圣水寺廟宇西側,從地下涌出一股清泉,一年四季不枯竭,泉水注入蓮花池,淌滿了門前的池塘。冰天雪地時熱氣蒸騰,綠草與白冰共存。人們稱清泉為“圣水”,寺廟因此而得名。寺廟始(shi)建(jian)(jian)于清(qing)康熙(xi)五十(shi)九(jiu)年(1720年),至(zhi)今已有280余年的歷史(shi),這其中(zhong)有幾(ji)次大(da)的擴(kuo)建(jian)(jian)和維修,較大(da)的一次擴(kuo)建(jian)(jian)與維修在當代,上(shang)個世紀九(jiu)十(shi)年代,出于旅(lv)游事(shi)業的需要(yao),這里重整廟宇(yu),圣水寺得以光揚天下。寺廟南北長104米(mi)(mi),東西(xi)寬(kuan)96米(mi)(mi),占地約1萬平(ping)方米(mi)(mi),是儒、釋(shi)、道三教合一的廟宇(yu)。
圣水寺布局合理,構筑新穎,具有明顯的地方特色,且有園林風范。整個寺廟,既有北方寺廟的風格,又具南方寺廟的特點,融南北寺廟風貌為一體,別具一格。南山(shan)根(gen)涌出(chu)一股泉水,清(qing)澈甘(gan)甜四(si)季不斷(duan)。1714年(nian)(清(qing)康熙五十三年(nian)),大(da)和尚崇(chong)慧(hui)在此落腳,修身(shen)養性化(hua)緣建(jian)(jian)廟,取名圣水寺。此后(hou)不斷(duan)擴建(jian)(jian),成為規模宏大(da)的古建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)群,是省(sheng)級文物保護(hu)單位(wei),也是遠近聞名的旅游勝地。
天元宮,共三層(ceng)(ceng),高大雄偉,“大式大木磚木混合(he)式樓閣建筑”,圓蓋(gai)方座。第一(yi)層(ceng)(ceng)是由青磚砌成的正(zheng)方形(xing)城座,第二(er)層(ceng)(ceng)為正(zheng)方形(xing)圍墻,四周設(she)廊,四角翹檐(yan),“檐(yan)柱(zhu)露外(wai),七踩斗拱”,第三層(ceng)(ceng)為十(shi)二(er)面體閣樓,檐(yan)角高翹,“頂有(you)鼓座,其上有(you)一(yi)九(jiu)葉(xie)金蓮作為裝(zhuang)飾”。
明心樓(lou)(lou)在鐘樓(lou)(lou)西(xi)側是明心樓(lou)(lou),共兩(liang)層(ceng),為正方形(xing)大式大木架歇山式重樓(lou)(lou),臺基上(shang)是圍(wei)廊,一層(ceng)檐柱(zhu)十二根圍(wei)成正方形(xing),全柱(zhu)砌在墻(qiang)內(nei),前(qian)后正中各(ge)(ge)設(she)(she)卷門(men),東(dong)(dong)西(xi)兩(liang)側正中各(ge)(ge)設(she)(she)圓(yuan)劵窗(chuang)兩(liang)扇。門(men)窗(chuang)兩(liang)側各(ge)(ge)設(she)(she)有兩(liang)個(ge)龕,共八個(ge)。檐部(bu)七踩斗(dou)拱,額板枋上(shang)雕有行龍、飛(fei)鳳等圖案,閣內(nei)北面(mian)、東(dong)(dong)面(mian)、西(xi)面(mian)各(ge)(ge)設(she)(she)神臺,北面(mian)為范丹老祖,東(dong)(dong)面(mian)為呂洞賓(bin),西(xi)面(mian)為鐵拐李,東(dong)(dong)北角(jiao)和西(xi)南(nan)角(jiao)靠墻(qiang)各(ge)(ge)設(she)(she)木梯(ti)上(shang)樓(lou)(lou);二層(ceng)周圍(wei)設(she)(she)廊,四面(mian)皆(jie)為四柱(zhu)三(san)間,內(nei)檐閣每面(mian)各(ge)(ge)設(she)(she)四扇門(men),閣內(nei)北面(mian)神臺供奉銅(tong)(tong)母娘娘,檐部(bu)裝飾(shi)與一層(ceng)大同小(xiao)異。樓(lou)(lou)頂正脊中心站立(li)一只銅(tong)(tong)質雄雞(ji),面(mian)東(dong)(dong)啼鳴(ming)報(bao)曉(xiao),形(xing)態生(sheng)動逼真,意(yi)為“金雞(ji)三(san)鳴(ming)”或“金雞(ji)報(bao)曉(xiao)”,清凈圓(yuan)滿,明心見性(xing)。
碧云宮在蓮花(hua)池北面(mian),為(wei)主體中(zhong)(zhong)心建筑——碧云宮(又名八(ba)寶樓(lou)(lou)(lou)、無極樓(lou)(lou)(lou)),為(wei)“四層(ceng)塔形(xing)(xing)大式大木(mu)建筑”,此(ci)樓(lou)(lou)(lou)集城座、塔身、閣樓(lou)(lou)(lou)、廟宇于一體。第(di)(di)一層(ceng)是(shi)正方形(xing)(xing)城樓(lou)(lou)(lou)式基(ji)座,四面(mian)有圓券門,中(zhong)(zhong)間(jian)為(wei)十字甬道,四周有龍首形(xing)(xing)滴槽(cao);第(di)(di)二(er)層(ceng)平臺四角(jiao)(jiao)各(ge)有一個(ge)小角(jiao)(jiao)樓(lou)(lou)(lou),中(zhong)(zhong)間(jian)是(shi)八(ba)角(jiao)(jiao)樓(lou)(lou)(lou),檐枋斗(dou)拱;第(di)(di)三層(ceng)與第(di)(di)二(er)層(ceng)相同;第(di)(di)四層(ceng)是(shi)正方形(xing)(xing),屋(wu)頂為(wei)九脊歇山式,正中(zhong)(zhong)金色(se)蓮座,上面(mian)承托一朵金色(se)蓮花(hua)花(hua)蕊。
