位于佛山市高明(ming)區西面20公(gong)里的明(ming)城鎮,始建于明(ming)代,為平(ping)面八角,七層樓(lou)閣式磚塔。
在高(gao)明區西面20公里的(de)明城(cheng)鎮(zhen),矗立著一座巍峨(e)壯觀的(de)古塔(ta),它就是高(gao)明的(de)文昌塔(ta)。位于明城(cheng)鎮(zhen)文昌臺(今(jin)文昌樂園)左(zuo)側,始建(jian)于明代,為平面八(ba)角,七層樓閣式磚塔(ta),高(gao)37米,塔(ta)勢凌空聳(song)秀,在本(ben)地(di)有(you)較高(gao)知名(ming)度,但近年周圍建(jian)設影響該塔(ta)的(de)視野效果,樂園與(yu)古塔(ta)相處氛圍不協調。
自古以(yi)來(lai)明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)城(cheng)就是(shi)高(gao)明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)縣府所(suo)(suo)在(zai)地。明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)朝(chao)成化十一(yi)年(公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)1475年)設立(li)高(gao)明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)縣。在(zai)這(zhe)里(li)開(kai)基建(jian)城(cheng)已有(you)整整529年歷史(shi)(shi)了(le)。如果你有(you)興趣,到明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)城(cheng)古城(cheng)街上(shang)(shang)走走,在(zai)那里(li)還(huan)可以(yi)尋覓到昔日的(de)(de)(de)(de)學宮、縣衙、石(shi)板(ban)大(da)(da)(da)街。不過最能(neng)代(dai)表明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)城(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)就是(shi)這(zhe)座已有(you)四百(bai)年歷史(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)昌古塔(ta)(ta)(ta)了(le)。該塔(ta)(ta)(ta)比明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)城(cheng)小一(yi)百(bai)歲。興建(jian)于明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)萬(wan)歷十二年(公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)1584年)。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)平面八角,七(qi)層,磚木結(jie)構,高(gao)37公(gong)(gong)尺。大(da)(da)(da)有(you)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)勢涌出(chu)、凌云聳秀之(zhi)勢。許(xu)多(duo)人都問,為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)何叫(jiao)文(wen)(wen)昌塔(ta)(ta)(ta)?文(wen)(wen)昌,原(yuan)意屬星(xing)(xing)官(guan)名。即常說(shuo)的(de)(de)(de)(de)“文(wen)(wen)曲星(xing)(xing)”,或(huo)“文(wen)(wen)星(xing)(xing)”,也有(you)稱(cheng)“文(wen)(wen)昌帝君”的(de)(de)(de)(de)。神(shen)話中,文(wen)(wen)昌星(xing)(xing)君主(zhu)宰掌管著天下的(de)(de)(de)(de)功名、祿位大(da)(da)(da)權。因(yin)此,文(wen)(wen)星(xing)(xing)是(shi)深受(shou)文(wen)(wen)人崇拜(bai)的(de)(de)(de)(de)星(xing)(xing)。當(dang)年高(gao)明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)縣立(li)文(wen)(wen)昌塔(ta)(ta)(ta),不言(yan)而喻,是(shi)一(yi)種良(liang)好(hao)(hao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)愿(yuan)望,祝愿(yuan)文(wen)(wen)昌星(xing)(xing)君保佑(you)高(gao)明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)大(da)(da)(da)地文(wen)(wen)化昌盛,多(duo)出(chu)功名,多(duo)出(chu)人才。說(shuo)來(lai)也是(shi)巧合,自文(wen)(wen)昌塔(ta)(ta)(ta)建(jian)成五(wu)年后,該縣阮涌村區(qu)(qu)氏兄弟:區(qu)(qu)大(da)(da)(da)相(xiang)(xiang)、區(qu)(qu)大(da)(da)(da)倫(lun)(lun)便雙雙同(tong)榜(bang)考中了(le)進士。金榜(bang)題名,好(hao)(hao)不榮耀!