中(zhong)方(fang)廣(guang)寺(si)(si)(si)始建(jian)(jian)于東晉興(xing)寧年(nian)間,開山祖師為(wei)(wei)曇(tan)猷尊者(zhe)(zhe)。中(zhong)方(fang)廣(guang)寺(si)(si)(si)自創建(jian)(jian)后曾毀建(jian)(jian)多次(ci),其中(zhong)大的(de)幾次(ci)擴(kuo)建(jian)(jian)整(zheng)修是(shi)宋朝兩次(ci),主(zhu)(zhu)持者(zhe)(zhe)不(bu)詳(xiang);明朝一次(ci),主(zhu)(zhu)持者(zhe)(zhe)為(wei)(wei)錢塘大賢葛(ge)一鵬;迄清及近代(dai)一次(ci),主(zhu)(zhu)持者(zhe)(zhe)為(wei)(wei)興(xing)慈法師;現任(ren)一次(ci)(主(zhu)(zhu)要(yao)是(shi)一九(jiu)八○年(nian)至一九(jiu)八三年(nian)在當地(di)政府和(he)廣(guang)大信眾(zhong)支持下(xia)的(de)重建(jian)(jian)工(gong)程),主(zhu)(zhu)持者(zhe)(zhe)為(wei)(wei)通和(he)法師。重建(jian)(jian)后的(de)中(zhong)方(fang)廣(guang)寺(si)(si)(si)主(zhu)(zhu)要(yao)佛教建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)為(wei)(wei)大殿、觀(guan)音殿、祖師堂、曇(tan)華亭、銅殿、僧竂、香積廚等。其中(zhong)特色者(zhe)(zhe)一為(wei)(wei)曇(tan)華亭,二為(wei)(wei)五(wu)百羅漢銅佛殿,后者(zhe)(zhe)被僧眾(zhong)視為(wei)(wei)該(gai)寺(si)(si)(si)鎮山之(zhi)寶。另外,寺(si)(si)(si)內有(you)一株約(yue)三百多年(nian)樹齡的(de)黃(huang)檀,寺(si)(si)(si)內僧人常可根據樹的(de)生(sheng)長變化,預測該(gai)地(di)區當年(nian)旱澇災情(qing),甚為(wei)(wei)奇異(yi)。
建筑特色
曇華亭架(jia)于(yu)石梁(liang)之上,憑欄可俯瞰溪(xi)水深潭,石深飛瀑(pu)全景盡收眼底,該寺始于(yu)南宋理宗(zong)景定二年(一(yi)(yi)(yi)一(yi)(yi)(yi)六二年),天臺籍宰相(xiang)賈似(si)道為(wei)紀念(nian)他(ta)的(de)父親,抗金(jin)名將賈涉,耗白銀五萬兩,命萬年寺僧妙弘法師(shi)修建。石梁(liang)橋西端,原有(you)一(yi)(yi)(yi)座(zuo)小銅殿,是天臺山(shan)的(de)重(zhong)要文物之一(yi)(yi)(yi)。據(ju)史(shi)籍記載∶「(此殿)明(ming)鄭妃所舍,高七尺(chi)許,中雕鏤五百(bai)羅(luo)漢小像(xiang),甚工致。」據(ju)今實測∶銅殿高約一(yi)(yi)(yi).三米(mi),寬○.六米(mi),中鑄五百(bai)羅(luo)漢像(xiang),欄楹間(jian)有(you)五十二字(zi)∶「皇明(ming)天啟(qi)元(yuan)年辛(xin)酉(一(yi)(yi)(yi)六二一(yi)(yi)(yi)年)中秋吉旦,欽(qin)差提督九門太監徐貴等喜助成金(jin)殿,永遠供養天臺勝境(jing)石梁(liang)橋首。清涼山(shan)后(hou)學沙(sha)門如壁(bi)募造。」左壁(bi)有(you)「浙江布(bu)政(zheng)司參政(zheng)米(mi)萬鍾」;「欽(qin)差提督分兼管和道催浙直福福江木料工部侍中楊師(shi)孔」等題名,右壁(bi)題名已漫患不明(ming),五百(bai)羅(luo)漢眉(mei)發畢偌,形象逼(bi)真,工藝精湛。
五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)羅(luo)漢(han)(han)銅殿,始建于(yu)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)代十(shi)國(guo)(guo)之(zhi)(zhi)際(ji),據(ju)《感應略記》載∶「就嘉全億(yi)長史(shi)畫(hua)半千羅(luo)漢(han)(han)形象。每一迎請,必于(yu)石(shi)(shi)橋宿(su)夜焚香(xiang),具鑼鈸幢蓋,引道入(ru)于(yu)殿,香(xiang)風送幢之(zhi)(zhi)勢,前靡而入(ru),入(ru)門即(ji)止,其方廣寺梵唄(bai)方作,先有金色鳥,飛翔(xiang)后(hou)林樹(shu)石(shi)(shi)畔。