永安市貢(gong)(gong)川(chuan)(chuan)鎮位于永安市北郊,距城(cheng)18公里(li)。貢(gong)(gong)川(chuan)(chuan),古名(ming)(ming)“貢(gong)(gong)堡”。據(ju)考古發(fa)(fa)現, 遠在新石器時代(dai)這里(li)就有人類活動;唐(tang)代(dai)貢(gong)(gong)川(chuan)(chuan)得到(dao)有計劃(hua)的開(kai)發(fa)(fa),宋代(dai)達到(dao)輝煌時期,陳姓(xing)家族享有“一(yi)門雙理(li)(li)學,九子(zi)十登(deng)科”的美(mei)譽。福建宋代(dai)理(li)(li)學“主心派”的代(dai)表(biao)人物(wu)陳就是(shi)貢(gong)(gong)川(chuan)(chuan)人。為此,宋高(gao)宗還(huan)特賜“大儒里(li)”牌坊一(yi)座。明清(qing)兩代(dai),貢(gong)(gong)川(chuan)(chuan)進士、舉人、貢(gong)(gong)生迭出,是(shi)名(ming)(ming)人薈萃(cui),文化(hua)燦爛的鐘(zhong)靈毓秀之(zhi)地。
環(huan)繞貢(gong)川(chuan)古鎮的(de)(de)有(you)沙溪(xi)(xi)、胡貢(gong)溪(xi)(xi)兩條河流, 一(yi)(yi)條自南向北,一(yi)(yi)條從西到東,兩溪(xi)(xi)在貢(gong)川(chuan)南門處交匯(hui)。在胡貢(gong)溪(xi)(xi)的(de)(de)水(shui)尾處建(jian)有(you)一(yi)(yi)座古老的(de)(de)橋(qiao)梁,她(ta)象(xiang)一(yi)(yi)道(dao)美麗的(de)(de)彩虹,連接(jie)貢(gong)堡與(yu)巫峽頭兩地(di)。雨季時節(jie),胡貢(gong)溪(xi)(xi)水(shui)較渾濁,沙溪(xi)(xi)水(shui)較清(qing)澈(che),交會(hui)(hui)處涇渭分(fen)明,因而貢(gong)川(chuan)人將這座橋(qiao)梁冠名為“會(hui)(hui)清(qing)”.會(hui)(hui)清(qing)橋(qiao)上還保留有(you)一(yi)(yi)幅明代進士羅明祖撰寫的(de)(de)嵌字(zi)對聯:會(hui)(hui)極環(huan)瞻星北拱,清(qing)波永(yong)奠水(shui)東流。
會清(qing)橋(qiao)歷史(shi)悠久,會清(qing)橋(qiao)屋(wu)有(you)(you)11間,56根木(mu)柱(zhu),南北兩端設有(you)(you)門(men)樓,中(zhong)部是升起的橋(qiao)亭(ting),布局勻稱,規(gui)矩嚴整。門(men)樓為四面(mian)坡(po)屋(wu)頂(ding),飛檐翹角,正脊(ji)(ji)上矗立一對“魚吻(wen)”。傳說(shuo)魚會吐水(shui),有(you)(you)防火之功能;橋(qiao)亭(ting)是單檐歇山(shan)式(shi)屋(wu)頂(ding),正脊(ji)(ji)上也有(you)(you)魚吻(wen),橋(qiao)亭(ting)下為方(fang)型藻(zao)井,藻(zao)井天(tian)花板(ban)上繪有(you)(you)“雙(shuang)龍搶(qiang)珠”彩(cai)畫。藻(zao)井下方(fang)便是神龕,內供“真武(wu)大帝(di)”。真武(wu)又(you)稱“玄武(wu)”,是道教(jiao)的北方(fang)神,又(you)是水(shui)神,橋(qiao)亭(ting)上祀(si)奉真武(wu)是為了鎮守水(shui)尾,以期“清(qing)波永(yong)奠”。
橋(qiao)屋(wu)梁架簡潔,斗拱(gong)(gong)形式多(duo)樣,表現出(chu)古代工匠杰出(chu)的(de)建筑藝術和技(ji)巧。橋(qiao)屋(wu)采取五架抬梁式,斗拱(gong)(gong)則有(you)“一斗三(san)升”、“角(jiao)背(bei)拱(gong)(gong)”、“駝峰拱(gong)(gong)”、“如意(yi)拱(gong)(gong)”等,它們不但有(you)著實(shi)際功能,還有(you)著較強的(de)裝飾作用。橋(qiao)屋(wu)門樓的(de)屋(wu)檐之(zhi)下(xia),我(wo)們還可見到泥塑(su)和彩繪。裝飾藝術的(de)融入,使(shi)得會清橋(qiao)愈發顯得絢麗多(duo)姿(zi),品(pin)位不俗。