介紹
明(ming)代(dai)永樂十六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(公元(yuan)1418年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),寺僧無用自應天溧水(shui)(今江(jiang)蘇溧陽(yang)(yang)縣)來,與(yu)蒙(meng)化土(tu)(tu)官(guan)左氏、蒙(meng)化大(da)族善信等(deng)共同(tong)籌(chou)資,先期建(jian)(jian)(jian)成大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)宮)。隨(sui)之(zhi)(zhi),劈展后(hou)(hou)地,共建(jian)(jian)(jian)成三(san)進四院(yuan)的(de)佛(fo)教(jiao)寺廟建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑群。明(ming)正統二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1437年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))開始塑像(xiang)(xiang),明(ming)成化元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1465年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))土(tu)(tu)知府(fu)左氏再建(jian)(jian)(jian)雙塔(ta)于二門(men)外,諸善信增建(jian)(jian)(jian)殿(dian)宇(yu)五座,明(ming)代(dai)萬(wan)歷二十七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1599年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至(zhi)三(san)十四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1625年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),僧綱司住持(chi)性定再次募修(xiu)各殿(dian),又新建(jian)(jian)(jian)后(hou)(hou)殿(dian)、兩廡及更衣廳(ting)并塑羅漢,至(zhi)此,等(deng)覺寺為規(gui)模最大(da)時(shi)。《等(deng)覺寺碑記(ji)》載:“……功既就,各塑諸尊(zun)金像(xiang)(xiang),昭示法眼,于是(shi),棟宇(yu)巍峨,后(hou)(hou)前掩映,寶像(xiang)(xiang)森(sen)嚴,金碧(bi)交輝……”從(cong)中可以看到,當初(chu)建(jian)(jian)(jian)成時(shi)的(de)等(deng)覺寺,無論是(shi)建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑規(gui)模還是(shi)香火之(zhi)(zhi)盛(sheng)都是(shi)空前的(de)。清(qing)代(dai)咸豐年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)兵焚,部分(fen)建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑被毀,僅余太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)宮、雙塔(ta)等(deng)處。清(qing)光緒年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian),于太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)宮之(zhi)(zhi)左建(jian)(jian)(jian)祿位祠,祀云貴總(zong)督林則徐。在(zai)太(tai)陽(yang)(yang)宮之(zhi)(zhi)右改建(jian)(jian)(jian)昭忠祠,祀咸同(tong)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)清(qing)軍(jun)陣(zhen)亡、殉難(nan)諸人(ren)。
太陽宮建(jian)(jian)(jian)于明(ming)(ming)永樂十(shi)六(liu)年(1418年),為面(mian)寬五(wu)間的單檐(yan)歇(xie)山式建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑,正(zheng)面(mian)及左(zuo)右檐(yan)下(xia)皆設(she)重昂五(wu)踩斗(dou)拱,后檐(yan)以垂(chui)柱花(hua)板作裝飾,整個(ge)建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑古(gu)樸雄渾。雙(shuang)(shuang)(shuang)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)建(jian)(jian)(jian)于明(ming)(ming)代(dai)成(cheng)化元(yuan)年(1465年),為九(jiu)級方(fang)形密(mi)檐(yan)式實心(xin)磚塔(ta)(ta)(ta)。其大小結構相同。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)身最(zui)下(xia)層為石砌臺(tai)座,上(shang)置磚造須彌座臺(tai)基(ji)二層,上(shang)建(jian)(jian)(jian)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)身。雙(shuang)(shuang)(shuang)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)的第(di)一(yi)級東(dong)西南(nan)北各設(she)佛龕一(yi)個(ge),內置大理石佛像(xiang)各一(yi)尊,其中,在西塔(ta)(ta)(ta)南(nan)面(mian)鑲(xiang)嵌明(ming)(ming)成(cheng)化元(yuan)年《新造等覺(jue)寺雙(shuang)(shuang)(shuang)寶塔(ta)(ta)(ta)記》一(yi)通(tong)。
縱觀等覺寺(si),其建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)的確(que)非凡。尤其是等覺寺(si)集塔、寺(si)為一體的佛(fo)教(jiao)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu),建(jian)(jian)在城池內實屬少見。兼之等覺寺(si)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)布局型制(zhi)嚴謹,充分顯示了古(gu)代(dai)匠師的高超技藝,是研究(jiu)明(ming)代(dai)早(zao)期木構(gou)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)的重要實物(wu)例證,文物(wu)價值極高。