應城(cheng)的孔廟在應城(cheng)公園內,是(shi)一處具(ju)有千年(nian)歷(li)史的建筑(zhu)景(jing)點和儒學圣地。
應(ying)城孔廟(miao)作為儒學圣(sheng)地,源于黌(hong)學。唐·顯慶元年(nian)(nian)(656年(nian)(nian)),韋思謙(qian)任應(ying)城縣(xian)令(ling),始建黌(hong)舍。至(zhi)北宋·元符二(er)年(nian)(nian)(1099年(nian)(nian)),令(ling)謝良佐于縣(xian)署衙的東(dong)邊(bian),修(xiu)建了學宮(即孔廟(miao))。南宋·紹熙年(nian)(nian)間(1194年(nian)(nian)),劉(liu)炳宰應(ying)城,興建儒學,后毀于兵(bing)火。明(ming)·洪(hong)武三年(nian)(nian)(1370年(nian)(nian)),知(zhi)(zhi)縣(xian)賈嚴又(you)重建。明(ming)·景(jing)泰七年(nian)(nian)(1456年(nian)(nian)),知(zhi)(zhi)縣(xian)夏璣修(xiu)殿、廡、門池;明(ming)·天順五年(nian)(nian)(1461年(nian)(nian)),知(zhi)(zhi)縣(xian)周(zhou)鋒又(you)增飾一新,并建明(ming)倫堂(tang)。八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(1464年(nian)(nian)),推官章(zhang)禺(yu)于堂(tang)前辟(pi)兩齋:左曰“日(ri)新”,右(you)曰“講習(xi)”,后為講堂(tang)。不久,又(you)毀于兵(bing)禍。
孔廟正(zheng)式建(jian)成(cheng)并傳于(yu)后(hou)世,則是在明(ming)·成(cheng)化七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1471年(nian)(nian)(nian)),由知(zhi)縣(xian)汪清主持,重建(jian)大成(cheng)殿(dian)五楹,高三(san)丈,并有大成(cheng)門(men)、東西廡、明(ming)倫堂以及泮(pan)池(chi)(chi)(chi)、石橋、門(men)前(qian)三(san)坊和石龜等,建(jian)筑規模(mo)頗為(wei)(wei)壯(zhuang)觀。大成(cheng)殿(dian)總面積209平(ping)方米(mi),殿(dian)高10米(mi),歇山重檐(yan),斗拱翹角,殿(dian)內寬敞(chang)軒昂(ang),屋脊為(wei)(wei)寶瓶(ping)頂與吻獸(shou),造型壯(zhuang)麗,結構精(jing)巧。殿(dian)前(qian)臺基一(yi)米(mi)有余(yu),植有古(gu)(gu)柏(bo)(bo)兩株,蒼翠挺拔,西邊一(yi)棵曾遭(zao)雷擊(ji),數年(nian)(nian)(nian)后(hou)重發新(xin)枝;殿(dian)后(hou)植有桂樹兩株。雙(shuang)柏(bo)(bo)、雙(shuang)桂相映,更增幾(ji)分古(gu)(gu)香。而孔廟大門(men)前(qian)的(de)泮(pan)池(chi)(chi)(chi)和建(jian)造于(yu)泮(pan)池(chi)(chi)(chi)上的(de)石拱橋,夜晚又有“雙(shuang)月映照(zhao)”(在橋的(de)兩邊泮(pan)池(chi)(chi)(chi)中,能看到一(yi)左一(yi)右的(de)明(ming)月),使古(gu)(gu)柏(bo)(bo)、雙(shuang)月映照(zhao)的(de)孔廟,更顯(xian)得莊(zhuang)嚴(yan)肅(su)穆。大成(cheng)殿(dian)內,供有“至(zhi)(zhi)圣先師(shi)孔子”塑像(xiang),并有“至(zhi)(zhi)圣先師(shi)孔子贊(zan)并序”的(de)碑文,系清·戶(hu)部尚書(shu)文華(hua)殿(dian)大學(xue)士張至(zhi)(zhi)書(shu)奉康熙二(er)十五年(nian)(nian)(nian)七(qi)月初四勒文敬(jing)書(shu),由湖廣德安府應城知(zhi)縣(xian)許(xu)霖吉立。