Section 2:  The True Seed of Intellectual Development

There were few scholars in the early days when Tanshi Ting  (淡水廳) was first established. It was not until the latter half of the 18th century when Ming-Chih College (明志書院) was founded that students had the opportunity to meet with learned teachers and study the Four Books and The Five Classics. The cultural milieu began to thrive in the city. Many students took classes during the day and practiced writing throughout the night, all hoping to attain the honor of passing the imperial examination. In the third year of the Daoguang reign (1823),  Zheng Yongxi became the first Jinshi (進士) from Taiwan since the Qing administration governed the island. His feat sent waves of joy across Taiwan, immediately catapulting Tek-chhàm as the city of scholarly achievements. Later on Zheng taught at Ming-Chih College to inculcate the next generation of scholars after resigning from his official post and returning to his hometown. From Zheng Yongxi, Ming-Chih College to the imperial examination, this section consists of related artifacts to show the burgeoning of the true seed of intellectual development in Hsinchu.