku),右為(wei)(wei)樂器庫(ku);東西廡(wu)之(zhi)南(nan)為(wei)(wei)更衣所。殿后有(you)(you)(you)(you)魁(kui)(kui)星閣,閣壁彩繪魁(kui)(kui)星像。另(ling)有(you)(you)(you)(you)戟門,在(zai)兩(liang)(liang)廡(wu)前,即大(da)(da)成(cheng)(cheng)門,左(zuo)建(jian)(jian)名宦祠,右建(jian)(jian)鄉賢祠。
在(zai)封(feng)建(jian)王朝科舉(ju)(ju)時代(dai),孔廟歷為(wei)縣(xian)級(ji)生員(yuan)(yuan)的考(kao)(kao)場(chang)。每逢開(kai)科之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)時,四鄉學子即赴(fu)考(kao)(kao)應試(shi),縣(xian)試(shi)及第(di)(di)即為(wei)庠(xiang)生,取得府試(shi)資格(ge),府試(shi)及第(di)(di)即為(wei)“郡庠(xiang)生”,也就是秀才。再經省試(shi)及第(di)(di)稱舉(ju)(ju)人,憑朝延會試(shi)及第(di)(di)為(wei)進士。科第(di)(di)蟬聯,成(cheng)為(wei)歷代(dai)莘(xin)莘(xin)學子步入仕(shi)途的必(bi)經之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)路。在(zai)應城,明清兩(liang)朝中進士者達40人之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)多。孔廟外的北邊(bian),還置(zhi)有射圃,是監考(kao)(kao)武生的考(kao)(kao)場(chang)。每逢孔子的忌日(ri),全縣(xian)生員(yuan)(yuan)則(ze)相聚于(yu)孔廟,舉(ju)(ju)行(xing)“祭禮”。而(er)在(zai)送(song)學之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)日(ri),則(ze)集新(xin)進生員(yuan)(yuan)于(yu)大堂,簪掛花紅,新(xin)進生員(yuan)(yuan)行(xing)庭參禮,知(zhi)縣(xian)拱立(li)搭(da)揖,鼓樂吹導(dao),率領謁文廟,詣(yi)大成(cheng)殿,階下(xia)行(xing)三拜九叩首禮。
孔(kong)廟雖歷代有所毀(hui),而各朝(chao)又都有所興建(jian),且漸臻(zhen)完善。諸如“崇圣(sheng)”、“忠(zhong)義”、“孝悌”、“賀文忠(zhong)公”諸祠以及“名宦祠”、“鄉賢(xian)祠”等也相繼修建(jian)。千百年來,孔(kong)廟一直成(cheng)為應城(cheng)尊儒興學的圣(sheng)地(di)傳承(cheng)于(yu)世。至今古跡(ji)猶存,形貌仍(reng)在。