明嘉靖二(er)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1541年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),蘇州府長洲縣學(xue)遷至(zhi)(zhi)城東福(fu)寧寺故址。萬歷十(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1589年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至(zhi)(zhi)二(er)十(shi)五(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)于(yu)縣學(xue)東南之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)東禪寺中(zhong)(zhong)閣(ge)(ge)(ge)故址建(jian)文(wen)星閣(ge)(ge)(ge),附屬于(yu)縣學(xue),與(yu)縣學(xue)西南之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)雙塔左右對峙,“以(yi)補形(xing)勝之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)不足,并壯學(xue)宮之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)聲勢”。四十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)重建(jian),稍向南移,即今所在(zai)。崇禎六(liu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1633年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))修。現(xian)石(shi)臺基和底層磚砌閣(ge)(ge)(ge)體尚屬明代(dai)遺物。“閣(ge)(ge)(ge)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)中(zhong)(zhong)為洪(hong)鐘,一(yi)響可聞千(qian)萬戶。南向為文(wen)星像,以(yi)奉香火”。清代(dai)葑(feng)門(men)彭(peng)氏“祖(zu)孫會(hui)狀”,認(ren)為是“文(wen)星鐘靈之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)驗”,曾于(yu)康熙二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1663年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))、乾隆十(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1752年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))出資重修,并于(yu)閣(ge)(ge)(ge)旁(pang)建(jian)桂(gui)香殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、朝元閣(ge)(ge)(ge)、時(shi)習堂(tang)、三賢(xian)堂(tang)等,成為里中(zhong)(zhong)名儒文(wen)士(shi)講學(xue)會(hui)文(wen)的(de)(de)勝地(di)。咸豐十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至(zhi)(zhi)同治二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),文(wen)星閣(ge)(ge)(ge)曾被(bei)太(tai)平軍用作探望(wang)軍情的(de)(de)望(wang)樓,附屬殿(dian)(dian)(dian)閣(ge)(ge)(ge)齋堂(tang)毀于(yu)兵(bing)火。同治九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)修閣(ge)(ge)(ge),現(xian)閣(ge)(ge)(ge)南僅存的(de)(de)桂(gui)香殿(dian)(dian)(dian)為同治十(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)修建(jian)的(de)(de)。
清(qing)代曾于(yu)康(kang)熙二年(nian)(1663年(nian))、乾隆十(shi)七年(nian)(1752年(nian))出資重修,并于(yu)閣(ge)(ge)旁建桂香殿、朝元閣(ge)(ge)、時習堂、三賢堂等,成為里中名儒(ru)文(wen)(wen)士講(jiang)學會文(wen)(wen)之勝地。咸豐十(shi)年(nian)(1860年(nian))至同(tong)治二年(nian)(1863年(nian)),文(wen)(wen)星閣(ge)(ge)附屬殿閣(ge)(ge)齋(zhai)堂毀(hui)于(yu)兵(bing)火。同(tong)治九年(nian)修閣(ge)(ge),現閣(ge)(ge)南僅存的桂香殿為十(shi)一年(nian)重建。1954年(nian)曾進行整修。
閣樓(lou)分(fen)四(si)(si)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)。下(xia)承(cheng)三級(ji)青石(shi)方(fang)臺基(ji),高(gao)6.5米(mi)(mi),底邊寬(kuan)14.4米(mi)(mi),逐(zhu)級(ji)向上(shang)遞減,南面(mian)有(you)(you)石(shi)級(ji)作(zuo)(zuo)八(ba)字形(xing),可從兩側拾級(ji)而登。上(shang)覆四(si)(si)角攢尖頂(ding)(ding),翼(yi)角起翹(qiao),葫蘆結頂(ding)(ding)。通高(gao)約28米(mi)(mi)。閣身(shen)平面(mian)呈正方(fang)形(xing),各層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)四(si)(si)面(mian)辟為拱門,層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)間無腰(yao)檐平座。底層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)邊寬(kuan)8.6米(mi)(mi),自下(xia)而上(shang)逐(zhu)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)作(zuo)(zuo)不甚明顯的收(shou)分(fen),形(xing)成有(you)(you)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)次而又挺直的輪(lun)廓線。第三層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)以下(xia)以磚(zhuan)結構(gou)為主,僅(jin)二、三兩層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)樓(lou)板與梯級(ji)為木制。底層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為磚(zhuan)級(ji),藏于夾墻內,方(fang)室四(si)(si)隅(yu)有(you)(you)磚(zhuan)砌八(ba)角形(xing)倚柱(zhu),柱(zhu)端(duan)隱出斗拱。頂(ding)(ding)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)用木梁(liang)架結構(gou)支承(cheng)閣頂(ding)(ding),第三層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)與頂(ding)(ding)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)間無樓(lou)板,僅(jin)于四(si)(si)周(zhou)沿墻構(gou)回廊,中心形(xing)成四(si)(si)方(fang)空井,中置橫(heng)梁(liang)懸(xuan)鐘。鑄有(you)(you)“文(wen)(wen)星(xing)寶閣”銘文(wen)(wen)的一口清代(dai)鐵鐘尚存。現(xian)存碑刻(ke)有(you)(you)明萬(wan)歷(li)四(si)(si)十年的《長洲縣(xian)儒學重建文(wen)(wen)星(xing)閣記碑》、崇禎六(liu)年的《重修長洲縣(xian)學文(wen)(wen)星(xing)閣記碑》等(deng)。
文(wen)星(xing)閣(ge)是一座(zuo)形制(zhi)獨特(te)的古建筑,而(er)且(qie)石臺基和底層磚砌閣(ge)體(ti)尚屬明代(dai)遺物。1954年曾進行整修。
文星(xing)閣位于蘇州大(da)學老校(xiao)區北部, 出蘇州大(da)學北校(xiao)門向西(xi)300米有凱萊酒店,或者住在蘇州大(da)學內的招待所莘園(yuan)--在文星(xing)閣南大(da)約100米.或者出蘇州大(da)學南校(xiao)門到十全街上,那兒有不少賓館(guan),如蘇州飯店,東吳飯店等(deng).
坐落于江川縣星云湖畔江城中心,底層(ceng)四面(mian)相通,兩條街由問底交叉通過。
出文星閣到(dao)干將路西行(xing)不到(dao)1000米有聞(wen)(wen)名的飲食一條街---鳳凰街,上(shang)面有許多(duo)的火鍋城(cheng)和菜(cai)(cai)館,飯(fan)店, 有蘇菜(cai)(cai)、湘菜(cai)(cai)、川菜(cai)(cai)等。或者到(dao)觀前街太監(jian)弄有許多(duo)菜(cai)(cai)館--其中有聞(wen)(wen)名的得月樓。