Shūyuàn (书院) refers to a classical Chinese academy — an institution for scholarly study, teaching, and literary exchange, especially prominent from the Tang to Qing dynasties. Literally, 书 (shū) means 'book' or 'writing', and 院 (yuàn) means 'courtyard' or 'institution'; together, they evoke a place centered on books and learning, often housed in quiet, garden-like compounds away from urban centers.

Unlike modern schools, shūyuàn emphasized Confucian classics, moral cultivation, and independent inquiry, frequently led by renowned scholars rather than state-appointed officials. Famous examples include Yuelu Shūyuàn in Changsha and Baitudong Shūyuàn on Mount Lu. Today, the term appears in historical contexts, cultural tourism, and sometimes in the names of elite private schools or research centers evoking traditional scholarship.