曹(cao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)原名荷玉(yu)山(shan)(shan)(shan),四(si)周的山(shan)(shan)(shan)就像一(yi)朵朵的蓮(lian)花瓣,曹(cao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺便坐落在蓮(lian)花瓣當(dang)中,猶如一(yi)顆蓮(lian)心。正對著寺廟(miao)的山(shan)(shan)(shan)叫供(gong)(gong)養山(shan)(shan)(shan),它的形狀就像一(yi)碗盛滿的齋飯,供(gong)(gong)奉著菩薩,與供(gong)(gong)養山(shan)(shan)(shan)相對的是(shi)虎(hu)山(shan)(shan)(shan),虎(hu)山(shan)(shan)(shan)的右(you)邊是(shi)龍(long)山(shan)(shan)(shan),它與虎(hu)山(shan)(shan)(shan)形成了龍(long)虎(hu)之(zhi)勢(shi),與四(si)周的蓮(lian)花瓣圍(wei)抱著曹(cao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺,讓曹(cao)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺院端正坐落在正中廣闊(kuo)的空(kong)間(jian),面對供(gong)(gong)養山(shan)(shan)(shan),形成一(yi)個天然的大佛(fo)法壇。
《中國旅游文化大辭(ci)典》中載:祖師(shi)本(ben)寂(ji)(ji)俗姓黃,名(ming)元證,法(fa)(fa)號本(ben)寂(ji)(ji),系(xi)福(fu)建莆(pu)田人,19歲(sui)在福(fu)建靈(ling)山(shan)(shan)出家,25歲(sui)受(shou)戒,得到江西(xi)宜豐洞(dong)山(shan)(shan)高僧良介(jie)禪(chan)師(shi)真(zhen)傳,來到宜黃弘揚宗法(fa)(fa),他在曹山(shan)(shan)“法(fa)(fa)席大興,學者云萃(cui),洞(dong)山(shan)(shan)之宗,至即為(wei)盛(sheng)”,名(ming)揚四海(hai),被(bei)稱(cheng)為(wei)“曹洞(dong)宗”,為(wei)中國佛教(jiao)禪(chan)宗五大派(pai)系(xi)之一,故曹山(shan)(shan)寶積寺(si)被(bei)稱(cheng)為(wei)“曹洞(dong)宗”’祖庭。
宋明(ming)清歷代(dai)《宜黃縣志(zhi)》和《宗(zong)教詞典》多版記載:在我國、日本(ben)、東南亞、朝鮮多國,至(zhi)今有千(qian)余座曹(cao)洞宗(zong)派系寺廟和上千(qian)萬信徒。史載:宋朝嘉定16年(公元(yuan)1223年),日本(ben)學僧(seng)道元(yuan)(承陽(yang)大師(shi))來華參禪,拜(bai)曹(cao)洞宗(zong)第十三代(dai)祖師(shi)如凈禪師(shi)為(wei)師(shi)3年,受禪宗(zong)和法衣而歸,回(hui)日本(ben)建永平寺作為(wei)傳播(bo)曹(cao)洞宗(zong)的根本(ben)道場(chang),法系繁衍(yan),至(zhi)今教徒有800多萬,寺廟15000多座。
本寂(ji)(ji)禪師(shi)在曹(cao)山(shan)傳法(fa)31年(nian)(nian)(nian),弟(di)子過百,信徒數千。公元901年(nian)(nian)(nian)圓寂(ji)(ji)后就葬在曹(cao)山(shan)寺(si)西側的鳳形坑,享年(nian)(nian)(nian)62歲。1743年(nian)(nian)(nian),清雍正(zheng)皇帝加封為“定藏(zang)元證禪師(shi)”,祖師(shi)塔(ta)于1983年(nian)(nian)(nian)修復。