位于(yu)佛(fo)山市高明區西面20公(gong)里的明城(cheng)鎮,始建于(yu)明代,為平面八角,七層樓閣式(shi)磚(zhuan)塔。
在高明(ming)(ming)區西面(mian)20公里(li)的(de)明(ming)(ming)城鎮,矗立著一座巍峨壯觀的(de)古(gu)塔(ta)(ta)(ta),它就是高明(ming)(ming)的(de)文昌(chang)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)。位于(yu)明(ming)(ming)城鎮文昌(chang)臺(今文昌(chang)樂園(yuan))左側,始(shi)建于(yu)明(ming)(ming)代(dai),為平(ping)面(mian)八角,七(qi)層樓(lou)閣式磚塔(ta)(ta)(ta),高37米,塔(ta)(ta)(ta)勢凌空聳(song)秀,在本地(di)有較高知名度,但近年(nian)周圍建設(she)影響該塔(ta)(ta)(ta)的(de)視野效果,樂園(yuan)與古(gu)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)相處氛(fen)圍不協調。
自(zi)古以來明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)就是高(gao)明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)縣(xian)府所在(zai)地(di)。明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)朝(chao)成(cheng)化(hua)十一(yi)年(nian)(公(gong)元1475年(nian))設立高(gao)明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)縣(xian)。在(zai)這里(li)開基建城(cheng)(cheng)已有整(zheng)整(zheng)529年(nian)歷史了。如果你有興(xing)趣,到明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)古城(cheng)(cheng)街上(shang)(shang)走走,在(zai)那(nei)里(li)還可以尋覓到昔日的(de)(de)(de)(de)學(xue)宮、縣(xian)衙、石板大(da)(da)街。不過最(zui)能(neng)代表明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)就是這座已有四百年(nian)歷史的(de)(de)(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)(wen)昌(chang)(chang)(chang)古塔(ta)(ta)了。該塔(ta)(ta)比明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)小(xiao)一(yi)百歲。興(xing)建于明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)萬歷十二年(nian)(公(gong)元1584年(nian))。塔(ta)(ta)為(wei)平(ping)面八角,七層,磚木結構,高(gao)37公(gong)尺(chi)。大(da)(da)有塔(ta)(ta)勢涌出、凌云聳秀之勢。許多(duo)人都(dou)問,為(wei)何(he)叫文(wen)(wen)(wen)昌(chang)(chang)(chang)塔(ta)(ta)?文(wen)(wen)(wen)昌(chang)(chang)(chang),原(yuan)意屬星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)官名。即常說(shuo)的(de)(de)(de)(de)“文(wen)(wen)(wen)曲星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)”,或(huo)“文(wen)(wen)(wen)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)”,也有稱“文(wen)(wen)(wen)昌(chang)(chang)(chang)帝君(jun)”的(de)(de)(de)(de)。神話中(zhong),文(wen)(wen)(wen)昌(chang)(chang)(chang)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)君(jun)主宰(zai)掌管著天下的(de)(de)(de)(de)功名、祿位大(da)(da)權。因此(ci),文(wen)(wen)(wen)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)是深受文(wen)(wen)(wen)人崇拜的(de)(de)(de)(de)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)。當年(nian)高(gao)明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)縣(xian)立文(wen)(wen)(wen)昌(chang)(chang)(chang)塔(ta)(ta),不言而喻,是一(yi)種良好的(de)(de)(de)(de)愿望,祝愿文(wen)(wen)(wen)昌(chang)(chang)(chang)星(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)君(jun)保佑高(gao)明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)大(da)(da)地(di)文(wen)(wen)(wen)化(hua)昌(chang)(chang)(chang)盛,多(duo)出功名,多(duo)出人才。