應城(cheng)的(de)孔廟在(zai)應城(cheng)公園內,是一(yi)處具(ju)有(you)千(qian)年歷史的(de)建筑景點和儒(ru)學圣地(di)。
應城孔(kong)廟(miao)作為儒(ru)學(xue)圣地(di),源于黌(hong)(hong)學(xue)。唐·顯慶元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(656年(nian)(nian)(nian)),韋思謙任應城縣(xian)令(ling),始建黌(hong)(hong)舍。至北宋(song)·元符二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1099年(nian)(nian)(nian)),令(ling)謝良(liang)佐于縣(xian)署衙的東邊(bian),修建了學(xue)宮(即孔(kong)廟(miao))。南(nan)宋(song)·紹熙年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(1194年(nian)(nian)(nian)),劉(liu)炳宰應城,興建儒(ru)學(xue),后毀于兵(bing)火。明(ming)·洪武三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1370年(nian)(nian)(nian)),知縣(xian)賈嚴又(you)重建。明(ming)·景(jing)泰七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1456年(nian)(nian)(nian)),知縣(xian)夏璣修殿、廡、門池;明(ming)·天(tian)順五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1461年(nian)(nian)(nian)),知縣(xian)周(zhou)鋒又(you)增飾一新,并建明(ming)倫堂。八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1464年(nian)(nian)(nian)),推官章禺于堂前辟兩齋:左曰(yue)(yue)“日新”,右(you)曰(yue)(yue)“講習”,后為講堂。不久,又(you)毀于兵(bing)禍。
孔(kong)(kong)廟正式(shi)建成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)并(bing)傳于(yu)后世(shi),則(ze)是在明(ming)·成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)化七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1471年(nian)(nian)(nian)),由知(zhi)縣(xian)汪清主持(chi),重建大(da)(da)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)五楹,高三(san)丈(zhang),并(bing)有大(da)(da)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men)、東西廡(wu)、明(ming)倫(lun)堂以及(ji)泮池、石橋(qiao)、門(men)前(qian)(qian)三(san)坊和石龜(gui)等,建筑規模頗為(wei)壯(zhuang)觀。大(da)(da)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)總面積209平方(fang)米,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)高10米,歇山重檐,斗拱(gong)翹角(jiao),殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內寬(kuan)敞(chang)軒昂,屋脊(ji)為(wei)寶瓶頂(ding)與(yu)吻獸,造型壯(zhuang)麗,結構精巧(qiao)。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)前(qian)(qian)臺基一(yi)米有余(yu),植有古柏兩株,蒼(cang)翠挺拔,西邊(bian)一(yi)棵曾遭雷擊,數年(nian)(nian)(nian)后重發新枝;殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)后植有桂樹兩株。雙(shuang)柏、雙(shuang)桂相映,更(geng)增(zeng)幾分古香。而孔(kong)(kong)廟大(da)(da)門(men)前(qian)(qian)的泮池和建造于(yu)泮池上的石拱(gong)橋(qiao),夜(ye)晚又有“雙(shuang)月映照”(在橋(qiao)的兩邊(bian)泮池中(zhong),能看到(dao)一(yi)左一(yi)右(you)的明(ming)月),使古柏、雙(shuang)月映照的孔(kong)(kong)廟,更(geng)顯(xian)得莊嚴(yan)肅(su)穆。大(da)(da)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內,供有“至(zhi)圣(sheng)(sheng)先師(shi)孔(kong)(kong)子”塑(su)像,并(bing)有“至(zhi)圣(sheng)(sheng)先師(shi)孔(kong)(kong)子贊并(bing)序”的碑文(wen),系清·戶部尚書(shu)文(wen)華殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)大(da)(da)學士(shi)張至(zhi)書(shu)奉康熙(xi)二(er)(er)十五年(nian)(nian)(nian)七月初四(si)勒(le)文(wen)敬書(shu),由湖(hu)廣(guang)德安府應城知(zhi)縣(xian)許霖吉立。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)中(zhong)還懸列清朝歷代皇帝御(yu)賜的匾(bian)額(e)(e):康熙(xi)二(er)(er)十二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1683年(nian)(nian)(nian)),御(yu)書(shu)“萬(wan)世(shi)師(shi)表”,雍正二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1724年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒額(e)(e)“生民未有”,乾隆(long)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1875年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒額(e)(e)“與(yu)天地參”,嘉(jia)慶四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1799年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒額(e)(e)“圣(sheng)(sheng)集(ji)大(da)(da)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)”,道光(guang)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1821年(nian)(nian)(nian))頒額(e)(e):“圣(sheng)(sheng)協時中(zhong)”;咸(xian)豐(feng)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1851年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒額(e)(e)“德齊(qi)幬(chou)載(zai)”;順(shun)治二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒額(e)(e)“圣(sheng)(sheng)神天縱(zong)”;光(guang)緒元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1875年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒額(e)(e)“斯文(wen)在茲”。為(wei)紀元(yuan)盛(sheng)典,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)左為(wei)祭器庫,右(you)為(wei)樂器庫;東西廡(wu)之南為(wei)更(geng)衣(yi)所。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)后有魁星(xing)閣,閣壁彩(cai)繪魁星(xing)像。另有戟門(men),在兩廡(wu)前(qian)(qian),即大(da)(da)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)門(men),左建名宦祠,右(you)建鄉賢(xian)祠。
在封建王朝科(ke)舉時代,孔(kong)廟(miao)(miao)歷為(wei)縣(xian)(xian)級生員(yuan)(yuan)的(de)考場。每(mei)逢開科(ke)之時,四鄉學(xue)子即赴考應(ying)試(shi)(shi),縣(xian)(xian)試(shi)(shi)及第(di)(di)即為(wei)庠生,取得府試(shi)(shi)資(zi)格,府試(shi)(shi)及第(di)(di)即為(wei)“郡庠生”,也就是秀(xiu)才。再經省試(shi)(shi)及第(di)(di)稱(cheng)舉人,憑朝延(yan)會試(shi)(shi)及第(di)(di)為(wei)進士。科(ke)第(di)(di)蟬聯,成(cheng)為(wei)歷代莘(xin)莘(xin)學(xue)子步入(ru)仕途的(de)必經之路(lu)。在應(ying)城,明清兩朝中進士者達40人之多。孔(kong)廟(miao)(miao)外(wai)的(de)北邊,還置有射圃(pu),是監考武(wu)生的(de)考場。每(mei)逢孔(kong)子的(de)忌日,全縣(xian)(xian)生員(yuan)(yuan)則(ze)相聚于(yu)(yu)孔(kong)廟(miao)(miao),舉行(xing)“祭禮”。而在送學(xue)之日,則(ze)集新進生員(yuan)(yuan)于(yu)(yu)大堂(tang),簪掛花紅(hong),新進生員(yuan)(yuan)行(xing)庭參禮,知縣(xian)(xian)拱立搭揖,鼓(gu)樂(le)吹導,率領(ling)謁文廟(miao)(miao),詣大成(cheng)殿,階下行(xing)三拜九叩(kou)首禮。
孔廟(miao)雖歷代有所(suo)毀,而各朝又(you)都(dou)有所(suo)興(xing)建,且漸臻完善。諸(zhu)如“崇圣(sheng)”、“忠義”、“孝悌”、“賀文忠公”諸(zhu)祠以(yi)及“名宦(huan)祠”、“鄉賢祠”等也相繼修建。千百(bai)年來,孔廟(miao)一(yi)直成為應城(cheng)尊(zun)儒興(xing)學的圣(sheng)地傳承于世。至今古跡猶存,形貌仍在。