明嘉靖二十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1541年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),蘇州府長洲(zhou)縣(xian)學(xue)(xue)遷至城東(dong)福寧寺故址。萬(wan)歷十(shi)(shi)七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1589年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至二十(shi)(shi)五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)于(yu)縣(xian)學(xue)(xue)東(dong)南之(zhi)(zhi)東(dong)禪寺中閣(ge)(ge)故址建(jian)文(wen)星(xing)(xing)閣(ge)(ge),附屬于(yu)縣(xian)學(xue)(xue),與縣(xian)學(xue)(xue)西南之(zhi)(zhi)雙(shuang)塔左(zuo)右對峙,“以(yi)補形勝(sheng)之(zhi)(zhi)不足(zu),并壯學(xue)(xue)宮之(zhi)(zhi)聲勢”。四十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)重建(jian),稍向南移(yi),即(ji)今(jin)所(suo)在。崇禎六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1633年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))修(xiu)(xiu)。現石臺基和底層磚砌閣(ge)(ge)體尚屬明代(dai)遺物(wu)。“閣(ge)(ge)之(zhi)(zhi)中為(wei)(wei)洪鐘(zhong)(zhong),一響可(ke)聞千萬(wan)戶(hu)。南向為(wei)(wei)文(wen)星(xing)(xing)像,以(yi)奉香(xiang)火”。清(qing)代(dai)葑(feng)門(men)彭氏“祖孫會(hui)狀”,認為(wei)(wei)是“文(wen)星(xing)(xing)鐘(zhong)(zhong)靈之(zhi)(zhi)驗”,曾于(yu)康熙二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1663年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))、乾隆十(shi)(shi)七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1752年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))出資重修(xiu)(xiu),并于(yu)閣(ge)(ge)旁建(jian)桂香(xiang)殿(dian)、朝元閣(ge)(ge)、時習(xi)堂(tang)(tang)、三(san)賢堂(tang)(tang)等,成為(wei)(wei)里中名儒(ru)文(wen)士講學(xue)(xue)會(hui)文(wen)的(de)(de)勝(sheng)地。咸豐十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至同治二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),文(wen)星(xing)(xing)閣(ge)(ge)曾被太(tai)平(ping)軍用作探望軍情(qing)的(de)(de)望樓,附屬殿(dian)閣(ge)(ge)齋堂(tang)(tang)毀于(yu)兵火。同治九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)修(xiu)(xiu)閣(ge)(ge),現閣(ge)(ge)南僅(jin)存的(de)(de)桂香(xiang)殿(dian)為(wei)(wei)同治十(shi)(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)修(xiu)(xiu)建(jian)的(de)(de)。
清(qing)代曾(ceng)于康熙二(er)年(nian)(nian)(1663年(nian)(nian))、乾隆十(shi)(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(1752年(nian)(nian))出資重修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu),并于閣(ge)旁(pang)建桂香殿(dian)(dian)、朝元閣(ge)、時習堂、三賢(xian)堂等,成(cheng)為(wei)里中名儒文(wen)士講學會(hui)文(wen)之勝(sheng)地。咸豐十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian))至同治二(er)年(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)),文(wen)星閣(ge)附屬(shu)殿(dian)(dian)閣(ge)齋堂毀于兵火。同治九年(nian)(nian)修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu)閣(ge),現閣(ge)南僅存的桂香殿(dian)(dian)為(wei)十(shi)(shi)一年(nian)(nian)重建。1954年(nian)(nian)曾(ceng)進行(xing)整修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu)。
閣(ge)(ge)(ge)樓(lou)分四層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)。下(xia)承(cheng)三(san)級(ji)(ji)青石方臺基,高(gao)6.5米,底(di)邊(bian)寬14.4米,逐級(ji)(ji)向上(shang)遞減(jian),南面(mian)(mian)有(you)(you)石級(ji)(ji)作八字形(xing),可(ke)從兩側拾級(ji)(ji)而登。上(shang)覆四角(jiao)攢尖頂,翼角(jiao)起翹,葫蘆結(jie)(jie)頂。通高(gao)約28米。閣(ge)(ge)(ge)身平(ping)面(mian)(mian)呈正方形(xing),各層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)四面(mian)(mian)辟為拱(gong)(gong)門,層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)間(jian)無腰檐平(ping)座。底(di)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)邊(bian)寬8.6米,自下(xia)而上(shang)逐層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)作不甚明顯的(de)收分,形(xing)成有(you)(you)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)次而又(you)挺直的(de)輪廓線。第(di)(di)三(san)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)以(yi)(yi)下(xia)以(yi)(yi)磚結(jie)(jie)構為主(zhu),僅二、三(san)兩層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)樓(lou)板(ban)(ban)與(yu)梯級(ji)(ji)為木(mu)制。底(di)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)為磚級(ji)(ji),藏于夾墻內(nei),方室四隅有(you)(you)磚砌八角(jiao)形(xing)倚柱(zhu),柱(zhu)端隱出斗拱(gong)(gong)。頂層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)用木(mu)梁(liang)架結(jie)(jie)構支承(cheng)閣(ge)(ge)(ge)頂,第(di)(di)三(san)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)與(yu)頂層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)間(jian)無樓(lou)板(ban)(ban),僅于四周沿墻構回廊,中心形(xing)成四方空(kong)井,中置橫梁(liang)懸鐘(zhong)。鑄有(you)(you)“文星(xing)寶閣(ge)(ge)(ge)”銘(ming)文的(de)一口清代鐵(tie)鐘(zhong)尚存(cun)。現存(cun)碑刻有(you)(you)明萬歷四十年的(de)《長洲縣儒學重建文星(xing)閣(ge)(ge)(ge)記(ji)碑》、崇禎六年的(de)《重修長洲縣學文星(xing)閣(ge)(ge)(ge)記(ji)碑》等。
文星閣是一座形制獨特(te)的古建筑(zhu),而且石臺基和底層磚砌閣體尚屬(shu)明代遺物。1954年(nian)曾進(jin)行整修。
文星閣(ge)位于蘇(su)(su)(su)州(zhou)大(da)學(xue)老校區北(bei)部, 出蘇(su)(su)(su)州(zhou)大(da)學(xue)北(bei)校門(men)向西300米(mi)有(you)凱萊酒(jiu)店,或者(zhe)住(zhu)在蘇(su)(su)(su)州(zhou)大(da)學(xue)內(nei)的招待(dai)所莘園--在文星閣(ge)南(nan)大(da)約(yue)100米(mi).或者(zhe)出蘇(su)(su)(su)州(zhou)大(da)學(xue)南(nan)校門(men)到十全街上,那(nei)兒有(you)不少(shao)賓館(guan),如蘇(su)(su)(su)州(zhou)飯店,東吳飯店等(deng).
坐落(luo)于江(jiang)(jiang)川縣星(xing)云湖畔江(jiang)(jiang)城(cheng)中(zhong)心(xin),底層四(si)面(mian)相通(tong),兩條街由(you)問(wen)底交叉(cha)通(tong)過(guo)。
出文星(xing)閣到(dao)干將路(lu)西行不到(dao)1000米有聞名的(de)飲食(shi)一條街---鳳凰街,上面有許(xu)多的(de)火鍋城和菜(cai)館,飯店, 有蘇菜(cai)、湘菜(cai)、川菜(cai)等(deng)。或(huo)者到(dao)觀前街太監弄有許(xu)多菜(cai)館--其中有聞名的(de)得月樓。