區(qu)(qu)大(da)(da)(da)倫(lun)(lun)被委任要職,在(zai)朝(chao)中和廣(guang)東籍(ji)宰相(xiang)(xiang)海瑞(rui)結(jie)成好(hao)(hao)友。區(qu)(qu)大(da)(da)(da)相(xiang)(xiang)奉命出(chu)京(jing)至各省察訪,他把所(suo)(suo)見到的(de)(de)(de)(de)民間疾苦寫成詩章,獨領風騷,開(kai)一(yi)代(dai)詩風,被譽為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)“嶺南詩派(pai)”的(de)(de)(de)(de)鼻祖。區(qu)(qu)大(da)(da)(da)倫(lun)(lun)、區(qu)(qu)大(da)(da)(da)相(xiang)(xiang)和他們在(zai)朝(chao)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)官(guan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)父親(qin)區(qu)(qu)益被后人合稱(cheng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)“區(qu)(qu)氏三杰”,是(shi)高(gao)明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)歷史(shi)(shi)上(shang)(shang)極其顯赫(he)的(de)(de)(de)(de)人物。
高明古屬端州府(今佛山市)管轄,縣治東門墟(今明城鎮)。據清光緒二十(shi)年(nian)《高明(ming)(ming)(ming)縣志》載:明(ming)(ming)(ming)代大開科場,端州(zhou)出(chu)了(le)不(bu)少名人(ren)學士,“高明(ming)(ming)(ming)郡之云(yun)邑,據萬山中,四面(mian)環拱,面(mian)廓(kuo)東勢稍(shao)洼,譬之屋缺(que)隅,衣缺(que)衽,風(feng)(feng)氣弗聚”。駐(zhu)守在(zai)端州(zhou)的(de)領面(mian)按(an)察司副使王泮,是個“好為民興利”的(de)州(zhou)官,又是個“風(feng)(feng)水(shui)(shui)迷”,他為補高明(ming)(ming)(ming)風(feng)(feng)水(shui)(shui)之缺(que)漏,使高明(ming)(ming)(ming)能多出(chu)人(ren)才,乃與高明(ming)(ming)(ming)知縣張佐治倡儀,捐資(zi)在(zai)明(ming)(ming)(ming)城東側(ce)、滄江河畔的(de)文昌(chang)臺(tai)上建造文昌(chang)塔(ta),時(shi)僅(jin)二年(nian),塔(ta)建成,官紳平民,無不(bu)歡(huan)呼雀躍。
文(wen)(wen)昌(chang)(chang)塔(ta)建成(cheng)后,果然(ran)(ran)科甲(jia)連(lian)綿,其間節義勛名著入史(shi)冊(ce)者數以百(bai)計,有“高(gao)明文(wen)(wen)風甲(jia)端郡”之(zhi)稱。不(bu)料到(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)了清朝嘉慶(qing)二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1797)年(nian)(nian)(nian))五月二十三日(ri)晚上(shang),文(wen)(wen)昌(chang)(chang)塔(ta)頂(ding)端突然(ran)(ran)火光四起,直沖云霄(xiao),塔(ta)無故(gu)傾頹,夷為平地(di)。直到(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)嘉慶(qing)二十二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1817年(nian)(nian)(nian))全縣(xian)紳士(shi)聚集,議論重建文(wen)(wen)昌(chang)(chang)塔(ta),大家捐資,擇良辰吉(ji)日(ri),于(yu)是年(nian)(nian)(nian)三月在原址(zhi)按原貌動工重建。重建后的(de)文(wen)(wen)昌(chang)(chang)塔(ta)、經歷了長期的(de)風吹雨打雷擊,多(duo)處出現損毀。解(jie)放后,縣(xian)人民政(zheng)府多(duo)次拔款(kuan)修(xiu)葺,使古(gu)塔(ta)依然(ran)(ran)屹立,風采不(bu)減當年(nian)(nian)(nian)。1985年(nian)(nian)(nian),很多(duo)旅外華僑(qiao)回省(sheng)親,見到(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)古(gu)塔(ta)保護(hu)完(wan)好,甚為感動,慷慨捐資數萬元,將古(gu)塔(ta)修(xiu)飾(shi)一(yi)新。每層塔(ta)裝上(shang)了彩燈,到(dao)(dao)(dao)(dao)了晚上(shang),整座古(gu)塔(ta)五彩繽紛(fen),璀(cui)燦(can)奪目。明城鎮政(zheng)府還在此配套興(xing)建了文(wen)(wen)昌(chang)(chang)樂園,園外筑起了古(gu)色古(gu)香的(de)琉璃瓦(wa)圍墻,園內建有亭臺(tai)樓閣,種(zhong)上(shang)各種(zhong)花草樹木。1983年(nian)(nian)(nian),列為縣(xian)級重點(dian)保護(hu)文(wen)(wen)物:1990年(nian)(nian)(nian),定此為高(gao)明八景(jing)之(zhi)一(yi)“文(wen)(wen)昌(chang)(chang)遠眺”。