Gu Xiancheng (1550 - 1612) is an outstanding educationalist of Ming Dynasty. Donglin academy of classical learning that he established has a great effect on generations. His educational thought is profound system. Gu Xiancheng publicized the practical education idea and opposed to empty school tradition. He advocated that the education must relate to the reality closely and appeale scholastics to care about current event. He thought that national promotion must depend upon education when he discussed educational function and goal. He seed the society"s corruption. He thought it necessary to bring honor to social morals. The morals bring honor need to educate. He hoped educates through the academy publicizes traditional morals thought. He fully realized the masses" strength. In order to transform social, he hoped he could make friends with people of the same idea can widely become friends.

Gu Xiancheng took the Confucianist classics education content. He advocated the student should mainly studied Lixue that was an idealist philosophy in the Song and Ming Dynasties. He thought the literature and art were secondary. He thought the education content had primary and secondary division. He opposed to Wang Yangming"s theory that human nature was not friendly or wicked. He supported Mencius, Cheng Hao and Zhu Xi"s doctrine that human nature was basically good. He thought the human to be supposed for friendly and remove evil. He emphasized five kind of enhancing moral boundary. One was culture before sentiment. The second was two forgets with altruism. The third was practical experience. The fourth was sit quietly. The fifth is correcting mistakes. In the Ming Dynasty, the academy was destroyed many times by the government. Giving a thought to vindication of the academy of classical learning education, Gu Xiancheng helped scholastics to explain two confused place. He also summarized nine merits of the academy of classical learning education.

According to "Bailu Agreement ", he had formulated "Donglin Agreement". "Donglin Agreement "included Teaching means, register system, Sacrificial offering way and so on. He perfected the academy of classical learning education. "Donglin Agreement " also included the elementary theory, the principle and method of the academy of classical learning education. Gu Xiancheng proposed that the lecture should insist on four main principles. He requested the scholar avoids to enter nine miss areas. He insisted on integrating theory with practice. He used poety and song to cultivate scholastics" temperament. He required that scholastics should straight attitude, believe in oneself and advance gradually in due order, be good at asking about and be good at listening to, learn erudite and accurate, study together and introspection in key period. On selecting the talents, Gu Xiancheng taked to differentiate man of honour and person of vile character. He realized that man of honour and person of vile character were totally different. He appealed making an exception to choose and give up. Gu Xiancheng emphasized the education must highlight the usability, tradition and self-consciousness.

His educational thought was advantageous to the end of the Ming dynasty talented person"s raise, practical knowledge ideological trend starting and inheriting the academy of classical learning education. Moreover, the Donglin spirit which he blazed a way in have affects profoundly to the later generations. Gu Xiancheng"s educational thought brings many inspires to the present higher education.