Chaoyi Xie

Chaoyi Xie

June 30, 2026

Song Dynasty, White Deer Cave Academy, Order of learning, Music education activities, Coupling relationship.

As the core of Neo-Confucianism dissemination and a model of academy education in the Song Dynasty, the music education activities at White Deer Cave Academy were not merely the impartation of art, but deeply aligned with the "order of learning" outlined in Zhu Xi's "Revelation of White Deer Cave Academy", which advocates for "extensive learning, careful inquiry, prudent reflection, clear discernment, and diligent practice". This led to the formation of a unique educational system that "guides music with Neo-Confucianism and educates people through music". This paper systematically sorts out the Confucian ideological origins of music education at White Deer Cave Academy, and attempts to analyze the educational connotation of the "order of learning". Then this paper focuses on demonstrating the inherent coupling relationship between music education activities and "The Preface to Learning", summarizes the theoretical value and practical significance of the music education model at White Deer Cave Academy, and ultimately refines a four-in-one music education model of "knowledge-speculation-value-practice", thus providing data reference and practical inspiration for the integration of moral and aesthetic education, as well as the combination of theory and practice in contemporary quality education.

© 2026, the Authors. Published by ISCCAC

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