福建省大田縣境內,從明代開始,各村建造土堡的已成風俗,也是其主要的民居風格。一座土堡(樓)十幾戶、幾十戶;幾十幾百口人居住。主要是原因是明朝正統年間以后社會動亂不安,為了防范匪盜騷擾;另一方面是清代乾隆至嘉慶時代近百年盛世,隨著經濟的發展,許多富人在鄉里要顯身價、保財產。而大田本地有極為豐富的土、木、石,用材方便,所以大建土堡。 至今全縣還保存十九座規模在1500平方米以上的土堡。當時建造土堡皆有縣衙行文備案;有獨資、有族民合建,也有不分姓氏全村共建。太華魁城(cheng)明末清初(chu)建的(de)(de)鎮中(zhong)堡(bao)志序記載(zai):“蓋聞古來筑(zhu)城(cheng)池為(wei)(wei)郡縣屏翰之固(gu),避(bi)山寨(zhai)為(wei)(wei)鄉里保守之猷‘御強寇保身家(jia)(jia)固(gu)地方,扦外面(mian)衛內(nei),治平之時也。觀夫當今之世偷安日少,戰兢(jing)日多,數年間(jian)干戈搶接,家(jia)(jia)室(shi)靡寧,奔走不遑(huang),民之流離失(shi)者繁矣,家(jia)(jia)之十室(shi)九空者屢矣,矧邇(er)來又有綠(lv)林四處云集,昏夜出沒無(wu)常。吾鄉蓮花寨(zhai)雖云險峻而僻(pi)在水尾(wei),即或有危(wei)之際搬運不及(ji),奚暇(xia)御寇,茲閨鄉會議於中(zhong)央洋,作立一堡(bao)號(hao)鎮中(zhong)堡(bao)…”。由此可見當時建筑(zhu)土堡(bao)的(de)(de)社(she)會背景及(ji)建堡(bao)目(mu)的(de)(de)。
福建(jian)(jian)(jian)土堡(bao)(bao)區別于福建(jian)(jian)(jian)土樓(lou)、江西(xi)圍(wei)屋、廣東(dong)、廣西(xi)圍(wei)攏屋、廣東(dong)開平的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)碉樓(lou),是土生(sheng)(sheng)土長、獨一(yi)無(wu)二的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)鄉土性(xing)建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu),數量少(shao),建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)形式(shi)、立面效果比土樓(lou)生(sheng)(sheng)動(dong)活潑,具(ju)有(you)很高的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)歷史、藝(yi)術、科學價(jia)值。近(jin)年來,海(hai)內外有(you)關專(zhuan)家學者紛紛慕(mu)名至福建(jian)(jian)(jian)土堡(bao)(bao)發現(xian)地大田等地實地考(kao)察,為(wei)構筑(zhu)奇特、防(fang)御性(xing)強烈的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)土堡(bao)(bao)而震撼(han)。土堡(bao)(bao)群(qun)在福建(jian)(jian)(jian)、乃(nai)至全國的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)古代防(fang)御性(xing)鄉土建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)中獨樹一(yi)幟,其建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)風格的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)唯一(yi)性(xing)、構筑(zhu)體系的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)獨立性(xing)、整(zheng)體保存的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)完(wan)整(zheng)性(xing)、環(huan)境風貌(mao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)原(yuan)真性(xing)、成組聚集的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)區域性(xing)、建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)藝(yi)術的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)完(wan)美性(xing)、抗(kang)爭自保的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)社會性(xing)均是“土生(sheng)(sheng)土長”的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de),堪稱(cheng)獨一(yi)無(wu)二。
