龍慶(qing)禪寺(si),位(wei)(wei)于(yu)江蘇省丹(dan)陽市(shi)后巷(xiang)鎮嘉山旅游風(feng)景區(qu)內,與南(nan)朝齊(qi)梁帝(di)王后裔蕭氏宗祠(ci)相(xiang)近。龍慶(qing)禪寺(si)原名“嘉山寺(si)”,俗稱龍慶(qing)寺(si)。位(wei)(wei)于(yu)丹(dan)陽市(shi)東(dong)北(bei)(bei)部的(de)后巷(xiang)鎮,北(bei)(bei)枕嘉山,南(nan)瀕九曲河,始(shi)建于(yu)北(bei)(bei)宋紹圣年(nian)間,距今已有(you)九百一(yi)十五年(nian)的(de)悠(you)久(jiu)歷史(shi),從古至今在丹(dan)陽百姓特別(bie)是廣大佛(fo)(fo)教徒中(zhong)有(you)著深刻的(de)影響(xiang),曾與鎮江金山江天禪寺(si)齊(qi)名,是江南(nan)佛(fo)(fo)教的(de)重(zhong)要名剎。
一九九一年(nian)丹(dan)(dan)陽(yang)市(shi)(shi)人民(min)政府將(jiang)龍慶禪寺列為(wei)“丹(dan)(dan)陽(yang)市(shi)(shi)重點文(wen)物保護單位”,并于一九九六年(nian)正(zheng)式批準恢復重建(jian)(jian)對外(wai)開放。多(duo)年(nian)來(lai)在(zai)丹(dan)(dan)陽(yang)市(shi)(shi)委(wei)、市(shi)(shi)政府和鎮黨委(wei)政府的關心下,經(jing)(jing)過多(duo)方努力,已將(jiang)國家文(wen)物保護的“大雄寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)”、“天王殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)”修繕一新,恢復重建(jian)(jian)了法堂(tang)、祖師殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、伽藍殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、齋堂(tang)、碑亭、上客(ke)(ke)堂(tang)、客(ke)(ke)房等(deng)。二00五年(nian)又(you)重建(jian)(jian)了觀(guan)音殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、地(di)藏殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、萬(wan)佛殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、臥佛殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、羅漢殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、三圣殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、藏經(jing)(jing)樓(lou),現(xian)已頗具(ju)規模。上海、浙江、山(shan)東、北(bei)京、河北(bei)、天津以及我省蘇州、無錫(xi)、南京等(deng)地(di)的香客(ke)(ke)和游(you)人曾經(jing)(jing)常來(lai)此燒香拜(bai)佛、旅游(you)觀(guan)光。
龍(long)慶禪寺(si)(si)(si)規模宏大(da)(da),一(yi)度有寺(si)(si)(si)舍94間,原有復禮、顯慶、旌孝、真珠4禪院,前有龍(long)池(chi),池(chi)上建(jian)(jian)有亭,今已廢(fei)。寺(si)(si)(si)內有一(yi)古井,呈上窄下(xia)闊(kuo),深數丈,底(di)最深處(chu)有半(ban)畝大(da)(da)小(xiao),常年不涸(he),水體清冽。抗戰時期(qi),龍(long)慶寺(si)(si)(si)毀于戰火,僅(jin)遺存明萬歷年間“重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)嘉山寺(si)(si)(si)及(ji)龍(long)王(wang)廟祠碑”和“重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)嘉山寺(si)(si)(si)碑”兩(liang)方。僧(seng)覺善募資重(zhong)建(jian)(jian),已修復兩(liang)座大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian),建(jian)(jian)起了(le)東(dong)西廂(xiang)房,定(ding)制的大(da)(da)鐘4.5噸,雕(diao)塑菩薩羅漢(han)37尊。已建(jian)(jian)成山門(men)殿(dian)(dian)、天(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)、大(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)、藏(zang)經(jing)樓、齋(zhai)堂、地藏(zang)殿(dian)(dian)、三(san)圣殿(dian)(dian)、觀(guan)音(yin)殿(dian)(dian)、客堂、祖(zu)堂、法堂等建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu),占(zhan)地40多(duo)畝。并(bing)已于1997年農歷十(shi)月十(shi)六日舉(ju)行了(le)開(kai)光儀式。
根(gen)據(ju)《丹陽(yang)縣志》上記載龍(long)慶禪(chan)(chan)寺(si)規模十(shi)分(fen)龐大(da),有(you)(you)山(shan)地三(san)百多(duo)畝(mu)、農田二(er)百多(duo)畝(mu),山(shan)上有(you)(you)殿(dian)堂,山(shan)下除(chu)建有(you)(you)傳統(tong)的殿(dian)堂之外,還建有(you)(you)“復禮”、“顯慶”、“旌孝”、“真珠”四大(da)禪(chan)(chan)院(yuan)等九百多(duo)間房屋。明(ming)朝(chao)四大(da)才子唐伯虎(hu)、文(wen)徵明(ming)等歷(li)代文(wen)人雅士經(jing)常前(qian)來(lai),或(huo)登山(shan)賞景,或(huo)住寺(si)茗(ming)茶,吟詩作賦,為龍(long)慶禪(chan)(chan)寺(si)的歷(li)史留下了寶貴的一頁。清朝(chao)乾隆皇帝多(duo)次來(lai)寺(si)敬香禮佛,龍(long)心大(da)悅,親賜寺(si)名(ming)“龍(long)慶禪(chan)(chan)寺(si)”。