位(wei)(wei)于盤門內東大街11號,1956年被列為江蘇省文物保(bao)護單(dan)位(wei)(wei),現由蘇州市文物管(guan)(guan)理委員(yuan)會保(bao)護管(guan)(guan)理。
開元寺(si)(si)(si)初(chu)名(ming)通玄寺(si)(si)(si),三(san)(san)國東吳赤烏(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間孫權為(wei)乳母陳氏(shi)所建(jian)。隋開皇(huang)九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(589年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))吳縣(xian)令孫寬廢寺(si)(si)(si),唐貞觀二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(628年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧慧重興(xing)。開元二十六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(738年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))詔令改(gai)名(ming)。大(da)順二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(891年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),孫儒占據蘇州,開元寺(si)(si)(si)被付之一(yi)炬(ju)。五代(dai)后唐同光(guang)三(san)(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(925年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),吳越錢(qian)氏(shi)遷建(jian)開元寺(si)(si)(si)于盤門內現址。宋(song)至明屢經(jing)廢興(xing)。清咸(xian)豐十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))又(you)毀于兵火,同治十二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1873年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))稍事重修,未復舊觀。無(wu)梁殿(dian)(dian)是開元寺(si)(si)(si)現在僅(jin)存的一(yi)座古建(jian)筑無(wu)梁殿(dian)(dian)即藏經(jing)閣,建(jian)于明萬歷四十六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1618年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))。原先供奉無(wu)量(liang)壽(shou)佛,又(you)名(ming)無(wu)量(liang)殿(dian)(dian);又(you)以純(chun)為(wei)磨磚嵌縫縱(zong)橫拱券(quan)結構,不用木(mu)構梁柱檁椽,故習(xi)稱(cheng)無(wu)梁殿(dian)(dian)。
開(kai)元(yuan)寺無(wu)梁殿是江蘇省現(xian)存五座(zuo)無(wu)梁殿中(zhong)建遲、制作精的一座(zuo)。殿坐北朝(chao)南(nan),兩層(ceng)樓閣式(shi),面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)闊(kuo)七間(jian),寬20.9米(mi),進(jin)深11.2米(mi),通高約(yue)19米(mi)。歇山頂及腰檐(yan)敷(fu)綠間(jian)黃(huang)琉璃筒(tong)瓦,與清水(shui)磚(zhuan)外墻面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)相(xiang)映成(cheng)趣。正面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)上下(xia)各(ge)有半圓(yuan)磚(zhuan)倚柱6根(gen),下(xia)置雕花須彌座(zuo),轉(zhuan)角(jiao)用垂(chui)蓮柱。正面(mian)(mian)(mian)(mian)正中(zhong)開(kai)拱(gong)(gong)門三個,左右各(ge)置拱(gong)(gong)形(xing)窗,在上層(ceng)相(xiang)對位(wei)置開(kai)拱(gong)(gong)形(xing)窗5個,明(ming)間(jian)是明(ming)窗,其余是假(jia)窗。柱間(jian)有刻南(nan)無(wu)阿彌陀佛的華版及大小枋子。明(ming)間(jian)檐(yan)下(xia)是磚(zhuan)制斜拱(gong)(gong),上泵副檐(yan)。繞有雕刻的平(ping)座(zuo)欄桿,圖(tu)案十分(fen)典雅,而且(qie)雕工精細(xi),宛(wan)如一件杰出的工藝品。
殿內上下層各分為(wei)三大間,用(yong)縱(zong)橫磚砌卷筒結構(gou),置扶梯于左(zuo)面側墻(qiang)內。原先樓(lou)上藏經(jing),樓(lou)下供佛。二(er)層明(ming)間采用(yong)斗拱承托八角形的(de)磚制(zhi)藻井的(de)穹窿結構(gou),四(si)壁鑲(xiang)嵌明(ming)代章(zhang)藻手書(shu)《梵(fan)綱經(jing)》、《華嚴經(jing)》石刻。殿頂(ding)及腰檐(yan)覆蓋綠、黃二(er)色(se)琉璃瓦、與(yu)青磚墻(qiang)面組成和諧的(de)色(se)調。正脊飾以琉璃游龍(long),戧角雕塑四(si)大天王立像。建筑(zhu)無(wu)不工細精巧,于宏偉莊(zhuang)重中寓玲瓏(long)華麗之美,堪稱明(ming)代建筑(zhu)精品。這座無(wu)梁(liang)殿在莊(zhuang)嚴中顯現(xian)出玲瓏(long)秀麗之姿,充(chong)分反映了(le)古(gu)老蘇州的(de)建筑(zhu)藝(yi)術在明(ming)代已達到一個相當完美和諧的(de)境(jing)界,故(gu)有“結構(gou)雄杰(jie)冠江南(nan)”之譽(yu)。現(xian)為(wei)第七批(pi)全國重點(dian)文物(wu)保護單(dan)位(wei)。