歷(li)(li)史(shi)上的(de)圓(yuan)通(tong)(tong)(tong)庵規(gui)模不大(da)(da)(da),2001年(nian)(nian)恢復(fu)重建時(shi),更(geng)名圓(yuan)通(tong)(tong)(tong)寺。2003年(nian)(nian)3月(yue)31日(農歷(li)(li)二月(yue)二十九(jiu)日),圓(yuan)通(tong)(tong)(tong)寺大(da)(da)(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)正式奠基。經(jing)過近十年(nian)(nian)的(de)努力,圓(yuan)通(tong)(tong)(tong)寺已初(chu)具規(gui)模。 現(xian)圓(yuan)通(tong)(tong)(tong)寺占地60余畝,建筑面積19000平方米,建有牌樓、天(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)、大(da)(da)(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)、觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)閣(ge)、藏經(jing)樓等。寺院內(nei)古(gu)木參天(tian),兩(liang)棵樹齡千年(nian)(nian),蒼勁挺拔、枝(zhi)繁葉茂的(de)古(gu)杏樹是吳江人(ren)文(wen)(wen)景(jing)觀(guan)(guan)中獨有的(de)“十樣景(jing)樹”;殿(dian)堂建筑古(gu)典恢宏,佛像(xiang)莊嚴,慈祥栩栩如(ru)生,處(chu)(chu)處(chu)(chu)能感應到蓮花佛國的(de)觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)道場特色;露天(tian)金玉(yu)觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)、觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)閣(ge)內(nei)四面觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)均(jun)為江南(nan)大(da)(da)(da)型觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)造像(xiang),可與普陀山觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)像(xiang)和峨嵋山金頂相媲(pi)美;古(gu)典園林(lin)建筑,小(xiao)橋(qiao)流(liu)水,蓮花噴(pen)泉,假山洞(dong)天(tian),風景(jing)秀麗,宛若仙境(jing),歷(li)(li)史(shi)悠久(jiu),人(ren)文(wen)(wen)景(jing)觀(guan)(guan)極為豐富,集(ji)宗教、文(wen)(wen)化于(yu)一體(ti),是一座具有千年(nian)(nian)歷(li)(li)史(shi)的(de)江南(nan)名剎。
寺前廣(guang)場(chang)有三(san)楹石牌(pai)樓(lou),中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)間匾(bian)額“圓通寺”三(san)字,為(wei)著名國(guo)學大師南(nan)懷謹手(shou)書(shu)。兩側配有南(nan)懷謹先生撰寫、書(shu)法(fa)(fa)家杜忠誥書(shu)寫的(de)楹聯:“梵唄(bai)鐘(zhong)聲寂寂惺(xing)惺(xing)觀自在(zai),江(jiang)(jiang)楓魚(yu)火塵塵剎(cha)剎(cha)見如(ru)來”,將佛(fo)學哲理和江(jiang)(jiang)南(nan)水(shui)鄉景色融(rong)于一體。牌(pai)樓(lou)內(nei)側一塊(kuai)匾(bian)額“回頭是岸”,由蘇州(zhou)佛(fo)教協(xie)會(hui)副秘書(shu)長(chang)、吳中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)區佛(fo)教協(xie)會(hui)會(hui)長(chang)貫(guan)澈大和尚題寫。沿中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)軸線過牌(pai)樓(lou)進山門是天(tian)王(wang)(wang)殿,“天(tian)王(wang)(wang)殿”三(san)字由江(jiang)(jiang)蘇著名書(shu)法(fa)(fa)家徐利(li)明先生撰寫。天(tian)王(wang)(wang)殿內(nei)袒腹(fu)笑顏的(de)彌(mi)(mi)勒(le)菩(pu)薩供奉于殿堂中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)央(yang)。彌(mi)(mi)勒(le)菩(pu)薩的(de)后方(fang)(fang)(fang),身著甲(jia)胄(zhou)、手(shou)執金剛杵(chu)的(de)韋馱菩(pu)薩,其護(hu)法(fa)(fa)護(hu)教之(zhi)愿,凝(ning)然于氣宇之(zhi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。神(shen)態威(wei)嚴的(de)四大天(tian)王(wang)(wang)為(wei)守(shou)護(hu)佛(fo)法(fa)(fa)之(zhi)善神(shen),分別為(wei)東方(fang)(fang)(fang)持(chi)國(guo)天(tian)王(wang)(wang)、南(nan)方(fang)(fang)(fang)增長(chang)天(tian)王(wang)(wang)、西方(fang)(fang)(fang)廣(guang)目天(tian)王(wang)(wang)及北方(fang)(fang)(fang)多(duo)聞天(tian)王(wang)(wang),手(shou)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)各拿著象征風調(diao)、雨順、國(guo)泰、民安的(de)法(fa)(fa)器,守(shou)護(hu)佛(fo)法(fa)(fa)、鎮衛國(guo)土。走出天(tian)王(wang)(wang)殿回頭見到(dao)的(de)匾(bian)額由中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)書(shu)法(fa)(fa)家協(xie)會(hui)前會(hui)長(chang)啟功所題寫的(de)“三(san)洲感應”。
出(chu)天王殿(dian)(dian)(dian),兩側是鐘鼓樓。正中是大雄(xiong)(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian),殿(dian)(dian)(dian)匾“大雄(xiong)(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)”四大金字是浙江著名書法家(jia)俞德明(ming)先(xian)生(sheng)所(suo)題。大雄(xiong)(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內現供有三世(shi)如來(lai),中間佛祖本師釋迦牟尼(ni)世(shi)尊(zun),左為東方教主(zhu)藥師流(liu)璃光佛,右為西方教主(zhu)阿彌陀(tuo)佛,莊嚴神圣。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)后是鰲魚觀(guan)(guan)島,泥塑彩繪(hui)三十二(er)應活(huo)靈活(huo)現,善才童子五(wu)十三參禪佛生(sheng)動逼真(zhen)。大雄(xiong)(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)后門上方有“慈(ci)航普渡”匾額,為蘇州佛教協會(hui)副會(hui)長、寒山寺方丈(zhang)秋爽大和(he)尚(shang)所(suo)題。大雄(xiong)(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)后有放生(sheng)池,過放生(sheng)池拱橋,是“觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)閣”。觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)閣是二(er)層建筑,里面供香樟木雕(diao)刻而成的四面千手觀(guan)(guan)音(yin),高11.38點米,由寧波宏托精雕(diao)有限公司制作,全(quan)部貼金。
圓(yuan)通(tong)寺西花園(yuan)景(jing)觀區主要景(jing)點有(you)(you)水上(shang)露天(tian)金(jin)玉觀音像(xiang)、蓮(lian)花池(chi)、蓮(lian)花噴泉、待月(yue)樓、回(hui)廊、水榭、旱船、茶室、會務接待室、九曲石橋、觀湖亭(ting)、慈(ci)孝亭(ting)、假山洞天(tian)、奇花異草、金(jin)魚錦龜等,景(jing)致優雅,一派(pai)江南(nan)園(yuan)林特色,特別(bie)這旱船,與退思園(yuan)的“鬧紅(hong)一舸”有(you)(you)異曲同(tong)工之(zhi)妙(miao)。圓(yuan)通(tong)寺的四面千手(shou)觀音像(xiang)、“十樣景(jing)”銀杏(xing)樹、金(jin)剛經塔碑,可以稱為三絕。