應(ying)城的孔廟在應(ying)城公園內,是一處具有千年(nian)歷史(shi)的建筑景(jing)點和儒學圣地(di)。
應城(cheng)孔(kong)(kong)廟(miao)作為儒(ru)學(xue)圣地,源于黌學(xue)。唐·顯慶元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(656年(nian)(nian)(nian)),韋(wei)思謙任應城(cheng)縣令,始建(jian)黌舍。至(zhi)北宋·元符二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1099年(nian)(nian)(nian)),令謝良佐(zuo)于縣署衙的(de)東邊(bian),修建(jian)了學(xue)宮(gong)(即孔(kong)(kong)廟(miao))。南宋·紹熙(xi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(1194年(nian)(nian)(nian)),劉炳宰應城(cheng),興(xing)建(jian)儒(ru)學(xue),后毀于兵(bing)(bing)火。明(ming)·洪武三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1370年(nian)(nian)(nian)),知縣賈嚴又(you)重建(jian)。明(ming)·景(jing)泰(tai)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1456年(nian)(nian)(nian)),知縣夏(xia)璣(ji)修殿、廡、門池;明(ming)·天順五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1461年(nian)(nian)(nian)),知縣周鋒又(you)增(zeng)飾一新,并建(jian)明(ming)倫堂。八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1464年(nian)(nian)(nian)),推官章(zhang)禺于堂前(qian)辟兩齋(zhai):左(zuo)曰“日新”,右(you)曰“講習”,后為講堂。不久,又(you)毀于兵(bing)(bing)禍。
孔(kong)廟(miao)正式建(jian)(jian)成(cheng)并(bing)(bing)傳于(yu)后世(shi),則是(shi)在明(ming)(ming)·成(cheng)化(hua)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1471年(nian)(nian)(nian)),由(you)知縣(xian)汪清主持,重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)大(da)(da)成(cheng)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)五楹,高三丈,并(bing)(bing)有大(da)(da)成(cheng)門、東西(xi)廡(wu)(wu)、明(ming)(ming)倫堂以及泮(pan)池、石(shi)(shi)橋、門前三坊和(he)石(shi)(shi)龜(gui)等(deng),建(jian)(jian)筑規(gui)模頗(po)為(wei)壯觀(guan)。大(da)(da)成(cheng)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)總面積209平(ping)方米(mi),殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)高10米(mi),歇山重(zhong)檐,斗拱(gong)(gong)翹角,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內寬敞軒昂,屋(wu)脊為(wei)寶瓶頂與(yu)吻獸,造(zao)型壯麗(li),結構精巧。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)前臺(tai)基一(yi)米(mi)有余,植(zhi)有古柏兩(liang)株,蒼翠挺拔(ba),西(xi)邊(bian)一(yi)棵曾遭雷擊,數年(nian)(nian)(nian)后重(zhong)發新(xin)枝;殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)后植(zhi)有桂(gui)樹兩(liang)株。雙柏、雙桂(gui)相映,更(geng)增幾分古香。而孔(kong)廟(miao)大(da)(da)門前的(de)泮(pan)池和(he)建(jian)(jian)造(zao)于(yu)泮(pan)池上的(de)石(shi)(shi)拱(gong)(gong)橋,夜晚又有“雙月(yue)映照(zhao)”(在橋的(de)兩(liang)邊(bian)泮(pan)池中,能(neng)看到一(yi)左(zuo)一(yi)右(you)的(de)明(ming)(ming)月(yue)),使古柏、雙月(yue)映照(zhao)的(de)孔(kong)廟(miao),更(geng)顯(xian)得莊嚴(yan)肅穆。大(da)(da)成(cheng)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內,供有“至圣(sheng)先師(shi)(shi)孔(kong)子(zi)”塑(su)像(xiang),并(bing)(bing)有“至圣(sheng)先師(shi)(shi)孔(kong)子(zi)贊并(bing)(bing)序”的(de)碑文,系(xi)清·戶(hu)部(bu)尚書(shu)(shu)文華殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)大(da)(da)學士張至書(shu)(shu)奉康(kang)熙二(er)十五年(nian)(nian)(nian)七月(yue)初四勒文敬書(shu)(shu),由(you)湖廣(guang)德安府應(ying)城知縣(xian)許霖吉立。