吳越國(guo)(guo)王錢弘倜(ti)頻年施(shi)供(gong)養(yang),造五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)銅羅(luo)漢(han)(han)。」后(hou)來(lai),人們還為(wei)(wei)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)羅(luo)漢(han)(han)演義(yi)(yi)了許多「神靈」的故事(shi),有人將五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)應真(zhen)說成是田(tian)(tian)橫(heng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)壯士(shi)的化身,田(tian)(tian)橫(heng)是戰(zhan)國(guo)(guo)時(shi)齊(qi)(qi)國(guo)(guo)田(tian)(tian)氏的后(hou)代。秦末,其從兄田(tian)(tian)儋自(zi)立(li)(li)為(wei)(wei)齊(qi)(qi)王,不久戰(zhan)死,儋弟榮與(yu)榮子廣相繼(ji)為(wei)(wei)齊(qi)(qi)王,田(tian)(tian)橫(heng)為(wei)(wei)相國(guo)(guo)。韓信破(po)齊(qi)(qi),田(tian)(tian)橫(heng)自(zi)立(li)(li)為(wei)(wei)齊(qi)(qi)王,率領從屬五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)人逃往海島(dao)。劍邦稱帝,遣使(shi)者招降,田(tian)(tian)橫(heng)與(yu)客二(er)(er)人往洛陽,未至二(er)(er)十(shi)里(li),羞(xiu)為(wei)(wei)漢(han)(han)臣,自(zi)殺。留居海島(dao)的部眾,遵田(tian)(tian)橫(heng)臨行前之(zhi)(zhi)命(ming),逃奔到(dao)天臺山(shan)。他(ta)們聽到(dao)田(tian)(tian)橫(heng)義(yi)(yi)不降漢(han)(han)的消息后(hou),悲憤填膺,慷(kang)慨跳崖,以追(zhui)隨田(tian)(tian)橫(heng)。五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)壯士(shi)跳崖后(hou),被一朵(duo)朵(duo)禪云(yun)(yun)托住(zhu),說是壯士(shi)誼(yi)氣(qi)感動觀(guan)音菩(pu)薩,觀(guan)音撒下的五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)朵(duo)白云(yun)(yun),五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)壯士(shi)變為(wei)(wei)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)羅(luo)漢(han)(han)。他(ta)們以后(hou)就住(zhu)在(zai)(zai)石(shi)(shi)梁飛瀑的中方廣寺。以后(hou),歷代帝王每當「國(guo)(guo)難」當頭的時(shi)刻,都遣使(shi)來(lai)山(shan)祭請,祈求羅(luo)漢(han)(han)的蔭護。如宋仁宗(zong)于(yu)景?四年(一○三七(qi)年),遣使(shi)來(lai)天臺供(gong)施(shi)五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)應真(zhen),其敕文曰∶朕荷祖宗(zong)之(zhi)(zhi)休,丕承(cheng)洪(hong)業,未賞不虛懷逸士(shi),側(ce)席(xi)幽(you)人。雅聞(wen)天臺之(zhi)(zhi)石(shi)(shi)橋,近接四明之(zhi)(zhi)雪竇,智覺之(zhi)(zhi)遺風具在(zai)(zai),應真(zhen)之(zhi)(zhi)靈跡儼存。慨想名山(shan),載形夢寐。今(jin)遣內(nei)使(shi)張履信赍(ji)沈香(xiang)山(shan)子一座,龍(long)茶二(er)(er)百(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)斤,銀五(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)(bai)兩,御衣(yi)一襲(xi),表朕尊重之(zhi)(zhi)意!