介紹
明(ming)代永樂十(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(公元1418年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),寺(si)僧無(wu)用(yong)自應(ying)天溧水(今江(jiang)蘇溧陽(yang)(yang)(yang)縣)來,與(yu)蒙化(hua)土官(guan)左(zuo)(zuo)氏(shi)、蒙化(hua)大族善(shan)信(xin)等(deng)共同籌資,先期建(jian)成(cheng)大雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)宮)。隨之,劈展后(hou)地,共建(jian)成(cheng)三(san)進四(si)(si)院(yuan)的(de)佛(fo)教寺(si)廟建(jian)筑(zhu)群。明(ming)正統二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1437年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))開始塑(su)像,明(ming)成(cheng)化(hua)元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1465年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))土知(zhi)府左(zuo)(zuo)氏(shi)再(zai)建(jian)雙(shuang)塔(ta)于(yu)二門外,諸(zhu)(zhu)善(shan)信(xin)增建(jian)殿(dian)宇(yu)(yu)五(wu)座,明(ming)代萬(wan)歷二十(shi)七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1599年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至三(san)十(shi)四(si)(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1625年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),僧綱司住持性定再(zai)次募修各(ge)殿(dian),又新建(jian)后(hou)殿(dian)、兩廡及更衣(yi)廳并塑(su)羅漢,至此,等(deng)覺(jue)寺(si)為規模最大時(shi)。《等(deng)覺(jue)寺(si)碑(bei)記》載(zai):“……功既就,各(ge)塑(su)諸(zhu)(zhu)尊金(jin)像,昭(zhao)示法眼(yan),于(yu)是,棟宇(yu)(yu)巍峨,后(hou)前(qian)掩(yan)映,寶像森嚴(yan),金(jin)碧(bi)交輝(hui)……”從中(zhong)可以看到(dao),當初建(jian)成(cheng)時(shi)的(de)等(deng)覺(jue)寺(si),無(wu)論是建(jian)筑(zhu)規模還是香火之盛都是空前(qian)的(de)。清(qing)代咸豐年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間兵焚,部分(fen)建(jian)筑(zhu)被(bei)毀,僅余太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)宮、雙(shuang)塔(ta)等(deng)處。清(qing)光緒年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間,于(yu)太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)宮之左(zuo)(zuo)建(jian)祿位祠,祀云貴總督(du)林則徐。在(zai)太陽(yang)(yang)(yang)宮之右(you)改建(jian)昭(zhao)忠祠,祀咸同年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間清(qing)軍陣(zhen)亡、殉難諸(zhu)(zhu)人(ren)。
太陽宮建(jian)(jian)(jian)于明(ming)永樂十六年(1418年),為面寬五間的(de)單檐歇山式(shi)建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑,正面及(ji)左右檐下皆設重昂五踩斗(dou)拱,后(hou)檐以垂柱花板作裝飾(shi),整個建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑古(gu)樸(pu)雄渾。雙(shuang)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)建(jian)(jian)(jian)于明(ming)代成化元(yuan)年(1465年),為九級(ji)方形(xing)密檐式(shi)實心磚塔(ta)(ta)(ta)。其大小結構相(xiang)同。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)身最下層為石砌臺(tai)座,上置磚造(zao)須彌(mi)座臺(tai)基二層,上建(jian)(jian)(jian)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)身。雙(shuang)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)的(de)第一級(ji)東(dong)西(xi)南北(bei)各(ge)設佛龕一個,內置大理石佛像(xiang)各(ge)一尊,其中,在西(xi)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)南面鑲嵌明(ming)成化元(yuan)年《新(xin)造(zao)等覺寺雙(shuang)寶塔(ta)(ta)(ta)記》一通。
縱觀等覺寺(si)(si),其建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)的確非凡。尤其是等覺寺(si)(si)集塔、寺(si)(si)為一體(ti)的佛(fo)教建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu),建(jian)(jian)在城池內實屬(shu)少見。兼之等覺寺(si)(si)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)布局型制嚴謹,充分顯示了古(gu)代(dai)匠師(shi)的高(gao)超技藝,是研(yan)究(jiu)明代(dai)早期木構(gou)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)的重要實物(wu)例證,文物(wu)價值極(ji)高(gao)。