大(da)田(tian)土(tu)堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)與永定、南靖、詔安(an)等地(di)相(xiang)比,有(you)自己的(de)特點:一、取(qu)當地(di)豐富(fu)的(de)石頭,底層(ceng)全(quan)部(bu)用石逐(zhu)塊(kuai)砌起,不(bu)用任何粘加(jia)物,土(tu)石高(gao)比例為1:2左右,使土(tu)墻不(bu)易受(shou)地(di)面水和風(feng)雨的(de)浸蝕。二、大(da)門用硬雜(za)木,其余全(quan)用杉木,不(bu)易腐(fu)乙;三、因地(di)宜,就地(di)筑堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao),不(bu)論丘棱高(gao)山;平洋河邊,均有(you)建(jian)堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)。有(you)的(de)父建(jian)內堂,子(zi)建(jian)土(tu)圍。歷(li)時十(shi)幾三十(shi)多年,可見(jian)費資巨大(da)。如明(ming)代(dai)山崗(gang)類型(xing)(xing)的(de)琵(pi)琶堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao),清(qing)代(dai)山坡類型(xing)(xing)的(de)安(an)良堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao),清(qing)代(dai)水田(tian)類型(xing)(xing)的(de)潭(tan)城堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)、鳳陽堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)和泰(tai)安(an)堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)等,
均溪(xi)鎮許思坑村(cun)中(zhong)大(da)山(shan)(shan)腳下(xia)有(you)(you)座(zuo)全縣間(jian)(jian)數(shu)最多的(de)(de)(de)(de)大(da)土(tu)(tu)堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)一(yi)(yi)(yi)一(yi)(yi)(yi)芳聯堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao),為(wei)張(zhang)氏十(shi)五世(shi)大(da)學張(zhang)應濫和張(zhang)元梅父子建(jian)(jian)(jian)。湖美鄉旺建(jian)(jian)(jian)村(cun)的(de)(de)(de)(de)攀貴堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)為(wei)四房(fang)形(xing),占地3720平方米(mi)(mi),坐(zuo)北朝南,三(san)(san)(san)(san)面臨田,右邊近(jin)河。廖廷樽于(yu)乾隆(long)末(mo)年(nian)建(jian)(jian)(jian)內(nei)房(fang),廖七十(shi)于(yu)嘉慶年(nian)間(jian)(jian)花(hua)三(san)(san)(san)(san)十(shi)年(nian)完成(cheng)土(tu)(tu)堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)工(gong)程。完工(gong)時后(hou)角(jiao)曾(ceng)倒坍,此(ci)時廖七十(shi)家業已盡(jin),由(you)女人私房(fang)錢獻出修復。原有(you)(you)153個(ge)房(fang)間(jian)(jian),現內(nei)堂已毀(hui),只剩104間(jian)(jian)。石(shi)(shi)(shi)墻基厚四米(mi)(mi),高(gao)10米(mi)(mi),其中(zhong)石(shi)(shi)(shi)墻(底樓)高(gao)6米(mi)(mi),石(shi)(shi)(shi)墻上是2.4米(mi)(mi)寬的(de)(de)(de)(de)環堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)小道(dao),小道(dao)內(nei)是3米(mi)(mi)寬的(de)(de)(de)(de)房(fang)間(jian)(jian),橫間(jian)(jian)十(shi)三(san)(san)(san)(san)間(jian)(jian),房(fang)間(jian)(jian)前(qian)又有(you)(you)1.5米(mi)(mi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)木質(zhi)走廊(lang),是我縣僅有(you)(you)的(de)(de)(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)(yi)堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)雙(shuang)(shuang)回(hui)廊(lang)結(jie)(jie)構(gou)土(tu)(tu)堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao);走廊(lang)外檐(yan)下(xia)有(you)(you)一(yi)(yi)(yi)排整齊精致的(de)(de)(de)(de)吊頂木葫蘆,造型美觀,煞(sha)是好看(kan)。堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)前(qian)后(hou)左(zuo)右中(zhong)間(jian)(jian)各設一(yi)(yi)(yi)小廳,底層(ceng)(ceng)無窗、二層(ceng)(ceng)炮、槍眼密布,放前(qian)、右二石(shi)(shi)(shi)門。建(jian)(jian)(jian)于(yu)乾隆(long)八年(nian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)濟陽(yang)鄉大(da)儒仁(ren)壽堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)和桃源(yuan)東坂土(tu)(tu)堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao),建(jian)(jian)(jian)于(yu)山(shan)(shan)坡(po)上,前(qian)后(hou)長45米(mi)(mi)中(zhong)落差近(jin)十(shi)米(mi)(mi),檐(yan)分十(shi)三(san)(san)(san)(san)棟;仁(ren)壽堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)內(nei)還建(jian)(jian)(jian)一(yi)(yi)(yi)座(zuo)100平方米(mi)(mi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)三(san)(san)(san)(san)層(ceng)(ceng)小堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao),是少見的(de)(de)(de)(de)堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)中(zhong)堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)。雖經二百(bai)五十(shi)多年(nian)風剝雨(yu)蝕,且建(jian)(jian)(jian)于(yu)半山(shan)(shan)腰中(zhong),用生土(tu)(tu)、石(shi)(shi)(shi)灰,雞(ji)蛋大(da)小石(shi)(shi)(shi)夯成(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)土(tu)(tu)墻已凹凸(tu)不平。廣平豐莊(zhuang)村(cun),有(you)(you)座(zuo)從永安西(xi)華遷入羅姓建(jian)(jian)(jian)造的(de)(de)(de)(de)二百(bai)多戶(hu)、一(yi)(yi)(yi)千多人共有(you)(you)的(de)(de)(de)(de)方形(xing)土(tu)(tu)堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)一(yi)(yi)(yi)一(yi)(yi)(yi)延慶堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao),建(jian)(jian)(jian)于(yu)明(ming)末(mo)清初(chu),占地3240平方米(mi)(mi),堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)基厚3.5米(mi)(mi),高(gao)十(shi)一(yi)(yi)(yi)米(mi)(mi),左(zuo)右雙(shuang)(shuang)梯上環堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)小道(dao);內(nei)共三(san)(san)(san)(san)進(jin),前(qian)、中(zhong)為(wei)懸山(shan)(shan)式單層(ceng)(ceng)木結(jie)(jie)構(gou),后(hou)為(wei)二層(ceng)(ceng)樓閣式結(jie)(jie)構(gou),雕欄(lan)畫棟,為(wei)家眷(juan)所居,整座(zuo)土(tu)(tu)堡(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)(bao)布局和諧,風格古樸。