鐘鼓樓(lou)(lou)在(zai)天元宮后有(you)(you)一(yi)石拱(gong)(gong)橋坐落在(zai)蓮(lian)花池之上,由二(er)十(shi)二(er)根石柱圍成,中間是(shi)(shi)石拱(gong)(gong)橋,柱頭(tou)刻(ke)有(you)(you)蓮(lian)蕾,欄(lan)板上刻(ke)有(you)(you)“二(er)十(shi)四(si)孝圖”,在(zai)石橋兩(liang)(liang)側各(ge)有(you)(you)一(yi)個(ge)(ge)方形歇山(shan)(shan)式重樓(lou)(lou),東(dong)鼓西鐘,樓(lou)(lou)座正(zheng)面(mian)正(zheng)中有(you)(you)拱(gong)(gong)形通道,兩(liang)(liang)側各(ge)設拱(gong)(gong)券門,門內是(shi)(shi)樓(lou)(lou)梯,“兩(liang)(liang)樓(lou)(lou)上檐斗拱(gong)(gong)為(wei)‘一(yi)斗三(san)升’轉角(jiao)科(ke)不(bu)帶斜拱(gong)(gong),平身科(ke)每(mei)面(mian)只(zhi)兩(liang)(liang)個(ge)(ge)攢,屋(wu)頂(ding)為(wei)九脊歇山(shan)(shan)式”。鐘鼓樓(lou)(lou)“東(dong)西側兩(liang)(liang)邊山(shan)(shan)墻各(ge)砌一(yi)個(ge)(ge)凹下(xia)的卦(gua)象”,鼓樓(lou)(lou)東(dong)西兩(liang)(liang)側分(fen)別(bie)是(shi)(shi)“乾(?)、坤(?)”,鐘樓(lou)(lou)東(dong)西兩(liang)(liang)側為(wei)“離(?)、坎(?)”,這(zhe)四(si)個(ge)(ge)卦(gua)象分(fen)別(bie)象征著天、地(di)、水、火四(si)個(ge)(ge)性質,鐘鼓樓(lou)(lou)南北(bei)面(mian)各(ge)有(you)(you)三(san)塊石匾,具有(you)(you)鮮明的道家特(te)色。
圣水寺位(wei)于葫(hu)(hu)蘆島(dao)城(cheng)區偏(pian)(pian)北三十公里、興城(cheng)市(shi)(shi)區北偏(pian)(pian)西26公里,楊(yang)家杖子經濟(ji)開發(fa)區境內,游客可從葫(hu)(hu)蘆島(dao)市(shi)(shi)區乘前(qian)往楊(yang)家杖子鎮的班車,在蓮花山道口下車。
每逢農歷(li)三月(yue)初(chu)三、四月(yue)十(shi)八(ba)、六月(yue)初(chu)六、九月(yue)初(chu)九這幾個特殊日子,蓮花(hua)(hua)山(shan)圣(sheng)水寺(si)都舉辦(ban)大(da)規(gui)模的廟會活動,有(you)大(da)量的村民(min)自發地來到圣(sheng)水寺(si)上香(xiang)禮(li)佛,還(huan)有(you)來自朝陽、阜(fu)新(xin)、興城、義縣、鐵嶺(ling)、錦州(zhou)等附(fu)近城市的香(xiang)客(ke)(ke)不(bu)(bu)(bu)約而同(tong)的匯聚于此,甚至還(huan)有(you)不(bu)(bu)(bu)遠萬(wan)里從吉(ji)林、哈爾濱(bin)、河南、河北、天津、北京、廣東(dong)等地慕名而來的香(xiang)客(ke)(ke)。這些來自遠近的香(xiang)客(ke)(ke),有(you)信佛教(jiao)的、有(you)信道教(jiao)的、有(you)信仙(xian)家(jia)的、還(huan)有(you)儒門圣(sheng)教(jiao)的教(jiao)徒(tu),這些信奉者均在(zai)集會前(qian)一天下午或(huo)晚(wan)上就來到這里,以廟會友,相互(hu)交流。在(zai)平日里每月(yue)的初(chu)一十(shi)五亦有(you)不(bu)(bu)(bu)少人前(qian)來拜佛進香(xiang)。蓮花(hua)(hua)山(shan)圣(sheng)水寺(si)在(zai)該地區已成(cheng)(cheng)為獨特的宗教(jiao)信仰(yang)象征(zheng)符號,同(tong)時蓮花(hua)(hua)山(shan)圣(sheng)水寺(si)也成(cheng)(cheng)為該地及周邊地區大(da)量教(jiao)眾(zhong)的信仰(yang)依(yi)托與(yu)精神支柱。
2006年(nian)5月25日,“圣水寺”被中(zhong)華(hua)人民共(gong)和(he)國國務院公布(bu)為第六(liu)批(pi)全(quan)國重點文物保護單(dan)位。