應城的(de)孔廟在應城公(gong)園內(nei),是(shi)一處具有千年歷史的(de)建筑景點和儒學(xue)圣(sheng)地。
應(ying)城孔廟(miao)(miao)作為儒學(xue)圣地,源于黌學(xue)。唐·顯慶元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(656年(nian)(nian)(nian)),韋思謙(qian)任應(ying)城縣令(ling),始建黌舍。至北宋·元符二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1099年(nian)(nian)(nian)),令(ling)謝良佐于縣署衙的東邊,修建了學(xue)宮(gong)(即孔廟(miao)(miao))。南宋·紹(shao)熙年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1194年(nian)(nian)(nian)),劉炳(bing)宰應(ying)城,興建儒學(xue),后毀于兵(bing)火。明·洪武三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1370年(nian)(nian)(nian)),知縣賈嚴又重(zhong)建。明·景泰(tai)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1456年(nian)(nian)(nian)),知縣夏(xia)璣修殿(dian)、廡、門池;明·天順五(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1461年(nian)(nian)(nian)),知縣周鋒又增飾一(yi)新,并建明倫堂(tang)。八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1464年(nian)(nian)(nian)),推(tui)官章禺于堂(tang)前辟(pi)兩齋:左曰“日新”,右曰“講習”,后為講堂(tang)。不久(jiu),又毀于兵(bing)禍。
孔(kong)(kong)廟(miao)正式建成并傳(chuan)于后世,則是在(zai)明(ming)·成化七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1471年(nian)(nian)(nian)),由(you)(you)知縣汪清主持,重(zhong)建大(da)(da)成殿(dian)(dian)(dian)五(wu)(wu)楹,高(gao)三丈,并有(you)大(da)(da)成門、東西廡、明(ming)倫堂以及泮(pan)池(chi)(chi)、石橋(qiao)、門前三坊(fang)和石龜等(deng),建筑規(gui)模頗為壯觀。大(da)(da)成殿(dian)(dian)(dian)總(zong)面積209平方米(mi)(mi),殿(dian)(dian)(dian)高(gao)10米(mi)(mi),歇(xie)山重(zhong)檐,斗拱(gong)翹角(jiao),殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內寬敞軒昂,屋脊為寶(bao)瓶(ping)頂與(yu)吻獸,造(zao)型(xing)壯麗(li),結構(gou)精巧。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)前臺基(ji)一米(mi)(mi)有(you)余,植有(you)古(gu)(gu)(gu)柏(bo)兩(liang)(liang)株(zhu),蒼翠挺(ting)拔,西邊一棵曾遭雷擊,數(shu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)后重(zhong)發新(xin)枝;殿(dian)(dian)(dian)后植有(you)桂(gui)樹兩(liang)(liang)株(zhu)。雙(shuang)柏(bo)、雙(shuang)桂(gui)相映,更增幾分古(gu)(gu)(gu)香。而孔(kong)(kong)廟(miao)大(da)(da)門前的(de)泮(pan)池(chi)(chi)和建造(zao)于泮(pan)池(chi)(chi)上的(de)石拱(gong)橋(qiao),夜晚又(you)有(you)“雙(shuang)月(yue)映照”(在(zai)橋(qiao)的(de)兩(liang)(liang)邊泮(pan)池(chi)(chi)中,能(neng)看到一左一右的(de)明(ming)月(yue)),使(shi)古(gu)(gu)(gu)柏(bo)、雙(shuang)月(yue)映照的(de)孔(kong)(kong)廟(miao),更顯得莊嚴肅穆。大(da)(da)成殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內,供有(you)“至(zhi)圣(sheng)先師孔(kong)(kong)子”塑像(xiang)(xiang),并有(you)“至(zhi)圣(sheng)先師孔(kong)(kong)子贊并序”的(de)碑(bei)文(wen),系清·戶部尚書(shu)文(wen)華殿(dian)(dian)(dian)大(da)(da)學士張至(zhi)書(shu)奉康(kang)熙二(er)(er)(er)十五(wu)(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)七月(yue)初四勒文(wen)敬(jing)書(shu),由(you)(you)湖廣德安府應(ying)城知縣許霖吉立。