廣(guang)(guang)平五峰萬厚堡(bao)建(jian)(jian)于(yu)(yu)(yu)明(ming)正(zheng)統末(mo)年(nian)(nian),傳說是鎮(zhen)壓(ya)鄧(deng)茂七農民起義的(de)(de)蔣伯年(nian)(nian)所建(jian)(jian),已550年(nian)(nian)歷史。堡(bao)為正(zheng)圓(yuan)(yuan)形(xing),放(fang)前(qian)后二石(shi)拱門(men)(men),門(men)(men)旁(pang)又有(you)(you)四(si)方小堡(bao)擔守(shou)門(men)(men)戶,現(xian)堡(bao)己倒塌,只留半截3米(mi)寬的(de)(de)石(shi)基于(yu)(yu)(yu)內建(jian)(jian)房四(si)棟(dong),房與房之間(jian)有(you)(you)條“F”字的(de)(de)小道(dao);用石(shi)頭鋪設(she)的(de)(de)路面被幾百(bai)年(nian)(nian)行人磨得(de)光滑明(ming)亮(liang),堡(bao)外(wai)有(you)(you)護城(cheng)河(he),現(xian)大都淤塞 只存前(qian)門(men)(men)5米(mi)寬的(de)(de)一(yi)小段。棟(dong)仁的(de)(de)潭城(cheng)堡(bao)也是圓(yuan)(yuan)形(xing),三面臨河(he),清光緒年(nian)(nian)間(jian)建(jian)(jian)成,墻基3.7米(mi)厚,直徑65米(mi)。此外(wai),太華鄉萬湖村(cun)各姓于(yu)(yu)(yu)道(dao)光年(nian)(nian)間(jian)合(he)建(jian)(jian)的(de)(de)洋中堡(bao),魁城(cheng)村(cun)國子(zi)監陳登錢于(yu)(yu)(yu)清同治三年(nian)(nian)建(jian)(jian)的(de)(de)步云樓,濟陽涂承康(kang)、涂超文為首全村(cun)于(yu)(yu)(yu)乾隆壬戍年(nian)(nian)興建(jian)(jian)的(de)(de)風(feng)陽堡(bao),廣(guang)(guang)平銘(ming)溪(xi)池氏于(yu)(yu)(yu)嘉慶年(nian)(nian)間(jian)共立的(de)(de)龍(long)會堡(bao),棟(dong)仁潭城(cheng)堡(bao),上京城(cheng)口(kou)堡(bao)和文江朱(zhu)坂等(deng)堡(bao)全是四(si)面回廊硬(ying)山式(shi)瓦面結構。
還有些(xie)土(tu)堡(bao)較(jiao)矮,只有三四米(mi)高(gao)的堡(bao)式(shi)民(min)(min)宅,如廣平萬(wan)宅紹恢堡(bao)、萬(wan)籌光裕堡(bao)、廣平鴻禧堡(bao)等建筑只能防盜而難防匪。但(dan)其(qi)建筑面積都在2000平方米(mi)以(yi)上,每座間(jian)(jian)數(shu)達(da)70間(jian)(jian)以(yi)上。林林總(zong)總(zong)的各式(shi)土(tu)堡(bao),防御色(se)彩特別濃烈、。如廊層(ceng)(ceng)不(bu)開窗、二(er)層(ceng)(ceng)以(yi)上才(cai)開寬20公分、高(gao)一(yi)米(mi)的狹小窗,槍眼遍布,而且土(tu)堡(bao)周(zhou)圍(wei)都不(bu)會成為死角,使(shi)敵人(ren)不(bu)得靠近身,墻(qiang)基特厚, 當(dang)時的槍炮(pao)根本威脅不(bu)了它(ta)的安全;樓門(men)(men)象城(cheng)門(men)(men),大都用石條拱頂,石條門(men)(men)框;近尺厚門(men)(men)扇(shan)還釘上一(yi)層(ceng)(ceng)鐵(tie)皮,門(men)(men)上還放有放水孔以(yi)便滅火;堡(bao)內掘有水井,便于(yu)被困汲水飲用等。大門(men)(men)一(yi)關,千夫(fu)莫及,如豐莊(zhuang)延慶堡(bao)于(yu)民(min)(min)國年(nian)間(jian)(jian)被尤溪盧興邦部圍(wei)困數(shu)日,調(diao)來“七星(xing)炮(pao)”猛轟,但(dan)只留(liu)下一(yi)個個“疤”而己,可見(jian)其(qi)堅(jian)固性。
2010年初,國(guo)務院(yuan)第(di)三(san)次(ci)(ci)全(quan)國(guo)文(wen)物(wu)普(pu)查領導小(xiao)組辦公室從(cong)全(quan)國(guo)新(xin)發(fa)(fa)(fa)現的近50萬處不可移動(dong)文(wen)物(wu)中,遴選了(le)165項(xiang)重要新(xin)發(fa)(fa)(fa)現,匯編成(cheng)了(le)《2009年第(di)三(san)次(ci)(ci)全(quan)國(guo)文(wen)物(wu)普(pu)查重要新(xin)發(fa)(fa)(fa)現》一書。福建共(gong)有(you)8處文(wen)物(wu)被編入此書,大(da)田土堡群就(jiu)是(shi)其一。
2010年11月19-22日 由中國民族建筑研究會民居建筑專業委員會等單位主辦的中國?福建土堡全國學術研討會在大田縣召開。來自海峽兩岸建筑學界專家、學者和文博工作者近百人參加了研討會。其中,大田土堡群以其構筑奇特、防御性強,被列入2009年度第三次全國文物普查“重要新發現”,是福建土堡的典型代表。目前,大田土堡群正在申報全國重點文物保護單位。與會者希望以研討會為契機,推動福建土堡申報世界文化遺產保護名錄或作為世界文化遺產“福建土樓”的擴展和延伸項目,擴大其在國際上的影響。