說(shuo)來也是巧合(he)(he),自(zi)文(wen)(wen)(wen)昌(chang)(chang)(chang)塔(ta)(ta)建成(cheng)五年(nian)后,該縣(xian)阮(ruan)涌村區(qu)(qu)氏(shi)兄弟:區(qu)(qu)大(da)(da)相(xiang)(xiang)、區(qu)(qu)大(da)(da)倫便雙(shuang)雙(shuang)同榜(bang)考中(zhong)了進士。金榜(bang)題名,好不榮耀!區(qu)(qu)大(da)(da)倫被委(wei)任要職,在(zai)朝(chao)中(zhong)和(he)(he)廣東籍宰(zai)相(xiang)(xiang)海(hai)瑞結成(cheng)好友(you)。區(qu)(qu)大(da)(da)相(xiang)(xiang)奉命出京至各省察訪,他把所見到的(de)(de)(de)(de)民間疾(ji)苦寫成(cheng)詩章,獨領風(feng)騷,開一(yi)代詩風(feng),被譽為(wei)“嶺南詩派”的(de)(de)(de)(de)鼻(bi)祖。區(qu)(qu)大(da)(da)倫、區(qu)(qu)大(da)(da)相(xiang)(xiang)和(he)(he)他們在(zai)朝(chao)為(wei)官的(de)(de)(de)(de)父親區(qu)(qu)益(yi)被后人合(he)(he)稱為(wei)“區(qu)(qu)氏(shi)三杰”,是高(gao)明(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)歷史上(shang)(shang)極其顯赫的(de)(de)(de)(de)人物。
高明古屬端州府(今佛山市)管轄,縣治東門墟(今明城鎮)。據(ju)清(qing)光緒(xu)二(er)十年(nian)《高(gao)明(ming)(ming)縣志》載:明(ming)(ming)代大開科場,端(duan)州出了不少名人學士,“高(gao)明(ming)(ming)郡之(zhi)云邑,據(ju)萬山(shan)中,四面(mian)環拱,面(mian)廓(kuo)東勢稍洼,譬之(zhi)屋缺(que)(que)隅,衣(yi)缺(que)(que)衽,風(feng)氣弗聚”。駐(zhu)守在端(duan)州的領面(mian)按察司副使王(wang)泮,是個“好為民(min)興利”的州官,又(you)是個“風(feng)水迷”,他為補(bu)高(gao)明(ming)(ming)風(feng)水之(zhi)缺(que)(que)漏,使高(gao)明(ming)(ming)能多出人才,乃與高(gao)明(ming)(ming)知縣張佐治倡儀,捐資在明(ming)(ming)城(cheng)東側、滄(cang)江河畔的文昌(chang)臺上(shang)建造(zao)文昌(chang)塔(ta),時僅二(er)年(nian),塔(ta)建成,官紳平民(min),無不歡呼雀(que)躍。
文(wen)昌(chang)(chang)塔(ta)(ta)建(jian)成后,果然科甲連綿,其間節義(yi)勛名(ming)著入(ru)史冊(ce)者數以(yi)百計,有“高明文(wen)風(feng)(feng)甲端(duan)郡”之稱(cheng)。不料到(dao)(dao)了清朝嘉(jia)慶(qing)二(er)年(nian)(1797)年(nian))五(wu)月(yue)(yue)二(er)十三日晚上(shang),文(wen)昌(chang)(chang)塔(ta)(ta)頂(ding)端(duan)突然火光四起(qi),直(zhi)沖(chong)云霄(xiao),塔(ta)(ta)無故(gu)傾頹,夷為(wei)平地。直(zhi)到(dao)(dao)嘉(jia)慶(qing)二(er)十二(er)年(nian)(1817年(nian))全縣紳士聚集,議論重建(jian)文(wen)昌(chang)(chang)塔(ta)(ta),大家(jia)捐(juan)資,擇良辰吉(ji)日,于(yu)是年(nian)三月(yue)(yue)在原(yuan)址按(an)原(yuan)貌(mao)動工重建(jian)。重建(jian)后的(de)文(wen)昌(chang)(chang)塔(ta)(ta)、經歷了長期的(de)風(feng)(feng)吹(chui)雨打雷(lei)擊,多處出現損毀。解(jie)放后,縣人(ren)民政府(fu)多次拔款修葺(qi),使古(gu)塔(ta)(ta)依然屹立,風(feng)(feng)采不減(jian)當年(nian)。1985年(nian),很(hen)多旅外(wai)華僑回省親,見到(dao)(dao)古(gu)塔(ta)(ta)保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)完好,甚(shen)為(wei)感動,慷慨捐(juan)資數萬元,將古(gu)塔(ta)(ta)修飾一新。每層塔(ta)(ta)裝上(shang)了彩燈,到(dao)(dao)了晚上(shang),整座古(gu)塔(ta)(ta)五(wu)彩繽紛,璀燦奪目(mu)。明城(cheng)鎮政府(fu)還(huan)在此(ci)配套興建(jian)了文(wen)昌(chang)(chang)樂園,園外(wai)筑起(qi)了古(gu)色古(gu)香的(de)琉璃瓦圍墻(qiang),園內建(jian)有亭臺(tai)樓(lou)閣,種(zhong)上(shang)各種(zhong)花草樹木。1983年(nian),列為(wei)縣級重點保(bao)(bao)護(hu)(hu)文(wen)物:1990年(nian),定此(ci)為(wei)高明八景之一“文(wen)昌(chang)(chang)遠(yuan)眺”。