殿(dian)中還懸列清朝歷(li)代(dai)皇帝御賜的(de)匾額(e):康熙二(er)十二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1683年(nian)(nian)(nian)),御書(shu)“萬世師(shi)表”,雍(yong)正(zheng)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1724年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)“生民未有”,乾(qian)隆元(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1875年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)“與天地參”,嘉慶(qing)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1799年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)“圣集大成(cheng)”,道光(guang)元(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1821年(nian)(nian)(nian))頒(ban)(ban)額(e):“圣協時中”;咸豐(feng)元(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1851年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)“德齊(qi)幬載”;順治(zhi)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)“圣神天縱”;光(guang)緒元(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1875年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)(ban)額(e)“斯文在茲(zi)”。為(wei)(wei)紀元(yuan)(yuan)盛典,殿(dian)左為(wei)(wei)祭(ji)器庫,右為(wei)(wei)樂器庫;東西廡之南為(wei)(wei)更衣所。殿(dian)后(hou)有魁(kui)星閣(ge),閣(ge)壁彩繪魁(kui)星像(xiang)。另有戟門(men),在兩廡前(qian),即大成(cheng)門(men),左建(jian)名宦祠(ci),右建(jian)鄉賢祠(ci)。
在封建(jian)王(wang)朝(chao)科(ke)舉(ju)時代,孔(kong)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)歷為(wei)(wei)縣(xian)級生員的(de)(de)考(kao)場。每逢(feng)開(kai)科(ke)之(zhi)時,四鄉學(xue)子即赴考(kao)應(ying)試(shi)(shi),縣(xian)試(shi)(shi)及(ji)第(di)即為(wei)(wei)庠(xiang)生,取得府試(shi)(shi)資格,府試(shi)(shi)及(ji)第(di)即為(wei)(wei)“郡(jun)庠(xiang)生”,也就(jiu)是秀(xiu)才。再經(jing)(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)(wei)進士。科(ke)第(di)蟬聯,成為(wei)(wei)歷代莘莘學(xue)子步入仕(shi)途的(de)(de)必經(jing)(jing)之(zhi)路。在應(ying)城(cheng),明清兩朝(chao)中進士者達40人之(zhi)多。孔(kong)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)外的(de)(de)北邊,還(huan)置有射圃,是監考(kao)武生的(de)(de)考(kao)場。每逢(feng)孔(kong)子的(de)(de)忌(ji)日(ri),全縣(xian)生員則相(xiang)聚于孔(kong)廟(miao)(miao)(miao),舉(ju)行(xing)(xing)“祭禮”。而在送學(xue)之(zhi)日(ri),則集(ji)新(xin)進生員于大堂,簪掛(gua)花紅,新(xin)進生員行(xing)(xing)庭參(can)禮,知縣(xian)拱(gong)立搭揖,鼓樂(le)吹導,率領謁文廟(miao)(miao)(miao),詣大成殿,階(jie)下行(xing)(xing)三(san)拜(bai)九叩首禮。
孔廟雖歷代(dai)有所毀,而各朝又都有所興建(jian),且(qie)漸臻完善。諸如“崇(chong)圣(sheng)”、“忠義”、“孝悌”、“賀文忠公”諸祠(ci)以(yi)及“名宦祠(ci)”、“鄉賢祠(ci)”等也相繼修(xiu)建(jian)。千百年來,孔廟一直成為應城尊儒(ru)興學(xue)的圣(sheng)地傳承于(yu)世。至今古跡猶存(cun),形貌仍在。