Importance
Regardless, scholars – including the most prestigious of its era – came from great distances to lodge in the academy: the Taoist philosophers Tian Pian, Shen Dao, Peng Meng, and possibly Zhuangzi; Zou Yan, the founder of the School of Naturalists; the Mohist philosopher Song Xing; and the Confucian philosophers Mencius, Xun Zi, and Chunyu Kun. The famous scenes of the Mencius dealing with King Xuan arose from the philosopher's time at the academy. The Jixia Academy was also the original center of the Huanglao school and was involved with the compilation of the Guanzi essay "Inward Training" (內業, Nèiyè) that is the oldest received writing concerning "cultivation of vapor" and meditation. Some have argued it was the probable location for the editing and redaction that produced the current Tao Teh Ching.
The academy was popular not only because of the mansions and stipends provided, but because of the honors bestowed by King Xuan: the chief scholar held the rank of "Grand Prefect" and other leaders of the academy were called "Master" (先生, xiānshēng) and honored as if they were high ministers of state (上大夫, shàngdàifū) rather than lowly scholar gentry and they were exempt from corvee.
Read more about this topic: Jixia Academy
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