鎮海衛城建于明洪武二十年(1387年),系江夏侯周德興筑以備倭,它比漳浦趙家堡還早180余年,其規模也比趙家堡大一倍多。據《海(hai)(hai)澄(cheng)縣(xian)志(zhi)》載:其周(zhou)長(chang)873丈,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)脊寬(kuan)1丈3尺(chi),高2丈2尺(chi),有女(nv)墻(qiang)1660個(ge),窩鋪20個(ge),垛口720個(ge),開東西南北四門和水(shui)門,門各(ge)有樓。登(deng)高府視,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)下陡絕,以海(hai)(hai)為壕。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)墻(qiang)歷經戰火,歲久傾圯。明正紡十三年(nian)(nian)(1448年(nian)(nian))衛(wei)(wei)指(zhi)揮同知桂福,弘(hong)治(zhi)年(nian)(nian)間(jian)衛(wei)(wei)指(zhi)揮袁侯,隆慶三年(nian)(nian)(1569年(nian)(nian))明總兵張元勛等先后重修(xiu)。清(qing)順(shun)治(zhi)十八年(nian)(nian)(1661年(nian)(nian))對(dui)沿海(hai)(hai)實 行遷界政策(ce),衛(wei)(wei)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)在界外,遂廢(fei)。康(kang)熙二直(zhi)年(nian)(nian)(1681年(nian)(nian))再修(xiu)。
衛城(cheng)遺址,便是(shi)當時重修的故(gu)壘。四個城(cheng)門(men)巋然矗立。南門(men)和(he)水門(men)較為完(wan)好(hao),尚有(you)石墻數丈。南門(men)建有(you)兩(liang)重城(cheng)門(men),人城(cheng)門(men)兩(liang)側筑(zhu)一(yi)半月形城(cheng)墻,俗稱月眉(mei)城(cheng)(簡(jian)稱月城(cheng))。
內外(wai)城(cheng)門(men)錯開,便于藏兵(bing)納(na)將,防御進犯之敵,足見古人(ren)建(jian)城(cheng)用心之細(xi)。衛(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)城(cheng)的“衛(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)”,為明朝(chao)(chao)軍(jun)(jun)事建(jian)制,每衛(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)設有(you)(you)衛(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)軍(jun)(jun)5600名(ming)(ming)。名(ming)(ming)下設千(qian)(qian)戶(hu)(hu)所(suo)(suo)、百(bai)戶(hu)(hu)所(suo)(suo)。每千(qian)(qian)戶(hu)(hu)所(suo)(suo)有(you)(you)兵(bing)1120名(ming)(ming),每百(bai)戶(hu)(hu)所(suo)(suo)有(you)(you)兵(bing)112名(ming)(ming)。百(bai)戶(hu)(hu)所(suo)(suo)設總(zong)旗(qi)二(每旗(qi)50名(ming)(ming)),小旗(qi)十(每旗(qi)10名(ming)(ming)),沿海(hai)的衛(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)、所(suo)(suo)還配有(you)(you)哨船若干。其長官,衛(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)稱(cheng)指(zhi)揮使,所(suo)(suo)稱(cheng)千(qian)(qian)戶(hu)(hu)、百(bai)戶(hu)(hu)。據《鎮海(hai)衛(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)志》載:此衛(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)原有(you)(you)官賓(bin)5300名(ming)(ming),歷任(ren)指(zhi)揮使18名(ming)(ming),轄(xia)陸鰲(今漳(zhang)浦),銅山(shan)(shan)(今東山(shan)(shan))、懸鐘(今詔安)3千(qian)(qian)戶(hu)(hu)所(suo)(suo),清朝(chao)(chao)時(shi)僅留旗(qi)軍(jun)(jun)1042名(ming)(ming),相當于一個千(qian)(qian)戶(hu)(hu)所(suo)(suo)兵(bing)力。遷界后(hou)廢除衛(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)的建(jian)制,改隸(li)漳(zhang)浦縣二十三都八 圖,至雍正(zheng)十二年(nian)(nian)(1734年(nian)(nian))才劃歸海(hai)澄縣管轄(xia)。城(cheng)南門(men)有(you)(you)教(jiao)場,中有(you)(you)演武亭(ting),坐山(shan)(shan)面(mian)海(hai)。亭(ting)之左(zuo)有(you)(you)將臺,每年(nian)(nian)春秋兩操。建(jian)城(cheng)后(hou)又建(jian)有(you)(you)望(wang)高樓,用以(yi)望(wang)海(hai)面(mian),監視敵情。同時(shi)置有(you)(you)九座煙墩臺。以(yi)上軍(jun)(jun)事設施,今已無存。
