歷(li)史(shi)(shi)上的圓通庵(an)規模不大(da),2001年(nian)(nian)恢復重建時(shi),更(geng)名圓通寺(si)。2003年(nian)(nian)3月31日(農歷(li)二月二十(shi)九(jiu)日),圓通寺(si)大(da)雄寶(bao)殿正式奠基。經(jing)過近十(shi)年(nian)(nian)的努力,圓通寺(si)已初(chu)具(ju)規模。 現圓通寺(si)占地60余畝,建筑面積19000平(ping)方(fang)米,建有(you)牌樓、天(tian)王殿、大(da)雄寶(bao)殿、觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)閣(ge)、藏(zang)經(jing)樓等。寺(si)院內古木參天(tian),兩棵樹(shu)齡(ling)千年(nian)(nian),蒼勁(jing)挺(ting)拔、枝繁葉茂(mao)的古杏樹(shu)是吳江(jiang)(jiang)人(ren)文(wen)(wen)景(jing)觀(guan)(guan)中(zhong)獨(du)有(you)的“十(shi)樣(yang)景(jing)樹(shu)”;殿堂建筑古典(dian)(dian)恢宏(hong),佛像(xiang)莊嚴(yan),慈祥栩(xu)栩(xu)如生,處(chu)處(chu)能(neng)感(gan)應到蓮花(hua)佛國(guo)的觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)道場(chang)特色;露天(tian)金玉觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)、觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)閣(ge)內四面觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)均為江(jiang)(jiang)南(nan)大(da)型(xing)觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)造(zao)像(xiang),可(ke)與普陀山觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)像(xiang)和峨嵋山金頂相媲美;古典(dian)(dian)園林建筑,小橋流水,蓮花(hua)噴泉,假山洞(dong)天(tian),風景(jing)秀(xiu)麗,宛(wan)若仙境,歷(li)史(shi)(shi)悠久,人(ren)文(wen)(wen)景(jing)觀(guan)(guan)極為豐富(fu),集(ji)宗教、文(wen)(wen)化于一(yi)體,是一(yi)座具(ju)有(you)千年(nian)(nian)歷(li)史(shi)(shi)的江(jiang)(jiang)南(nan)名剎。
寺(si)前廣場有三楹(ying)石牌樓(lou),中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)間匾(bian)額(e)(e)“圓通寺(si)”三字,為(wei)著(zhu)名國學大師(shi)南懷(huai)謹(jin)手書(shu)。兩側配(pei)有南懷(huai)謹(jin)先(xian)生撰寫、書(shu)法(fa)家杜忠誥(gao)書(shu)寫的楹(ying)聯:“梵唄鐘聲寂寂惺惺觀自(zi)在,江(jiang)楓魚火塵塵剎剎見如來”,將佛(fo)學哲理和江(jiang)南水鄉景(jing)色融于(yu)(yu)(yu)一體(ti)。牌樓(lou)內(nei)側一塊匾(bian)額(e)(e)“回頭是岸”,由(you)(you)蘇州佛(fo)教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)協(xie)會副秘書(shu)長(chang)(chang)、吳中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)區佛(fo)教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)協(xie)會會長(chang)(chang)貫澈大和尚(shang)題寫。沿(yan)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)軸(zhou)線(xian)過牌樓(lou)進山(shan)門是天(tian)(tian)(tian)王(wang)(wang)殿,“天(tian)(tian)(tian)王(wang)(wang)殿”三字由(you)(you)江(jiang)蘇著(zhu)名書(shu)法(fa)家徐利明先(xian)生撰寫。天(tian)(tian)(tian)王(wang)(wang)殿內(nei)袒腹笑(xiao)顏的彌勒菩薩(sa)供奉于(yu)(yu)(yu)殿堂中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)央(yang)。彌勒菩薩(sa)的后方(fang),身著(zhu)甲胄、手執(zhi)金剛杵的韋(wei)馱菩薩(sa),其護(hu)法(fa)護(hu)教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)之愿,凝然(ran)于(yu)(yu)(yu)氣(qi)宇之中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。神態威(wei)嚴的四大天(tian)(tian)(tian)王(wang)(wang)為(wei)守護(hu)佛(fo)法(fa)之善神,分別為(wei)東方(fang)持(chi)國天(tian)(tian)(tian)王(wang)(wang)、南方(fang)增長(chang)(chang)天(tian)(tian)(tian)王(wang)(wang)、西方(fang)廣目天(tian)(tian)(tian)王(wang)(wang)及北方(fang)多聞天(tian)(tian)(tian)王(wang)(wang),手中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)各(ge)拿著(zhu)象征風調、雨順(shun)、國泰、民(min)安的法(fa)器,守護(hu)佛(fo)法(fa)、鎮衛(wei)國土。走出天(tian)(tian)(tian)王(wang)(wang)殿回頭見到的匾(bian)額(e)(e)由(you)(you)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國書(shu)法(fa)家協(xie)會前會長(chang)(chang)啟功所題寫的“三洲感應”。
出天王殿(dian),兩側(ce)是(shi)鐘鼓(gu)樓。正中是(shi)大雄寶殿(dian),殿(dian)匾(bian)“大雄寶殿(dian)”四大金字是(shi)浙江著名書法(fa)家(jia)俞德明先(xian)生(sheng)所(suo)(suo)題。大雄寶殿(dian)內現供(gong)有(you)三(san)世(shi)如來,中間(jian)佛(fo)祖(zu)本(ben)師釋迦牟(mou)尼世(shi)尊,左為(wei)東方(fang)教主(zhu)藥師流璃光佛(fo),右為(wei)西方(fang)教主(zhu)阿彌陀佛(fo),莊嚴神(shen)圣。殿(dian)后是(shi)鰲(ao)魚觀島(dao),泥塑彩繪三(san)十二應活(huo)靈活(huo)現,善(shan)才童(tong)子五十三(san)參禪佛(fo)生(sheng)動逼真。大雄寶殿(dian)后門上方(fang)有(you)“慈航普渡(du)”匾(bian)額,為(wei)蘇州佛(fo)教協會副會長(chang)、寒山寺方(fang)丈秋爽大和尚所(suo)(suo)題。大雄寶殿(dian)后有(you)放生(sheng)池,過放生(sheng)池拱橋,是(shi)“觀音閣”。觀音閣是(shi)二層建筑,里面供(gong)香樟木(mu)雕刻(ke)而成的(de)四面千(qian)手觀音,高11.38點(dian)米,由寧(ning)波宏托精(jing)雕有(you)限(xian)公司制作(zuo),全部(bu)貼金。
圓通(tong)寺西(xi)花園景觀(guan)區主要景點(dian)有(you)水上露天金(jin)玉(yu)觀(guan)音(yin)像、蓮(lian)花池、蓮(lian)花噴泉、待月樓、回廊、水榭、旱船(chuan)(chuan)、茶室、會(hui)務接待室、九(jiu)曲石橋、觀(guan)湖亭、慈孝(xiao)亭、假山洞天、奇花異草、金(jin)魚錦龜等(deng),景致(zhi)優雅,一(yi)(yi)派江(jiang)南園林特色,特別這旱船(chuan)(chuan),與退思園的“鬧紅一(yi)(yi)舸”有(you)異曲同工(gong)之(zhi)妙。圓通(tong)寺的四(si)面千手觀(guan)音(yin)像、“十(shi)樣(yang)景”銀(yin)杏樹、金(jin)剛經塔碑,可(ke)以(yi)稱為(wei)三絕。