Academies of Classical Learning

The Shuyuan (traditional Chinese: 書院; simplified Chinese: 书院; pinyin: shūyuàn), usually known in English as Academies of Classical Learning or simply Academies, were a type of school in Imperial China. Unlike national academies and district schools, shuyuan were usually private establishments built away from cities or towns, providing a quiet environment where scholars could engage in studies and contemplation without restrictions and worldly distractions.