The Jixia Academy was an academy that Qi set up in the Warring States period beside the Ji Gate of its capital Linzi. Its way of working was that the state paid to keep the scholars, while the scholars could debate as they pleased and were not obliged to serve the state.
Tian Wu of Qi in the Warring States period, known as Duke Huan of Tian Qi, founded the academy beside the Ji Gate of Linzi, the beginning of state-funded schooling in which the scholars debated on their own authority.
Under King Xuan of Qi the academy reached its height. Hundreds of scholars such as Mencius, Zou Yan and Chunyu Kun gathered there to "debate without governing", that is, they held no office and only discussed the affairs of state and learning.
Later Xunzi served three times as libationer of Jixia and drew together the learning of the masters. What remained of the academy lasted until Qi fell.
Jixia Academy is the class in the chapter on Education on the academy at Jixia. It covers the academy that Tian Wu of Qi founded beside the Ji Gate of Linzi in the Warring States period, where the state paid and scholars freely debated; under King Xuan of Qi it reached its height, with hundreds of scholars "debating without governing"; Xunzi served three times as its libationer, and the academy's legacy lasted until Qi fell.
