介紹
明(ming)代(dai)(dai)永樂(le)十(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(公(gong)元1418年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),寺僧無用(yong)自應天(tian)溧水(今(jin)江蘇溧陽(yang)(yang)(yang)縣)來,與蒙化(hua)土(tu)官左(zuo)氏、蒙化(hua)大族善信等(deng)共同籌資,先期建(jian)(jian)(jian)成大雄(xiong)寶(bao)殿(太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)宮)。隨(sui)之,劈展后地,共建(jian)(jian)(jian)成三進四院的(de)(de)佛教寺廟建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)群。明(ming)正(zheng)統(tong)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1437年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))開始塑像,明(ming)成化(hua)元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1465年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))土(tu)知府左(zuo)氏再(zai)建(jian)(jian)(jian)雙塔(ta)于二(er)門(men)外,諸(zhu)善信增建(jian)(jian)(jian)殿宇五座,明(ming)代(dai)(dai)萬歷二(er)十(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1599年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至(zhi)三十(shi)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1625年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),僧綱(gang)司住持性定再(zai)次募修(xiu)各(ge)殿,又新(xin)建(jian)(jian)(jian)后殿、兩廡及更衣廳(ting)并塑羅(luo)漢(han),至(zhi)此,等(deng)覺寺為規模(mo)最大時。《等(deng)覺寺碑記》載:“……功(gong)既就,各(ge)塑諸(zhu)尊(zun)金像,昭示法眼,于是(shi),棟宇巍(wei)峨,后前(qian)掩映,寶(bao)像森嚴,金碧交輝……”從中可以看到,當(dang)初(chu)建(jian)(jian)(jian)成時的(de)(de)等(deng)覺寺,無論是(shi)建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)規模(mo)還(huan)是(shi)香火(huo)之盛(sheng)都(dou)是(shi)空前(qian)的(de)(de)。清代(dai)(dai)咸豐(feng)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(jian)(jian)兵焚,部(bu)分建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)被毀,僅(jin)余太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)宮、雙塔(ta)等(deng)處。清光緒年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(jian)(jian),于太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)宮之左(zuo)建(jian)(jian)(jian)祿位祠,祀云貴(gui)總督林則徐。在太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)宮之右改(gai)建(jian)(jian)(jian)昭忠祠,祀咸同年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(jian)(jian)清軍(jun)陣亡、殉難諸(zhu)人。
太陽宮建(jian)于(yu)明永樂十六年(1418年),為面(mian)寬五(wu)間的單檐(yan)歇(xie)山式(shi)(shi)建(jian)筑(zhu),正面(mian)及(ji)左右(you)檐(yan)下(xia)皆設(she)重昂(ang)五(wu)踩斗拱,后(hou)檐(yan)以垂柱花(hua)板作(zuo)裝飾,整個建(jian)筑(zhu)古樸雄渾。雙塔(ta)建(jian)于(yu)明代成(cheng)化元年(1465年),為九(jiu)級方形(xing)密檐(yan)式(shi)(shi)實(shi)心磚塔(ta)。其大小結構相同(tong)。塔(ta)身(shen)最(zui)下(xia)層為石砌臺(tai)(tai)座(zuo)(zuo),上(shang)置(zhi)磚造須彌座(zuo)(zuo)臺(tai)(tai)基二(er)層,上(shang)建(jian)塔(ta)身(shen)。雙塔(ta)的第一級東(dong)西(xi)南北各(ge)(ge)設(she)佛(fo)龕(kan)一個,內(nei)置(zhi)大理石佛(fo)像各(ge)(ge)一尊,其中,在(zai)西(xi)塔(ta)南面(mian)鑲(xiang)嵌(qian)明成(cheng)化元年《新造等覺寺雙寶(bao)塔(ta)記》一通。
縱(zong)觀等(deng)覺寺(si),其(qi)建筑的(de)確非凡(fan)。尤其(qi)是(shi)等(deng)覺寺(si)集塔(ta)、寺(si)為一(yi)體的(de)佛教建筑,建在城池內(nei)實屬少(shao)見。兼之等(deng)覺寺(si)建筑布局型制嚴謹(jin),充(chong)分顯示了古代(dai)匠師的(de)高超(chao)技(ji)藝,是(shi)研究明代(dai)早(zao)期木構建筑的(de)重(zhong)要(yao)實物例證,文物價值極高。