惠濟(ji)橋(qiao)位于中國歷(li)史(shi)文化名(ming)(ming)城平(ping)遙古城東北角約一里的(de)惠濟(ji)河上,是一座九墩(dun)聯(lian)孔的(de)石(shi)拱橋(qiao)。盡(jin)管距離(li)舉世聞名(ming)(ming)的(de)平(ping)遙古城墻直線距離(li)只(zhi)有不到(dao)三百米,但是她似乎并沒(mei)(mei)有沾到(dao)這座“世界歷(li)史(shi)文化名(ming)(ming)城”的(de)什(shen)么(me)(me)“光”:既沒(mei)(mei)什(shen)么(me)(me)保護,也沒(mei)(mei)有什(shen)么(me)(me)名(ming)(ming)聲。既沒(mei)(mei)人知道,也沒(mei)(mei)人去看(kan),對于文物來說倒不是什(shen)么(me)(me)壞事,關鍵問題(ti)是,惠濟(ji)橋(qiao)仍在辛勤地(di)“工作”著。
橋(qiao)(qiao)身由石料(liao)砌筑,全長80米,呈弧形,橋(qiao)(qiao)面7.4米。欄(lan)板(ban)、望柱上雕刻有(you)細(xi)(xi)膩的動物花卉圖案。橋(qiao)(qiao)面由條石鋪砌而成的,加工(gong)精細(xi)(xi),粘合牢固規(gui)整,造型古樸大方。惠濟橋(qiao)(qiao)建造獨特,是研究我國(guo)古代橋(qiao)(qiao)梁建造技術(shu)的珍(zhen)貴實物資料(liao)。
惠濟橋(qiao)(qiao)始(shi)建(jian)于(yu)清康熙十(公元1671)年(nian)春,歷時十年(nian),是當(dang)時“官民合作”的(de)(de)一項大型“民生工(gong)程”,起初(chu)是本地人(ren)(ren)劉(liu)澤(ze)民、薛(xue)進忠、閆賀泰、劉(liu)孚幫、安(an)爾幫、劉(liu)澤(ze)長(chang)等人(ren)(ren)發(fa)起倡議,并集資捐款建(jian)造,但是這次只(zhi)修建(jian)了(le)(le)五孔,后(hou)來(lai)由于(yu)河水沖擊,橋(qiao)(qiao)略有(you)毀(hui)損(sun),這個時候平遙的(de)(de)前(qian)后(hou)兩任知(zhi)縣(xian)接力與民為善,拔錢拔糧,并發(fa)動(dong)紳士再(zai)捐款,重新修橋(qiao)(qiao),始(shi)成(cheng)今天的(de)(de)惠濟橋(qiao)(qiao)。橋(qiao)(qiao)最后(hou)建(jian)成(cheng)后(hou),還用(yong)余款在橋(qiao)(qiao)東北修建(jian)了(le)(le)一座庵堂(tang),并請傅山先生題寫(xie)了(le)(le)碑碣,國朝初(chu)始(shi),庵毀(hui)碑失(shi),幸有(you)碑文傳(chuan)世(shi)。
惠濟(ji)橋由本地(di)產的砂石砌造而(er)成,南北(bei)向(xiang)跨越惠濟(ji)河。現橋全長約80米(mi),橋寬約7米(mi),橋身呈弧(hu)形,中間一(yi)孔最(zui)高,弧(hu)矢距河床(chuang)表(biao)面高約6米(mi)。橋身兩側各立高約1米(mi)的石質(zhi)望柱(zhu)40根,望柱(zhu)間裝(zhuang)砌單鉤闌石質(zhi)欄(lan)板(ban),都是(shi)國朝(chao)更換(huan)的,這些(xie)原裝(zhuang)構件大(da)部分已(yi)經腐朽(xiu)不能用,有一(yi)截較好的原裝(zhuang)勾闌保存在平(ping)遙縣博物館(清虛觀(guan))中。
惠濟橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)九聯孔拱(gong)(gong)(gong)券(quan)(quan)水窗形(xing)(xing)制(zhi)基(ji)本相同:除橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)基(ji)外,在河床表面用(yong)方形(xing)(xing)、矩形(xing)(xing)等(deng)條石(shi)(shi)(shi)砌(qi)出(chu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)墩十層,高約2米,厚約2米余。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)墩之上(shang)(shang)是由數(shu)量(liang)(liang)不(bu)等(deng)(大約30道)的(de)(de)砂石(shi)(shi)(shi)組合橫拱(gong)(gong)(gong)砌(qi)券(quan)(quan)而成,拱(gong)(gong)(gong)券(quan)(quan)外側裝砌(qi)弧形(xing)(xing)石(shi)(shi)(shi)數(shu)量(liang)(liang)不(bu)等(deng)(約12-15塊),弧形(xing)(xing)石(shi)(shi)(shi)上(shang)(shang)下(xia)兩端大部分標識有(you)施工記。在中間五(wu)孔的(de)(de)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)拱(gong)(gong)(gong)頂(ding)部正中裝有(you)石(shi)(shi)(shi)雕跁廈(傳說中“龍(long)生(sheng)九子”之一),首東尾西而形(xing)(xing)態各異。拱(gong)(gong)(gong)矢上(shang)(shang)均不(bu)繳背,直接安裝橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面石(shi)(shi)(shi)板和兩側的(de)(de)螭(chi)子石(shi)(shi)(shi),螭(chi)子石(shi)(shi)(shi)稍微(wei)突出(chu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)身些許。整(zheng)個石(shi)(shi)(shi)拱(gong)(gong)(gong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)上(shang)(shang)的(de)(de)大小券(quan)(quan)石(shi)(shi)(shi)均雕琢精細,裝砌(qi)整(zheng)齊,外觀悅目(mu)。