滆(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu),俗稱篩子湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(當(dang)地人發音類(lei)似沙(sha)子,篩子湖(hu)(hu)(hu)意思是很淺的(de)湖(hu)(hu)(hu),滆(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)內并無沙(sha)子),亦稱西滆(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)和(he)西滆(he)(he)(he)沙(sha)子湖(hu)(hu)(hu)和(he)西太(tai)湖(hu)(hu)(hu),位(wei)于武(wu)進西南(nan)部與宜(yi)興(xing)東北部間(jian),為武(wu)進和(he)宜(yi)興(xing)共(gong)享(xiang),是蘇南(nan)地區僅次于太(tai)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)的(de)第二(er)大湖(hu)(hu)(hu)泊,滆(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)面積(ji)約25萬(wan)畝(約166.7k㎡),平均水深不(bu)足1.5米。關于滆(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)的(de)形成時間(jian)及取(qu)名由來(lai),一直是一個謎。搞清楚(chu)滆(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)的(de)形成時間(jian)及取(qu)名由來(lai),對科(ke)學利用和(he)充分發揮滆(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)旅游資源的(de)價值具有重要意義。
滆湖(hu)(hu)(hu),俗稱沙子湖(hu)(hu)(hu),滆湖(hu)(hu)(hu)位于(yu)太(tai)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)上游,縱(zong)跨武進區(qu)和宜興兩(liang)市(shi)(區(qu)),東臨太(tai)湖(hu)(hu)(hu),西(xi)接長蕩湖(hu)(hu)(hu),南(nan)連(lian)宜興氿湖(hu)(hu)(hu),北經(jing)扁擔河(he)、德勝(sheng)河(he)通長江。它是蘇南(nan)地區(qu)僅次于(yu)太(tai)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)的第二(er)大(da)(da)淡水(shui)湖(hu)(hu)(hu),江蘇五(wu)大(da)(da)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)泊之(zhi)一。滆湖(hu)(hu)(hu)南(nan)北長25公里,東西(xi)平均寬6.6公里,現有(you)水(shui)面積24.9萬畝(約166.7k㎡),常年(nian)平均水(shui)深約1.3米。滆湖(hu)(hu)(hu)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)面狀如(ru)一長茄形(xing),湖(hu)(hu)(hu)岸(an)圓(yuan)滑整齊。湖(hu)(hu)(hu)體呈淺碟(die)型,湖(hu)(hu)(hu)底(di)平坦。沿(yan)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)河(he)港縱(zong)橫,水(shui)網交錯,池塘(tang)星羅棋布,自然環境優美。
對于滆(he)湖(hu)(hu)是因地震發生(sheng)地陷(xian)而(er)成(cheng)(cheng)湖(hu)(hu)的(de)形(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)原因是沒(mei)有人(ren)懷(huai)疑的(de),因為(wei)(wei)(wei)這(zhe)(zhe)不但有史(shi)籍記(ji)載證(zheng)明,而(er)且圍湖(hu)(hu)建滆(he)湖(hu)(hu)農場時的(de)發現(xian)也已(yi)證(zheng)實。但對于滆(he)湖(hu)(hu)形(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)的(de)具(ju)體時間(jian)(jian)卻(que)說法不一,現(xian)有二種說法,一說滆(he)湖(hu)(hu)的(de)形(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)時間(jian)(jian)為(wei)(wei)(wei)晉朝,如《嘉澤鄉志》有云(yun):“晉朝年間(jian)(jian),(滆(he)湖(hu)(hu))是一古城,后經地震陷(xian)落(luo)而(er)成(cheng)(cheng)湖(hu)(hu)泊(bo)。”二說滆(he)湖(hu)(hu)的(de)形(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)時間(jian)(jian)為(wei)(wei)(wei)唐(tang)代,如《南夏(xia)墅鄉志》錄《孫(sun)氏宗譜》有云(yun):“(滆(he)湖(hu)(hu))相傳為(wei)(wei)(wei)唐(tang)天寶年間(jian)(jian)所陷(xian)。”筆者認為(wei)(wei)(wei),滆(he)湖(hu)(hu)形(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)于晉、唐(tang)時代二說缺少史(shi)籍資(zi)料(liao)(liao)和考古資(zi)料(liao)(liao)的(de)支持,均不可信。依據現(xian)有的(de)史(shi)籍相關資(zi)料(liao)(liao)和考古資(zi)料(liao)(liao),滆(he)湖(hu)(hu)的(de)形(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)時間(jian)(jian)應(ying)在東漢(han)中晚期,這(zhe)(zhe)可通過下面(mian)的(de)考證(zheng)得到證(zheng)實。
記載(zai)(zai)吳(wu)越史志的《越絕書(shu)》,在(zai)記載(zai)(zai)昔吳(wu)越之(zhi)地漢時的湖(hu)(hu)(hu)泊時,只記載(zai)(zai)有(you)太(tai)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)、射貴(gui)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)、無錫湖(hu)(hu)(hu)、尸湖(hu)(hu)(hu)、小湖(hu)(hu)(hu)、耆湖(hu)(hu)(hu)、乘(cheng)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)、猶湖(hu)(hu)(hu)、語昭湖(hu)(hu)(hu)、作湖(hu)(hu)(hu)、昆湖(hu)(hu)(hu)、湖(hu)(hu)(hu)王湖(hu)(hu)(hu)和丹湖(hu)(hu)(hu),并沒有(you)記載(zai)(zai)有(you)滆湖(hu)(hu)(hu),這(zhe)就說明(ming)在(zai)《越絕書(shu)》成書(shu)時滆湖(hu)(hu)(hu)還未形成,如果此時滆湖(hu)(hu)(hu)已存在(zai)的話,該書(shu)必(bi)會將(jiang)其(qi)收(shou)錄在(zai)內。
書中(zhong)還(huan)未(wei)有“滆(he)(he)(he)(he)”字,這(zhe)說(shuo)明(ming)“滆(he)(he)(he)(he)”字為后(hou)起(qi)字。許慎《說(shuo)文(wen)解字》成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)書于公元(yuan)(yuan)100年(nian)(nian)(nian),是時(shi)(shi)為東(dong)(dong)漢(han)(han)中(zhong)期(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi),據此也(ye)可(ke)(ke)證(zheng)(zheng)在(zai)(zai)(zai)東(dong)(dong)漢(han)(han)早(zao)(zao)(zao)期(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)時(shi)(shi)滆(he)(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)還(huan)沒有形(xing)(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。今滆(he)(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)在(zai)(zai)(zai)東(dong)(dong)漢(han)(han)早(zao)(zao)(zao)期(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)時(shi)(shi)還(huan)未(wei)形(xing)(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),從(cong)考古資料方面也(ye)可(ke)(ke)得到證(zheng)(zheng)實。