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)中還懸列清朝(chao)歷(li)代皇帝(di)御賜的(de)匾額(e)(e):康(kang)熙二(er)十二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1683年(nian)(nian)(nian)),御書(shu)(shu)“萬(wan)世(shi)師(shi)(shi)表”,雍正二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1724年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)“生民未有”,乾(qian)隆元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1875年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)“與(yu)天(tian)地(di)參”,嘉慶四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1799年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)“圣(sheng)集大(da)(da)成(cheng)”,道光元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1821年(nian)(nian)(nian))頒(ban)額(e)(e):“圣(sheng)協時中”;咸豐元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1851年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)“德齊幬載”;順治二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)“圣(sheng)神天(tian)縱”;光緒(xu)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1875年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)(e)“斯文在茲(zi)”。為(wei)紀元(yuan)盛(sheng)典,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)左(zuo)為(wei)祭器庫,右(you)為(wei)樂(le)器庫;東西(xi)廡(wu)(wu)之南為(wei)更(geng)衣所。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)后有魁星(xing)閣,閣壁彩繪(hui)魁星(xing)像(xiang)。另有戟門,在兩(liang)廡(wu)(wu)前,即大(da)(da)成(cheng)門,左(zuo)建(jian)(jian)名宦祠,右(you)建(jian)(jian)鄉賢祠。
在封建王朝科舉時代(dai)(dai),孔(kong)(kong)廟歷為縣(xian)(xian)級生(sheng)員(yuan)的(de)考場。每(mei)逢(feng)開科之時,四鄉(xiang)學(xue)(xue)子即(ji)赴(fu)考應試(shi)(shi)(shi),縣(xian)(xian)試(shi)(shi)(shi)及第(di)(di)即(ji)為庠生(sheng),取得府試(shi)(shi)(shi)資(zi)格,府試(shi)(shi)(shi)及第(di)(di)即(ji)為“郡庠生(sheng)”,也就是秀才。再(zai)經省(sheng)試(shi)(shi)(shi)及第(di)(di)稱舉人,憑朝延會試(shi)(shi)(shi)及第(di)(di)為進士。科第(di)(di)蟬聯,成為歷代(dai)(dai)莘莘學(xue)(xue)子步(bu)入仕(shi)途(tu)的(de)必經之路。在應城,明清兩朝中(zhong)進士者達(da)40人之多。孔(kong)(kong)廟外(wai)的(de)北邊,還置有射(she)圃,是監考武生(sheng)的(de)考場。每(mei)逢(feng)孔(kong)(kong)子的(de)忌日(ri),全縣(xian)(xian)生(sheng)員(yuan)則相(xiang)聚于孔(kong)(kong)廟,舉行(xing)“祭禮(li)”。而在送學(xue)(xue)之日(ri),則集新(xin)進生(sheng)員(yuan)于大堂,簪掛花紅,新(xin)進生(sheng)員(yuan)行(xing)庭參(can)禮(li),知縣(xian)(xian)拱(gong)立(li)搭揖,鼓(gu)樂吹導,率領謁文廟,詣大成殿(dian),階下行(xing)三拜九(jiu)叩(kou)首禮(li)。
孔(kong)廟雖歷代有(you)所(suo)毀,而各朝又都有(you)所(suo)興建,且漸(jian)臻(zhen)完善。諸如“崇圣”、“忠(zhong)(zhong)義”、“孝(xiao)悌”、“賀文忠(zhong)(zhong)公”諸祠以及“名宦祠”、“鄉賢祠”等也相(xiang)繼修建。千(qian)百(bai)年來,孔(kong)廟一直成為(wei)應城尊儒(ru)興學的圣地(di)傳承于世。至今古跡(ji)猶存(cun),形(xing)貌仍在。