文(wen)(wen)瀛(ying)(ying)湖俗名(ming)海(hai)子邊,是(shi)(shi)太(tai)原(yuan)(yuan)市建成年代久遠(yuan)、文(wen)(wen)化底蘊(yun)深厚的(de)一座(zuo)公園(yuan)。地處繁華的(de)市中心,占地面(mian)積(ji)10.6萬平(ping)方米。其中文(wen)(wen)瀛(ying)(ying)湖水(shui)面(mian)積(ji)3.2萬平(ping)方米。文(wen)(wen)瀛(ying)(ying)湖的(de)變遷可(ke)看(kan)作(zuo)是(shi)(shi)太(tai)原(yuan)(yuan)變遷的(de)縮影和見證。文(wen)(wen)瀛(ying)(ying)湖的(de)歷史較早可(ke)以追溯到北宋時期。宋太(tai)宗將晉陽(yang)城(cheng)焚毀后,于太(tai)平(ping)興國七年(982年)在(zai)(zai)唐明(ming)鎮(zhen)的(de)基礎上(shang)修建的(de)一座(zuo)新城(cheng),即(ji)太(tai)原(yuan)(yuan)城(cheng),海(hai)子邊是(shi)(shi)當時護城(cheng)河的(de)一個部分。傳說唐代以來,唐明(ming)鎮(zhen)有晉文(wen)(wen)公祠(今山西省政府所在(zai)(zai)地)。人(ren)們為(wei)了(le)紀(ji)念晉文(wen)(wen)公的(de)夫人(ren)、秦穆公的(de)女兒(er)文(wen)(wen)贏,遂稱(cheng)海(hai)子邊為(wei)文(wen)(wen)贏湖,后人(ren)加(jia)了(le)三點水(shui)為(wei)“瀛(ying)(ying)”字,習稱(cheng)文(wen)(wen)瀛(ying)(ying)湖。
著(zhu)名景(jing)(jing)觀“巽(xun)水(shui)(shui)(shui)煙(yan)波”就是(shi)(shi)指這(zhe)里。它與“崛圍紅葉、烈石(shi)寒泉、汾河晚渡、天(tian)(tian)門積雪(xue)、土(tu)堂怪柏、雙塔(ta)凌(ling)霄、西(xi)(xi)山疊翠(cui)”并(bing)稱(cheng)“陽曲八景(jing)(jing)”。據說:文(wen)瀛(ying)湖(hu)(hu)湖(hu)(hu)邊有(you)一(yi)只碩大的“金(jin)(jin)雞(ji)(ji)”,宋代這(zhe)里是(shi)(shi)東(dong)城(cheng)(cheng)墻朝(chao)曦門所在(zai)(zai)地(di)。東(dong)岸一(yi)丘山崗,每(mei)天(tian)(tian)它先(xian)接受朝(chao)陽的沐浴(yu),又(you)后和夕陽告(gao)別,終日(ri)陽光照(zhao)耀,金(jin)(jin)光燦燦,猶如金(jin)(jin)雞(ji)(ji)獨立(li)。傳(chuan)說:古時,一(yi)只巨(ju)(ju)鰲(ao)潛藏水(shui)(shui)(shui)底,修煉成(cheng)精,被張天(tian)(tian)師識(shi)破,作法(fa)貼符(fu)土(tu)崗,鎮降巨(ju)(ju)鰲(ao)于(yu)水(shui)(shui)(shui)底,土(tu)崗遂化為(wei)金(jin)(jin)雞(ji)(ji),乃為(wei)金(jin)(jin)雞(ji)(ji)嶺。明初擴(kuo)城(cheng)(cheng),嶺與湖(hu)(hu)均(jun)被圈城(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong)(zhong),每(mei)至夏秋,煙(yan)波虹(hong)霓,煞是(shi)(shi)好看,晉人(ren)(ren)(ren)美之曰:“巽(xun)水(shui)(shui)(shui)煙(yan)波”。“巽(xun)”是(shi)(shi)八卦東(dong)南(nan)方(fang)向(xiang),文(wen)瀛(ying)湖(hu)(hu)在(zai)(zai)其城(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)南(nan),故稱(cheng)巽(xun)水(shui)(shui)(shui)。這(zhe)里也是(shi)(shi)文(wen)化教育場所,為(wei)文(wen)廟、貢(gong)院的集中(zhong)(zhong)區(qu)域(yu)。清光緒年(nian)間,冀寧道連(lian)甲對這(zhe)片“文(wen)瀛(ying)湖(hu)(hu)”進行(xing)清理,又(you)在(zai)(zai)北湖(hu)(hu)東(dong)南(nan)建一(yi)小亭,匾書“影(ying)翠(cui)亭”,在(zai)(zai)湖(hu)(hu)的四周安(an)設木柵欄(lan),戶內放置(zhi)小船,形(xing)成(cheng)了貢(gong)院的原始雛形(xing),成(cheng)為(wei)風景(jing)(jing)怡人(ren)(ren)(ren)的游覽(lan)地(di)。每(mei)當旭日(ri)東(dong)升時,文(wen)峰雙塔(ta)的倩影(ying)常常映照(zhao)在(zai)(zai)文(wen)瀛(ying)湖(hu)(hu)中(zhong)(zhong),好像兩支在(zai)(zai)翻開蓋的硯池中(zhong)(zhong)吸墨的巨(ju)(ju)筆時刻準備揮毫(hao)一(yi)般。因當時山西(xi)(xi)出了許多文(wen)人(ren)(ren)(ren)名士(shi),故有(you)“寶(bao)(bao)筆寶(bao)(bao)墨鑄絕文(wen)”的佳句。相傳(chuan)有(you)一(yi)南(nan)方(fang)云游僧人(ren)(ren)(ren)來到文(wen)瀛(ying)湖(hu)(hu)畔,發現(xian)這(zhe)一(yi)美景(jing)(jing),不禁贊道:“難(nan)怪山西(xi)(xi)出了這(zhe)許多文(wen)人(ren)(ren)(ren)名士(shi),因此風水(shui)(shui)(shui)寶(bao)(bao)地(di)也”。