明嘉靖二(er)(er)十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1541年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),蘇州府(fu)長洲縣學(xue)遷至城(cheng)東福寧寺故(gu)址。萬歷(li)十(shi)(shi)七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1589年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至二(er)(er)十(shi)(shi)五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)于(yu)縣學(xue)東南(nan)之(zhi)東禪寺中閣故(gu)址建文(wen)星(xing)閣,附(fu)屬于(yu)縣學(xue),與縣學(xue)西南(nan)之(zhi)雙塔(ta)左(zuo)右對峙,“以補形勝之(zhi)不足,并壯學(xue)宮之(zhi)聲勢”。四十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)重建,稍向南(nan)移,即今所在。崇禎六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1633年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))修(xiu)。現石臺基和底層磚砌(qi)閣體尚屬明代遺(yi)物。“閣之(zhi)中為洪(hong)鐘,一響可聞千萬戶。南(nan)向為文(wen)星(xing)像,以奉(feng)香火(huo)”。清代葑門彭氏“祖孫(sun)會狀”,認為是“文(wen)星(xing)鐘靈(ling)之(zhi)驗”,曾(ceng)于(yu)康(kang)熙二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1663年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))、乾隆十(shi)(shi)七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1752年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))出(chu)資重修(xiu),并于(yu)閣旁建桂香殿(dian)、朝元(yuan)閣、時習堂、三賢堂等,成為里(li)中名儒文(wen)士講學(xue)會文(wen)的(de)勝地。咸豐十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至同(tong)治(zhi)二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),文(wen)星(xing)閣曾(ceng)被太平軍(jun)用作探望軍(jun)情的(de)望樓,附(fu)屬殿(dian)閣齋(zhai)堂毀于(yu)兵(bing)火(huo)。同(tong)治(zhi)九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)修(xiu)閣,現閣南(nan)僅(jin)存的(de)桂香殿(dian)為同(tong)治(zhi)十(shi)(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)修(xiu)建的(de)。
清代曾于(yu)康熙(xi)二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1663年(nian)(nian)(nian))、乾隆十七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1752年(nian)(nian)(nian))出(chu)資重修(xiu),并于(yu)閣(ge)(ge)旁(pang)建桂(gui)香殿、朝元閣(ge)(ge)、時習堂(tang)(tang)、三賢堂(tang)(tang)等,成為里(li)中名儒文(wen)士講學(xue)會文(wen)之勝(sheng)地。咸豐十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian))至同治二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)),文(wen)星閣(ge)(ge)附屬殿閣(ge)(ge)齋堂(tang)(tang)毀于(yu)兵火(huo)。同治九年(nian)(nian)(nian)修(xiu)閣(ge)(ge),現閣(ge)(ge)南僅(jin)存(cun)的桂(gui)香殿為十一年(nian)(nian)(nian)重建。1954年(nian)(nian)(nian)曾進行整修(xiu)。
閣(ge)樓分(fen)四(si)(si)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)。下(xia)承(cheng)三級(ji)青石(shi)方臺基,高(gao)6.5米,底(di)(di)邊(bian)寬14.4米,逐級(ji)向上遞減,南(nan)面有石(shi)級(ji)作(zuo)八(ba)字形(xing)(xing),可從(cong)兩(liang)側拾級(ji)而(er)登。上覆四(si)(si)角攢(zan)尖頂,翼(yi)角起翹,葫蘆結頂。通高(gao)約28米。閣(ge)身平(ping)面呈正方形(xing)(xing),各(ge)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)四(si)(si)面辟為拱門,層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)間無腰(yao)檐平(ping)座。底(di)(di)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)邊(bian)寬8.6米,自(zi)下(xia)而(er)上逐層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)作(zuo)不甚明(ming)顯(xian)的(de)(de)收分(fen),形(xing)(xing)成有層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)次(ci)而(er)又挺直的(de)(de)輪廓線。第三層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)以下(xia)以磚結構(gou)為主,僅(jin)二、三兩(liang)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)樓板與(yu)梯級(ji)為木(mu)制。底(di)(di)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為磚級(ji),藏于夾墻內,方室(shi)四(si)(si)隅有磚砌八(ba)角形(xing)(xing)倚(yi)柱,柱端隱出斗拱。頂層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)用(yong)木(mu)梁架結構(gou)支(zhi)承(cheng)閣(ge)頂,第三層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)與(yu)頂層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)間無樓板,僅(jin)于四(si)(si)周沿墻構(gou)回(hui)廊(lang),中心形(xing)(xing)成四(si)(si)方空井,中置橫梁懸鐘(zhong)。鑄有“文(wen)(wen)星寶閣(ge)”銘(ming)文(wen)(wen)的(de)(de)一口(kou)清(qing)代鐵(tie)鐘(zhong)尚(shang)存(cun)。現(xian)存(cun)碑(bei)刻有明(ming)萬歷四(si)(si)十(shi)年(nian)的(de)(de)《長洲縣儒學重建文(wen)(wen)星閣(ge)記(ji)碑(bei)》、崇禎六年(nian)的(de)(de)《重修長洲縣學文(wen)(wen)星閣(ge)記(ji)碑(bei)》等。
文(wen)星閣(ge)是(shi)一(yi)座(zuo)形制獨特(te)的古建筑,而且(qie)石臺基(ji)和底層磚砌閣(ge)體尚屬明代遺物(wu)。1954年曾(ceng)進行整(zheng)修。
文星(xing)閣(ge)位于蘇州(zhou)(zhou)大學老校(xiao)區北(bei)部, 出蘇州(zhou)(zhou)大學北(bei)校(xiao)門向西300米有(you)(you)凱萊酒店(dian),或(huo)者住在蘇州(zhou)(zhou)大學內的招待所莘(xin)園--在文星(xing)閣(ge)南大約100米.或(huo)者出蘇州(zhou)(zhou)大學南校(xiao)門到十全街上,那兒有(you)(you)不(bu)少賓館,如蘇州(zhou)(zhou)飯店(dian),東吳飯店(dian)等.
坐落于江(jiang)川縣星云湖畔江(jiang)城中心,底層四面相(xiang)通,兩條街由問底交叉通過。
出文星閣到干將路西(xi)行(xing)不到1000米有(you)(you)(you)聞(wen)名的飲食一條街---鳳凰街,上面(mian)有(you)(you)(you)許多(duo)(duo)的火(huo)鍋(guo)城(cheng)和菜館,飯店, 有(you)(you)(you)蘇菜、湘菜、川菜等。或者到觀前街太監弄有(you)(you)(you)許多(duo)(duo)菜館--其中有(you)(you)(you)聞(wen)名的得月樓。