明(ming)嘉靖二(er)(er)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1541年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),蘇州府(fu)長洲縣(xian)(xian)學(xue)(xue)(xue)遷至(zhi)城東福寧寺故址。萬歷十(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1589年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至(zhi)二(er)(er)十(shi)五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)于(yu)縣(xian)(xian)學(xue)(xue)(xue)東南(nan)之(zhi)東禪寺中(zhong)閣(ge)故址建文(wen)星閣(ge),附(fu)屬(shu)于(yu)縣(xian)(xian)學(xue)(xue)(xue),與縣(xian)(xian)學(xue)(xue)(xue)西南(nan)之(zhi)雙塔左右對峙(zhi),“以補形勝之(zhi)不(bu)足(zu),并(bing)(bing)壯學(xue)(xue)(xue)宮之(zhi)聲(sheng)勢(shi)”。四十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)重建,稍向南(nan)移(yi),即今所在。崇禎六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1633年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))修(xiu)(xiu)。現石臺基和底層(ceng)磚砌閣(ge)體尚屬(shu)明(ming)代(dai)遺物。“閣(ge)之(zhi)中(zhong)為(wei)(wei)(wei)洪鐘(zhong)(zhong),一響可(ke)聞千萬戶。南(nan)向為(wei)(wei)(wei)文(wen)星像(xiang),以奉香(xiang)火”。清代(dai)葑門彭氏“祖孫會狀”,認為(wei)(wei)(wei)是“文(wen)星鐘(zhong)(zhong)靈之(zhi)驗”,曾(ceng)于(yu)康熙二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1663年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))、乾隆十(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1752年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))出資(zi)重修(xiu)(xiu),并(bing)(bing)于(yu)閣(ge)旁(pang)建桂(gui)(gui)香(xiang)殿、朝(chao)元閣(ge)、時習堂、三賢堂等,成為(wei)(wei)(wei)里(li)中(zhong)名儒文(wen)士(shi)講學(xue)(xue)(xue)會文(wen)的勝地。咸(xian)豐十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至(zhi)同(tong)治(zhi)二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),文(wen)星閣(ge)曾(ceng)被太平(ping)軍(jun)用作探(tan)望軍(jun)情的望樓,附(fu)屬(shu)殿閣(ge)齋堂毀(hui)于(yu)兵火。同(tong)治(zhi)九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)修(xiu)(xiu)閣(ge),現閣(ge)南(nan)僅存(cun)的桂(gui)(gui)香(xiang)殿為(wei)(wei)(wei)同(tong)治(zhi)十(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)修(xiu)(xiu)建的。
清代曾(ceng)于康熙(xi)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(1663年(nian)(nian))、乾(qian)隆十(shi)(shi)(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(1752年(nian)(nian))出資(zi)重修,并于閣(ge)旁建(jian)桂香殿、朝元閣(ge)、時(shi)習堂、三賢堂等,成為(wei)里中名儒文(wen)士(shi)講學會文(wen)之勝地。咸豐(feng)十(shi)(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian))至同治二(er)年(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)),文(wen)星(xing)閣(ge)附屬殿閣(ge)齋堂毀于兵火。同治九年(nian)(nian)修閣(ge),現(xian)閣(ge)南僅存的桂香殿為(wei)十(shi)(shi)(shi)一年(nian)(nian)重建(jian)。1954年(nian)(nian)曾(ceng)進行整修。
閣樓(lou)分(fen)四(si)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)。下(xia)(xia)承(cheng)三級(ji)青石方(fang)(fang)(fang)臺基(ji),高(gao)6.5米,底邊寬14.4米,逐級(ji)向上遞減,南(nan)面有(you)石級(ji)作(zuo)(zuo)八字形(xing),可從(cong)兩(liang)側拾級(ji)而(er)登。上覆四(si)角(jiao)攢尖頂(ding),翼角(jiao)起(qi)翹,葫蘆結頂(ding)。通(tong)高(gao)約28米。閣身平面呈正方(fang)(fang)(fang)形(xing),各層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)四(si)面辟為拱(gong)門,層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)間無(wu)腰檐平座(zuo)。底層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)邊寬8.6米,自下(xia)(xia)而(er)上逐層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)作(zuo)(zuo)不甚明顯的收分(fen),形(xing)成有(you)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)次而(er)又挺(ting)直的輪廓線。第三層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)以(yi)下(xia)(xia)以(yi)磚結構為主,僅(jin)二、三兩(liang)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)樓(lou)板(ban)與(yu)梯(ti)級(ji)為木制。底層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為磚級(ji),藏(zang)于夾墻內,方(fang)(fang)(fang)室(shi)四(si)隅(yu)有(you)磚砌八角(jiao)形(xing)倚柱,柱端隱出斗拱(gong)。頂(ding)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)用木梁架結構支(zhi)承(cheng)閣頂(ding),第三層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)與(yu)頂(ding)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)間無(wu)樓(lou)板(ban),僅(jin)于四(si)周沿墻構回廊,中(zhong)心形(xing)成四(si)方(fang)(fang)(fang)空井,中(zhong)置橫(heng)梁懸鐘。鑄有(you)“文(wen)星寶閣”銘文(wen)的一(yi)口清代鐵鐘尚存。現(xian)存碑(bei)刻有(you)明萬歷四(si)十(shi)年的《長洲縣儒學(xue)重建文(wen)星閣記碑(bei)》、崇禎六年的《重修長洲縣學(xue)文(wen)星閣記碑(bei)》等。
文星閣是一座(zuo)形(xing)制(zhi)獨特的古建筑,而(er)且石臺基和底層(ceng)磚砌閣體尚屬明代遺物。1954年(nian)曾進行整(zheng)修。
文(wen)星閣位于蘇(su)州(zhou)大學(xue)老校(xiao)(xiao)區(qu)北部, 出蘇(su)州(zhou)大學(xue)北校(xiao)(xiao)門向西300米有凱(kai)萊(lai)酒店,或者住在蘇(su)州(zhou)大學(xue)內(nei)的招待所莘(xin)園--在文(wen)星閣南(nan)大約(yue)100米.或者出蘇(su)州(zhou)大學(xue)南(nan)校(xiao)(xiao)門到(dao)十全街上,那兒有不少賓館,如蘇(su)州(zhou)飯店,東吳飯店等.
坐落于江(jiang)川(chuan)縣星云湖(hu)畔(pan)江(jiang)城中心,底(di)層四(si)面相(xiang)通,兩條街(jie)由問底(di)交叉通過。
出文星閣到(dao)干將(jiang)路西行不到(dao)1000米有聞名的(de)飲(yin)食一條街---鳳凰街,上(shang)面有許多(duo)的(de)火鍋城和菜館(guan),飯(fan)店(dian), 有蘇(su)菜、湘菜、川(chuan)菜等。或者到(dao)觀前街太監弄有許多(duo)菜館(guan)--其中有聞名的(de)得月(yue)樓。