A: Academies were an important form of educational organization in ancient China. As a teaching institution, since the Northern Song Dynasty, there have been many forms, such as private, official and private assistance. Compared with previous academies, academies in Song Dynasty have their own characteristics. They inherited and developed the tradition of ancient private schools, absorbed the teaching system of religion, especially Zen Buddhism, and the experience of official learning, and became a relatively independent education system that developed in parallel with official learning. Generally speaking, the degree is higher than that of Mongolian schools or the highest institution in the province. Some of them have the nature of ethnic studies, voluntary research and private schools, and some of them are dedicated to offering sacrifices to sages. Specifically, the characteristics of the Song Academy in organization and management are as follows:

(1) Simple organization and few managers. The academy implements the responsibility system of mountain leader (also known as cave leader, hall leader, mountain leader, etc.). ), and the general host is also the speaker, mostly by famous scholars.

(2) The curriculum is flexible. Mainly students' self-study and discussion. The exam pays attention to both ability and political integrity. There are quarterly or annual exams, and the results should refer to the usual results. Students keep diaries to record their academic and moral progress.

(3) Strict academic rules. Learning rules are the general policy of the college, and the procedures, methods and directions of teaching are stipulated by learning rules. Teachers and students abide by each other, supervise each other, and reward and punishment are clear.

(4) The sources of education funds are diversified and the funds are independent. The venue and funds of the college are funded by the government and raised by the people themselves. The hospital provides students with meals and ointment.

(5) distinctive features. Each college has its own characteristics and style.

The main characteristics of education and teaching:

(1) Academy is not only a teaching institution, but also an academic research institution. Teaching and scientific research are closely combined and promote each other, and an academy often becomes the base of teaching research and academic research in a school.

(2) Have an active academic atmosphere. The academy attaches importance to academic exchanges and allows different scholars to give lectures in the academy. Different views can contend, and lectures can be listened to freely. The system of "giving lectures" prevailed in academies in the Southern Song Dynasty. Inviting famous scholars to give lectures, conduct academic exchanges and debates has become an important teaching form of the academy. Students are free to come to the college to attend classes and come and go freely.

(3) Teaching is based on students' self-study. Emphasis is placed on reasoning, reasoning, taking Confucian classics as the main content, adopting the way of questioning and debating, focusing on heuristic teaching, and requiring students to practice while learning knowledge.

(4) The relationship between teachers and students is harmonious. College teachers and students get along day and night, discuss and study together, and have deep feelings.

Generally speaking, giving lectures in academies made up for the shortage of official schools, enriched and expanded the connotation of ancient education in China, and became an important educational organization form in the middle and late feudal society of China.