明嘉靖(jing)二(er)十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1541年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),蘇州府長洲縣學(xue)遷至(zhi)城東福(fu)寧寺故址。萬歷十(shi)(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1589年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至(zhi)二(er)十(shi)(shi)五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)于(yu)(yu)(yu)縣學(xue)東南之(zhi)(zhi)東禪寺中閣(ge)故址建文(wen)星(xing)閣(ge),附(fu)屬(shu)(shu)于(yu)(yu)(yu)縣學(xue),與(yu)縣學(xue)西(xi)南之(zhi)(zhi)雙塔左右對峙,“以補(bu)形勝之(zhi)(zhi)不足,并壯學(xue)宮之(zhi)(zhi)聲勢(shi)”。四十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)重(zhong)建,稍向南移,即今所在。崇禎六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1633年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))修。現石臺基和底層磚砌(qi)閣(ge)體尚屬(shu)(shu)明代遺物。“閣(ge)之(zhi)(zhi)中為洪(hong)鐘,一響可聞千萬戶。南向為文(wen)星(xing)像,以奉香(xiang)火(huo)”。清代葑門(men)彭氏“祖孫(sun)會狀(zhuang)”,認為是“文(wen)星(xing)鐘靈之(zhi)(zhi)驗”,曾于(yu)(yu)(yu)康熙二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1663年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))、乾(qian)隆十(shi)(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1752年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))出資重(zhong)修,并于(yu)(yu)(yu)閣(ge)旁(pang)建桂香(xiang)殿、朝元閣(ge)、時習堂(tang)(tang)、三賢堂(tang)(tang)等,成為里中名儒文(wen)士講(jiang)學(xue)會文(wen)的(de)(de)勝地。咸豐十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至(zhi)同治二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),文(wen)星(xing)閣(ge)曾被太平(ping)軍用作探望軍情的(de)(de)望樓,附(fu)屬(shu)(shu)殿閣(ge)齋堂(tang)(tang)毀于(yu)(yu)(yu)兵火(huo)。同治九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)修閣(ge),現閣(ge)南僅存的(de)(de)桂香(xiang)殿為同治十(shi)(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)修建的(de)(de)。
清代(dai)曾于(yu)康熙(xi)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1663年(nian)(nian)(nian))、乾(qian)隆十(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1752年(nian)(nian)(nian))出(chu)資(zi)重修,并于(yu)閣(ge)旁建桂(gui)香殿(dian)(dian)、朝元(yuan)閣(ge)、時習堂、三賢堂等,成為里中名儒文士(shi)講學(xue)會文之勝地。咸豐十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian))至同(tong)治(zhi)(zhi)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)),文星閣(ge)附屬殿(dian)(dian)閣(ge)齋堂毀(hui)于(yu)兵(bing)火。同(tong)治(zhi)(zhi)九年(nian)(nian)(nian)修閣(ge),現(xian)閣(ge)南僅(jin)存的桂(gui)香殿(dian)(dian)為十(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)重建。1954年(nian)(nian)(nian)曾進(jin)行整修。
閣(ge)(ge)樓(lou)分四層(ceng)。下承三級青(qing)石方臺基,高6.5米,底(di)邊(bian)寬(kuan)14.4米,逐級向上遞減,南面(mian)有石級作(zuo)(zuo)八(ba)字形(xing)(xing),可(ke)從兩側拾級而(er)登。上覆(fu)四角攢尖頂(ding),翼(yi)角起(qi)翹,葫蘆結頂(ding)。通高約28米。閣(ge)(ge)身平(ping)面(mian)呈正(zheng)方形(xing)(xing),各層(ceng)四面(mian)辟為拱(gong)門,層(ceng)間(jian)無腰檐平(ping)座。底(di)層(ceng)邊(bian)寬(kuan)8.6米,自下而(er)上逐層(ceng)作(zuo)(zuo)不甚明顯(xian)的(de)(de)收分,形(xing)(xing)成(cheng)有層(ceng)次(ci)而(er)又(you)挺直(zhi)的(de)(de)輪(lun)廓線(xian)。第三層(ceng)以(yi)下以(yi)磚(zhuan)結構為主,僅二、三兩層(ceng)樓(lou)板(ban)與(yu)梯級為木(mu)制(zhi)。底(di)層(ceng)為磚(zhuan)級,藏于(yu)夾墻內,方室(shi)四隅有磚(zhuan)砌八(ba)角形(xing)(xing)倚柱,柱端隱出斗拱(gong)。頂(ding)層(ceng)用木(mu)梁(liang)架結構支(zhi)承閣(ge)(ge)頂(ding),第三層(ceng)與(yu)頂(ding)層(ceng)間(jian)無樓(lou)板(ban),僅于(yu)四周(zhou)沿墻構回廊,中(zhong)心形(xing)(xing)成(cheng)四方空井(jing),中(zhong)置橫梁(liang)懸鐘。鑄(zhu)有“文(wen)(wen)星(xing)寶閣(ge)(ge)”銘文(wen)(wen)的(de)(de)一口清代鐵(tie)鐘尚(shang)存。現存碑刻有明萬歷四十年的(de)(de)《長洲縣儒學重(zhong)建文(wen)(wen)星(xing)閣(ge)(ge)記碑》、崇禎六年的(de)(de)《重(zhong)修長洲縣學文(wen)(wen)星(xing)閣(ge)(ge)記碑》等。
文星閣(ge)是一座(zuo)形(xing)制獨(du)特的(de)古建筑,而且石(shi)臺(tai)基(ji)和底(di)層磚砌(qi)閣(ge)體尚屬明(ming)代(dai)遺物。1954年(nian)曾(ceng)進行整修。
文星(xing)閣(ge)位(wei)于蘇(su)(su)州大(da)(da)學(xue)老校區北部, 出蘇(su)(su)州大(da)(da)學(xue)北校門(men)向西300米(mi)有凱(kai)萊酒店(dian),或者住在蘇(su)(su)州大(da)(da)學(xue)內的招待所莘園--在文星(xing)閣(ge)南(nan)(nan)大(da)(da)約100米(mi).或者出蘇(su)(su)州大(da)(da)學(xue)南(nan)(nan)校門(men)到十全(quan)街(jie)上,那兒有不少賓館,如蘇(su)(su)州飯店(dian),東吳(wu)飯店(dian)等.
坐(zuo)落于江川縣星云(yun)湖畔江城(cheng)中心,底層四面相(xiang)通(tong)(tong),兩(liang)條街由問底交叉通(tong)(tong)過(guo)。
出(chu)文(wen)星閣到(dao)干將路西行(xing)不到(dao)1000米有(you)聞名(ming)的飲食一條街(jie)---鳳凰(huang)街(jie),上面有(you)許多(duo)的火鍋城和菜(cai)(cai)館,飯店, 有(you)蘇菜(cai)(cai)、湘(xiang)菜(cai)(cai)、川菜(cai)(cai)等。或者到(dao)觀前街(jie)太監弄有(you)許多(duo)菜(cai)(cai)館--其中有(you)聞名(ming)的得月樓(lou)。