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)中還懸列清朝(chao)歷代皇(huang)帝御賜(si)的(de)匾(bian)額(e):康(kang)熙二(er)(er)(er)十二(er)(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1683年(nian)(nian)(nian)),御書(shu)“萬世師表”,雍正二(er)(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1724年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)“生民(min)未(wei)有(you)”,乾隆元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1875年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)“與(yu)天(tian)地參”,嘉慶(qing)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1799年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)“圣(sheng)集大(da)(da)成”,道光元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1821年(nian)(nian)(nian))頒(ban)額(e):“圣(sheng)協時中”;咸豐元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1851年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)“德齊(qi)幬載(zai)”;順治二(er)(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)“圣(sheng)神天(tian)縱(zong)”;光緒元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1875年(nian)(nian)(nian)),頒(ban)額(e)“斯文(wen)在(zai)茲”。為紀元(yuan)盛典,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)左為祭器(qi)庫,右為樂(le)器(qi)庫;東西廡之南為更衣所(suo)。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)后有(you)魁(kui)星(xing)閣,閣壁彩繪(hui)魁(kui)星(xing)像(xiang)(xiang)。另有(you)戟門,在(zai)兩(liang)(liang)廡前,即大(da)(da)成門,左建名宦祠(ci),右建鄉(xiang)賢(xian)祠(ci)。
在(zai)封建王朝科(ke)舉(ju)時代,孔(kong)廟歷為(wei)縣(xian)級生(sheng)員(yuan)的(de)考場。每(mei)逢(feng)(feng)開科(ke)之(zhi)時,四鄉學(xue)子(zi)(zi)即赴(fu)考應(ying)試(shi),縣(xian)試(shi)及第(di)即為(wei)庠生(sheng),取得府(fu)試(shi)資格,府(fu)試(shi)及第(di)即為(wei)“郡庠生(sheng)”,也就是(shi)秀才。再(zai)經省試(shi)及第(di)稱舉(ju)人,憑朝延(yan)會試(shi)及第(di)為(wei)進(jin)士(shi)。科(ke)第(di)蟬聯,成為(wei)歷代莘(xin)莘(xin)學(xue)子(zi)(zi)步入仕途的(de)必(bi)經之(zhi)路。在(zai)應(ying)城,明清兩朝中進(jin)士(shi)者達40人之(zhi)多。孔(kong)廟外的(de)北邊,還(huan)置有射圃,是(shi)監(jian)考武生(sheng)的(de)考場。每(mei)逢(feng)(feng)孔(kong)子(zi)(zi)的(de)忌(ji)日(ri)(ri),全縣(xian)生(sheng)員(yuan)則相(xiang)聚于孔(kong)廟,舉(ju)行“祭禮”。而在(zai)送學(xue)之(zhi)日(ri)(ri),則集(ji)新進(jin)生(sheng)員(yuan)于大堂,簪掛花紅(hong),新進(jin)生(sheng)員(yuan)行庭參禮,知縣(xian)拱立搭揖,鼓樂(le)吹導(dao),率領(ling)謁文廟,詣大成殿,階下行三(san)拜九叩首禮。
孔(kong)廟(miao)雖歷代有(you)所(suo)毀(hui),而各朝又都有(you)所(suo)興建(jian),且漸臻完善。諸如“崇(chong)圣(sheng)”、“忠(zhong)義”、“孝悌(ti)”、“賀文忠(zhong)公”諸祠(ci)以及(ji)“名宦(huan)祠(ci)”、“鄉賢祠(ci)”等也(ye)相(xiang)繼修建(jian)。千百年(nian)來,孔(kong)廟(miao)一直成為應城尊(zun)儒興學的圣(sheng)地(di)傳承(cheng)于(yu)世(shi)。至(zhi)今古跡猶存,形貌仍在。