介紹
明(ming)代(dai)永樂十六年(nian)(公元(yuan)1418年(nian)),寺(si)僧無(wu)用自應天溧水(shui)(今江(jiang)蘇(su)溧陽縣(xian))來,與(yu)蒙化土官左(zuo)(zuo)氏、蒙化大(da)族善(shan)信等(deng)(deng)(deng)共同(tong)籌資,先期建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)大(da)雄寶殿(太(tai)陽宮(gong))。隨之(zhi),劈展后(hou)(hou)(hou)地,共建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)三(san)進四(si)院的(de)佛教(jiao)寺(si)廟建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)群。明(ming)正統二年(nian)(1437年(nian))開始塑像,明(ming)成(cheng)化元(yuan)年(nian)(1465年(nian))土知府左(zuo)(zuo)氏再建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)雙塔于二門外,諸善(shan)信增(zeng)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)殿宇五座(zuo),明(ming)代(dai)萬歷(li)二十七年(nian)(1599年(nian))至三(san)十四(si)年(nian)(1625年(nian)),僧綱司(si)住持性(xing)定(ding)再次募(mu)修各殿,又新建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)后(hou)(hou)(hou)殿、兩(liang)廡(wu)及(ji)更衣廳并(bing)塑羅(luo)漢,至此,等(deng)(deng)(deng)覺(jue)寺(si)為規(gui)模最大(da)時(shi)。《等(deng)(deng)(deng)覺(jue)寺(si)碑記》載:“……功既就,各塑諸尊金(jin)像,昭示法眼,于是(shi),棟宇巍峨,后(hou)(hou)(hou)前掩映,寶像森嚴,金(jin)碧(bi)交輝……”從(cong)中(zhong)可(ke)以看到,當初建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)時(shi)的(de)等(deng)(deng)(deng)覺(jue)寺(si),無(wu)論(lun)是(shi)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)規(gui)模還是(shi)香火之(zhi)盛都(dou)是(shi)空前的(de)。清(qing)代(dai)咸豐年(nian)間(jian)兵焚,部分(fen)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)被毀,僅余太(tai)陽宮(gong)、雙塔等(deng)(deng)(deng)處。清(qing)光(guang)緒年(nian)間(jian),于太(tai)陽宮(gong)之(zhi)左(zuo)(zuo)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)祿(lu)位祠,祀(si)(si)云貴總督林則徐。在太(tai)陽宮(gong)之(zhi)右改建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)昭忠(zhong)祠,祀(si)(si)咸同(tong)年(nian)間(jian)清(qing)軍陣(zhen)亡、殉(xun)難諸人。
太陽宮(gong)建(jian)于明(ming)永樂十六年(nian)(1418年(nian)),為(wei)面寬(kuan)五間的單檐歇山式建(jian)筑(zhu),正面及(ji)左右檐下皆(jie)設重(zhong)昂五踩斗拱,后檐以垂(chui)柱花(hua)板作裝飾,整個(ge)建(jian)筑(zhu)古樸雄(xiong)渾(hun)。雙(shuang)塔建(jian)于明(ming)代成化(hua)元(yuan)年(nian)(1465年(nian)),為(wei)九級方形(xing)密檐式實心磚(zhuan)(zhuan)塔。其(qi)大小(xiao)結(jie)構相(xiang)同。塔身最下層為(wei)石(shi)砌臺座,上(shang)置磚(zhuan)(zhuan)造須彌(mi)座臺基二層,上(shang)建(jian)塔身。雙(shuang)塔的第一(yi)級東(dong)西南(nan)北各設佛(fo)(fo)龕(kan)一(yi)個(ge),內置大理石(shi)佛(fo)(fo)像各一(yi)尊,其(qi)中(zhong),在(zai)西塔南(nan)面鑲嵌明(ming)成化(hua)元(yuan)年(nian)《新(xin)造等覺寺雙(shuang)寶塔記》一(yi)通(tong)。
縱觀等覺(jue)(jue)寺(si),其建(jian)筑的確非(fei)凡。尤其是(shi)等覺(jue)(jue)寺(si)集塔、寺(si)為一體的佛教建(jian)筑,建(jian)在城池內實(shi)屬少見。兼之等覺(jue)(jue)寺(si)建(jian)筑布局(ju)型制嚴謹(jin),充分顯示了(le)古代匠師的高超技藝(yi),是(shi)研(yan)究明代早期(qi)木構建(jian)筑的重(zhong)要實(shi)物(wu)例證,文(wen)物(wu)價值(zhi)極高。