城東(dong)有石形如狗(gou)(gou)。因古語云(yun):“東(dong)門(men)(men)開,石狗(gou)(gou)吠(fei),金(jin)雞啼,賊(zei)又來”。故(gu)東(dong)門(men)(men)常閉,另設(she)水門(men)(men)。明(ming)嘉靖四十年(1561)閏五月二十日夜(辛(xin)酉時,辛(xin)為金(jin)、酉為雞),廣東(dong)饒平賊(zei)寇張(zhang)連等從(cong)水門(men)(men)陰溝潛入,打開城門(men)(men),蜂擁而至,殺掠官軍無數。今在水門(men)(men)猶可見蓋以石板的陰溝直通城外。
鎮海衛城(cheng)具(ju)有獨特風格,既是海城(cheng)又是山(shan)(shan)(shan)城(cheng)。城(cheng)內有后山(shan)(shan)(shan)、古山(shan)(shan)(shan)、召(zhao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)、曜山(shan)(shan)(shan)、倉(cang)山(shan)(shan)(shan),統稱“五星(xing)山(shan)(shan)(shan)”,合城(cheng)外“酒桶頭(tou)”、“土地公(gong)山(shan)(shan)(shan)”兩山(shan)(shan)(shan)統謂“七星(xing)落地”。城(cheng)南有象鼻山(shan)(shan)(shan),與旗(qi)尾(wei)山(shan)(shan)(shan)相通(tong),環(huan)抱鴻江(jiang)港(gang)。此港(gang)風平浪靜,為(wei)天然避風港(gang),每(mei)當風汛,過往(wang)船千百艘聚集(ji)于此,頗為(wei)壯(zhuang)觀。遠處海天范茫,東碇(ding)、南碇(ding)諸島點綴(zhui)海面,煞(sha)是好看。
城里到(dao)(dao)處有(you)井(jing)(jing),共有(you)99口(kou),傳(chuan)為(wei)江(jiang)夏侯周德興所鑿。這些井(jing)(jing)分布(bu)于石(shi)徑之(zhi)側(ce)、榕樹之(zhi)旁(pang)、庭院之(zhi)中。據(ju)載有(you)兩口(kou)較出(chu)(chu)名,一名“七星井(jing)(jing)”,與(yu)“七星落地”相對應,井(jing)(jing)有(you)六孔,泉(quan)(quan)從(cong)孔出(chu)(chu),“海(hai)深而咸,浚泉(quan)(quan)得(de)甘”,群眾(zhong)(zhong)稱“米篩泉(quan)(quan)”。一為(wei)“柳樹井(jing)(jing)”,井(jing)(jing)形如菱花,汲(ji)繩(sheng)之(zhi)痕入石(shi)欄(lan)寸許。城外另有(you)泉(quan)(quan),在東關(guan)口(kou)水(shui)門外,石(shi)壁峭(qiao)裁之(zhi)下,因衛城如象,此泉(quan)(quan)如乳,故名“象乳泉(quan)(quan)”,泉(quan)(quan)水(shui)終年不枯(ku)。雖然安(an)裝了自來(lai)水(shui),但群眾(zhong)(zhong)依然到(dao)(dao)此汲(ji)水(shui)飲用。
鎮海衛(wei)內外不僅山海俊秀,而且(qie)有(you)(you)不少祠、廟、亭、碑可供游人觀瞻。在(zai)南(nan)門(men)(men)城墻上,有(you)(you)座(zuo)福德祠,天啟二年(nian)建(jian),均(jun)以(yi)石(shi)砌(qi)成,高1.1米(mi),寬1.2米(mi),進(jin)深1.2米(mi)。南(nan)門(men)(men)內,有(you)(you)個“父(fu)子(zi)承思祖孫(sun)專(zhuan)閭”石(shi)碑坊,建(jian)造甚工,保存較好。南(nan)門(men)(men)外半里處,原(yuan)有(you)(you)一座(zuo)天門(men)(men)宮(gong)(一名大道宮(gong)),現已圯(yi),但宮(gong)內十八尊石(shi)雕羅(luo)漢猶在(zai),均(jun)無頭。傳(chuan)說(shuo),明代(dai)賊寇(kou)覬覦鎮海,而夜(ye)(ye)間常見城上有(you)(you)哨兵巡邏,不敢冒(mao)然進(jin)犯。一天,賊首派人扮作賣貨郎潛(qian)入,打聽(ting)虛實,得知是(shi)十八羅(luo)漢化身(shen)守城,因而放(fang)膽夜(ye)(ye)襲,并且(qie)將羅(luo)漢頭顱(lu)全部砍掉(diao)。
在北門內,明正統十三年建(jian)有(you)城隍(huang)廟(miao)一座(zuo),后多次修葺(qi)。農歷五(wu)月二十七日廟(miao)會(hui),頗(po)盛(sheng)。北門外二里(li)許,有(you)嘉靖初年建(jian)的(de)東岳廟(miao)。現(xian)仍(reng)供(gong)奉香火,廟(miao)右小山上,有(you)風(feng)動石。其西有(you)亭,額書“石室藏春”,內有(you)石洞(dong),寒氣襲(xi)人。距風(feng)洞(dong)石不遠處有(you)巨(ju)石,上有(you)鎖(suo)孔(kong)模樣的(de)痕,長(chang)約(yue)一尺。傳說內藏寶劍天(tian)書,如能以用指扣(kou)滿兩(liang)端鎖(suo)孔(kong),則能打開天(tian)鎖(suo)。
城內尚(shang)有義學碑(bei)(bei)記、昭(zhao)毅將軍殘(can)碑(bei)(bei)、關帝(di)廟、梳(shu)妝樓遺址和金(jin)魚池等古跡(ji)。水門右(you)側柳樹下(xia)有古地洞(dong),據說是四通八達的地洞(dong)群,為閩南十(shi)八洞(dong)之一,名(ming)“飛(fei)蛾(e)洞(dong)”。楊文(wen)廣征閩至此,擲金(jin)搶于海底,妖氛遂平。
鎮(zhen)海(hai)(hai)衛城,歷六百年風云(yun),故壘雄(xiong)風,至(zhi)今猶(you)存。山海(hai)(hai)壯麗,物(wu)阜(fu)民豐,猶(you)如一顆海(hai)(hai)上明(ming)珠,正閃爍著瑰麗的光(guang)芒。