惠濟(ji)(ji)(ji)橋位于中國歷(li)史(shi)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)名(ming)城平遙(yao)古(gu)城東北角(jiao)約(yue)一里的惠濟(ji)(ji)(ji)河上,是一座九墩聯孔的石(shi)拱(gong)橋。盡管距離舉世聞(wen)名(ming)的平遙(yao)古(gu)城墻直線(xian)距離只有(you)(you)(you)不到(dao)三(san)百米(mi),但是她似乎并沒(mei)(mei)有(you)(you)(you)沾到(dao)這座“世界歷(li)史(shi)文(wen)化(hua)(hua)名(ming)城”的什么“光”:既沒(mei)(mei)什么保護,也(ye)沒(mei)(mei)有(you)(you)(you)什么名(ming)聲。既沒(mei)(mei)人知道,也(ye)沒(mei)(mei)人去看,對(dui)于文(wen)物(wu)來說倒不是什么壞事,關鍵(jian)問題是,惠濟(ji)(ji)(ji)橋仍在辛(xin)勤地“工作”著。
橋(qiao)身(shen)由石料砌筑,全長80米,呈(cheng)弧形,橋(qiao)面7.4米。欄板、望柱上雕刻有細膩的動(dong)物(wu)(wu)花卉圖(tu)案。橋(qiao)面由條石鋪(pu)砌而成的,加工精細,粘合牢固規(gui)整,造(zao)型古(gu)(gu)樸大方(fang)。惠(hui)濟橋(qiao)建造(zao)獨特,是研究我國古(gu)(gu)代(dai)橋(qiao)梁建造(zao)技(ji)術的珍貴實(shi)物(wu)(wu)資料。
惠(hui)濟橋始(shi)建(jian)于清(qing)康熙十(公元1671)年(nian)春,歷時(shi)十年(nian),是(shi)當時(shi)“官民(min)合(he)作”的一(yi)項大型“民(min)生工程”,起初是(shi)本(ben)地人(ren)劉(liu)澤民(min)、薛進忠(zhong)、閆(yan)賀(he)泰、劉(liu)孚(fu)幫、安爾幫、劉(liu)澤長等人(ren)發起倡議,并集資捐(juan)款建(jian)造,但是(shi)這(zhe)次只修(xiu)建(jian)了(le)五孔,后(hou)(hou)來由于河(he)水沖擊,橋略有毀(hui)損,這(zhe)個時(shi)候(hou)平(ping)遙的前(qian)后(hou)(hou)兩任知縣接力與民(min)為(wei)善,拔(ba)錢拔(ba)糧(liang),并發動紳士再捐(juan)款,重新(xin)修(xiu)橋,始(shi)成今天的惠(hui)濟橋。橋最后(hou)(hou)建(jian)成后(hou)(hou),還用余款在橋東(dong)北修(xiu)建(jian)了(le)一(yi)座庵(an)堂(tang),并請傅山先(xian)生題寫了(le)碑(bei)碣,國朝(chao)初始(shi),庵(an)毀(hui)碑(bei)失(shi),幸(xing)有碑(bei)文(wen)傳世。
惠濟橋(qiao)由本地產的砂石(shi)砌(qi)造而(er)成,南北(bei)向跨越惠濟河(he)。現橋(qiao)全長約(yue)80米(mi)(mi),橋(qiao)寬約(yue)7米(mi)(mi),橋(qiao)身(shen)呈弧(hu)形,中間一(yi)孔最高,弧(hu)矢距河(he)床表面高約(yue)6米(mi)(mi)。橋(qiao)身(shen)兩側各立高約(yue)1米(mi)(mi)的石(shi)質(zhi)(zhi)望(wang)柱(zhu)40根,望(wang)柱(zhu)間裝(zhuang)砌(qi)單(dan)鉤闌(lan)石(shi)質(zhi)(zhi)欄板,都是國朝更(geng)換的,這些原裝(zhuang)構件大部分已(yi)經(jing)腐朽不(bu)能用,有(you)一(yi)截較(jiao)好的原裝(zhuang)勾闌(lan)保存在平遙縣博物(wu)館(清虛(xu)觀)中。
惠濟橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)(de)九聯孔拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)券(quan)水窗形(xing)(xing)制基本(ben)相同:除橋(qiao)(qiao)基外(wai),在河床表面用方形(xing)(xing)、矩形(xing)(xing)等條石(shi)砌(qi)出(chu)橋(qiao)(qiao)墩十層(ceng),高約(yue)2米(mi),厚約(yue)2米(mi)余(yu)。橋(qiao)(qiao)墩之上(shang)是由(you)數量不(bu)(bu)等(大約(yue)30道)的(de)(de)(de)砂石(shi)組合橫拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)砌(qi)券(quan)而成(cheng),拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)券(quan)外(wai)側裝(zhuang)砌(qi)弧(hu)形(xing)(xing)石(shi)數量不(bu)(bu)等(約(yue)12-15塊),弧(hu)形(xing)(xing)石(shi)上(shang)下兩端大部分(fen)標(biao)識有施工記。在中間五孔的(de)(de)(de)橋(qiao)(qiao)拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)頂部正中裝(zhuang)有石(shi)雕跁廈(sha)(傳說中“龍生九子”之一),首東(dong)尾西而形(xing)(xing)態各(ge)異。拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)矢上(shang)均(jun)不(bu)(bu)繳背(bei),直接安(an)裝(zhuang)橋(qiao)(qiao)面石(shi)板和兩側的(de)(de)(de)螭(chi)子石(shi),螭(chi)子石(shi)稍微突出(chu)橋(qiao)(qiao)身(shen)些許(xu)。整(zheng)個(ge)石(shi)拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)橋(qiao)(qiao)上(shang)的(de)(de)(de)大小券(quan)石(shi)均(jun)雕琢(zhuo)精細,裝(zhuang)砌(qi)整(zheng)齊,外(wai)觀悅目。