1993年(nian)(nian)(nian)6月,在(zai)(zai)(zai)滆(he)(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)農場(chang)處發現了一座(zuo)漢(han)(han)代(dai)(dai)古墓(mu)(mu)葬(zang),墓(mu)(mu)葬(zang)內(nei)出(chu)土的(de)(de)一批五(wu)銖(zhu)錢幣“五(wu)銖(zhu)”二字規整,“五(wu)”字形(xing)(xing)舒(shu)展(zhan),“銖(zhu)”字朱旁上折方中(zhong)見圓,具有東(dong)(dong)漢(han)(han)早(zao)(zao)(zao)期(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)五(wu)銖(zhu)錢的(de)(de)典(dian)型(xing)特征,據此可(ke)(ke)斷定該墓(mu)(mu)葬(zang)主人(ren)的(de)(de)下葬(zang)確切(qie)時(shi)(shi)代(dai)(dai)應(ying)在(zai)(zai)(zai)東(dong)(dong)漢(han)(han)早(zao)(zao)(zao)期(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)。滆(he)(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)農場(chang)原是滆(he)(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)的(de)(de)一部分,1971年(nian)(nian)(nian)因圍湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)造田才變成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)旱地,在(zai)(zai)(zai)該處發現東(dong)(dong)漢(han)(han)早(zao)(zao)(zao)期(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)的(de)(de)墓(mu)(mu)葬(zang),說(shuo)明(ming)滆(he)(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)在(zai)(zai)(zai)東(dong)(dong)漢(han)(han)早(zao)(zao)(zao)期(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)時(shi)(shi)還(huan)未(wei)形(xing)(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。否則,滆(he)(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)內(nei)就不(bu)會(hui)出(chu)現東(dong)(dong)漢(han)(han)早(zao)(zao)(zao)期(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)時(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)墓(mu)(mu)葬(zang)。綜(zong)合以上考證(zheng)(zheng)可(ke)(ke)得出(chu) ,滆(he)(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)的(de)(de)形(xing)(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)時(shi)(shi)間既不(bu)是晉代(dai)(dai),也(ye)不(bu)是唐代(dai)(dai),而是在(zai)(zai)(zai)東(dong)(dong)漢(han)(han)早(zao)(zao)(zao)期(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)之(zhi)(zhi)后(hou)。從(cong)現有的(de)(de)史籍(ji)資料來看(kan),最早(zao)(zao)(zao)言(yan)及到滆(he)(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)的(de)(de)人(ren)士(shi)是三(san)國時(shi)(shi)東(dong)(dong)吳(wu)經學家、會(hui)稽(今浙江)人(ren)虞(yu)翻(fan),如元(yuan)(yuan)至正(zheng)《金陵新志》載:“虞(yu)翻(fan)曰(yue):‘太湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)有五(wu)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu),故(gu)謂(wei)之(zhi)(zhi)五(wu)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu),滆(he)(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu),洮湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu),射(she)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu),貴(gui)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)及太湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)為五(wu)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu),并(bing)太湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)之(zhi)(zhi)小(xiao)支(zhi),具連太湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu),故(gu)太湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)兼得五(wu)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)之(zhi)(zhi)名。’”虞(yu)翻(fan)既已言(yan)到滆(he)(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu),說(shuo)明(ming)虞(yu)翻(fan)時(shi)(shi)滆(he)(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)已肯定存在(zai)(zai)(zai)。虞(yu)翻(fan)生于公元(yuan)(yuan)164年(nian)(nian)(nian),卒于公元(yuan)(yuan)233年(nian)(nian)(nian),這(zhe)也(ye)就是說(shuo),滆(he)(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)形(xing)(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)最晚時(shi)(shi)間應(ying)在(zai)(zai)(zai)公元(yuan)(yuan)233年(nian)(nian)(nian)之(zhi)(zhi)前。依據東(dong)(dong)漢(han)(han)早(zao)(zao)(zao)期(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)滆(he)(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)還(huan)未(wei)形(xing)(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),公元(yuan)(yuan)233年(nian)(nian)(nian)虞(yu)翻(fan)卒之(zhi)(zhi)前滆(he)(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)已存在(zai)(zai)(zai),三(san)國初年(nian)(nian)(nian)為公元(yuan)(yuan)220年(nian)(nian)(nian),可(ke)(ke)斷定滆(he)(he)(he)(he)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)(hu)的(de)(de)形(xing)(xing)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)時(shi)(shi)間應(ying)在(zai)(zai)(zai)東(dong)(dong)漢(han)(han)中(zhong)晚期(qi)(qi)(qi)(qi)。