介紹
明(ming)(ming)(ming)代(dai)永樂十六年(nian)(nian)(公元(yuan)1418年(nian)(nian)),寺(si)(si)(si)僧(seng)無(wu)用自(zi)應天(tian)溧水(shui)(今江(jiang)蘇溧陽縣)來,與蒙(meng)化土官左氏、蒙(meng)化大族善(shan)信等(deng)(deng)共同籌(chou)資,先期建(jian)(jian)成(cheng)大雄寶殿(dian)(太(tai)陽宮(gong))。隨之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),劈展(zhan)后(hou)(hou)地,共建(jian)(jian)成(cheng)三進(jin)四院的(de)(de)佛教寺(si)(si)(si)廟建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)群。明(ming)(ming)(ming)正統二(er)年(nian)(nian)(1437年(nian)(nian))開始塑(su)像,明(ming)(ming)(ming)成(cheng)化元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(1465年(nian)(nian))土知府左氏再建(jian)(jian)雙塔于(yu)二(er)門(men)外,諸(zhu)善(shan)信增(zeng)建(jian)(jian)殿(dian)宇五座,明(ming)(ming)(ming)代(dai)萬歷二(er)十七年(nian)(nian)(1599年(nian)(nian))至三十四年(nian)(nian)(1625年(nian)(nian)),僧(seng)綱司(si)住持(chi)性定(ding)再次募修各(ge)殿(dian),又新建(jian)(jian)后(hou)(hou)殿(dian)、兩廡(wu)及更衣廳并塑(su)羅(luo)漢,至此,等(deng)(deng)覺寺(si)(si)(si)為規模最大時。《等(deng)(deng)覺寺(si)(si)(si)碑(bei)記》載(zai):“……功既就,各(ge)塑(su)諸(zhu)尊(zun)金(jin)(jin)像,昭示(shi)法眼,于(yu)是(shi)(shi),棟(dong)宇巍峨,后(hou)(hou)前(qian)掩映(ying),寶像森(sen)嚴,金(jin)(jin)碧(bi)交(jiao)輝……”從(cong)中可以看到,當初建(jian)(jian)成(cheng)時的(de)(de)等(deng)(deng)覺寺(si)(si)(si),無(wu)論是(shi)(shi)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)規模還是(shi)(shi)香火之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)盛(sheng)都是(shi)(shi)空前(qian)的(de)(de)。清(qing)代(dai)咸(xian)(xian)豐年(nian)(nian)間兵焚,部分(fen)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)被毀,僅余太(tai)陽宮(gong)、雙塔等(deng)(deng)處。清(qing)光緒年(nian)(nian)間,于(yu)太(tai)陽宮(gong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)左建(jian)(jian)祿位祠,祀(si)云貴總督林(lin)則(ze)徐。在(zai)太(tai)陽宮(gong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)右改建(jian)(jian)昭忠祠,祀(si)咸(xian)(xian)同年(nian)(nian)間清(qing)軍陣亡、殉難(nan)諸(zhu)人。
太(tai)陽宮建于明(ming)永(yong)樂十六(liu)年(nian)(1418年(nian)),為面寬五間的單檐(yan)歇(xie)山式(shi)建筑(zhu),正面及左右(you)檐(yan)下(xia)皆設重昂五踩斗拱,后檐(yan)以垂(chui)柱花(hua)板作裝(zhuang)飾,整(zheng)個(ge)建筑(zhu)古樸雄渾。雙塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)建于明(ming)代成(cheng)(cheng)化元(yuan)年(nian)(1465年(nian)),為九(jiu)級(ji)方形密檐(yan)式(shi)實心(xin)磚(zhuan)(zhuan)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)。其(qi)(qi)大小結(jie)構相同。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)身最下(xia)層為石砌臺座(zuo),上(shang)置磚(zhuan)(zhuan)造(zao)須彌座(zuo)臺基(ji)二(er)層,上(shang)建塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)身。雙塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)的第(di)一(yi)(yi)級(ji)東西(xi)南(nan)北各設佛(fo)龕一(yi)(yi)個(ge),內置大理石佛(fo)像各一(yi)(yi)尊(zun),其(qi)(qi)中(zhong),在(zai)西(xi)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)南(nan)面鑲嵌明(ming)成(cheng)(cheng)化元(yuan)年(nian)《新(xin)造(zao)等覺寺雙寶塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)記》一(yi)(yi)通。
縱觀(guan)等覺(jue)寺,其(qi)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)的確非凡。尤其(qi)是等覺(jue)寺集塔、寺為(wei)一(yi)體的佛教建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu),建(jian)(jian)在(zai)城池(chi)內(nei)實(shi)屬(shu)少見。兼(jian)之等覺(jue)寺建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)布局(ju)型制嚴謹(jin),充分顯(xian)示了古代匠師(shi)的高超(chao)技藝,是研究明代早(zao)期木構建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)的重要(yao)實(shi)物例證,文物價值(zhi)極高。