Built during the reign of Emperor Hui in the Song Dynasty, the Donglin Academy was initially a school where scholars in Fujian Province were lectured by the neo-Confucian scholar Yang Shi. Also known as the Guishan Academy, the academy’s existing structures include a pool, a stone archway, Lize Hall, Donglin Temple, Yanju Hall, Yiyong Hall, the East and West Corridors Sangong Ancestral Hall, Donglin Glory Ancestral Hall, Daonan Ancestral Hall, Laifu Chastity Shrine and more. These structures maintain their form and layout from the Qing and Ming dynasties.

The academy was revived with the financial support of local officials and gentry in 1604 intending to fight against the intellectual weakness and moral laxity that were undermining the community during the last few years of Ming dynasty. Thus the academy gave its name to the resulting Donglin movement, which is a philosophical and ideological movement of the early Qing late Ming dynasties of China. However the members of the Donglin academy were persecuted by the court eunuch Wei Zhongxian after they cultivated their anti-absolutist views of the Chinese philosopher Mencius, and criticised the court for not succeeding to maintain the Confucian values.  This resulted in the closure of the Donglin academy, only to be reformed after the death of Wei.

This academy of classical education was established by the outstanding educationalist of Ming Dynasty, Gu Xiancheng.  He put great effort to oppose the empty school tradition and publicize his idea of practical education. He recognized the corruption of the society and advocated the concept of education that is closely related to reality. He pointed out the importance of valuing social morals and national promotion through education.