中(zhong)方(fang)(fang)廣寺(si)(si)(si)始建(jian)于東(dong)晉興寧年(nian)(nian)間,開山祖師(shi)為曇猷(you)尊者(zhe)。中(zhong)方(fang)(fang)廣寺(si)(si)(si)自創(chuang)建(jian)后(hou)曾毀建(jian)多(duo)次(ci),其中(zhong)大的(de)(de)幾次(ci)擴建(jian)整修是宋朝兩次(ci),主(zhu)(zhu)持(chi)(chi)(chi)者(zhe)不詳;明朝一(yi)(yi)次(ci),主(zhu)(zhu)持(chi)(chi)(chi)者(zhe)為錢(qian)塘大賢(xian)葛(ge)一(yi)(yi)鵬(peng);迄(qi)清及近代一(yi)(yi)次(ci),主(zhu)(zhu)持(chi)(chi)(chi)者(zhe)為興慈法(fa)師(shi);現任(ren)一(yi)(yi)次(ci)(主(zhu)(zhu)要是一(yi)(yi)九八(ba)○年(nian)(nian)至一(yi)(yi)九八(ba)三年(nian)(nian)在當地政府和(he)(he)廣大信(xin)眾支持(chi)(chi)(chi)下的(de)(de)重建(jian)工程),主(zhu)(zhu)持(chi)(chi)(chi)者(zhe)為通和(he)(he)法(fa)師(shi)。重建(jian)后(hou)的(de)(de)中(zhong)方(fang)(fang)廣寺(si)(si)(si)主(zhu)(zhu)要佛教建(jian)筑(zhu)為大殿(dian)、觀音(yin)殿(dian)、祖師(shi)堂、曇華亭、銅殿(dian)、僧(seng)竂、香積廚(chu)等。其中(zhong)特色(se)者(zhe)一(yi)(yi)為曇華亭,二為五(wu)百(bai)羅漢銅佛殿(dian),后(hou)者(zhe)被僧(seng)眾視為該寺(si)(si)(si)鎮(zhen)山之寶。另外,寺(si)(si)(si)內(nei)有一(yi)(yi)株(zhu)約三百(bai)多(duo)年(nian)(nian)樹(shu)(shu)齡的(de)(de)黃檀,寺(si)(si)(si)內(nei)僧(seng)人常可(ke)根據樹(shu)(shu)的(de)(de)生長(chang)變(bian)化,預(yu)測該地區當年(nian)(nian)旱澇災情(qing),甚為奇異。
建筑特色
曇華亭架(jia)于石梁之上(shang),憑(ping)欄可(ke)俯(fu)瞰溪水深(shen)潭,石深(shen)飛瀑全景(jing)盡收眼底,該寺(si)(si)始于南宋理宗景(jing)定(ding)二年(一一六(liu)二年),天臺(tai)籍(ji)(ji)宰相(xiang)賈似道為紀念他的(de)父親,抗金名將(jiang)賈涉(she),耗白銀(yin)五(wu)(wu)萬兩,命萬年寺(si)(si)僧妙弘法師(shi)修建。石梁橋西端,原有(you)一座小銅殿(dian),是天臺(tai)山的(de)重要文物之一。據史籍(ji)(ji)記載∶「(此殿(dian))明鄭妃所舍,高七尺許,中(zhong)雕鏤五(wu)(wu)百羅漢(han)小像,甚工(gong)致。」據今(jin)實測∶銅殿(dian)高約一.三米,寬○.六(liu)米,中(zhong)鑄五(wu)(wu)百羅漢(han)像,欄楹間(jian)有(you)五(wu)(wu)十二字∶「皇明天啟元年辛(xin)酉(you)(一六(liu)二一年)中(zhong)秋吉旦,欽(qin)差(cha)提督(du)九門(men)太監徐貴(gui)等(deng)喜助成金殿(dian),永遠供養天臺(tai)勝(sheng)境石梁橋首。清(qing)涼(liang)山后學沙門(men)如壁募造。」左壁有(you)「浙江(jiang)布政(zheng)司參政(zheng)米萬鍾(zhong)」;「欽(qin)差(cha)提督(du)分兼管和道催浙直福(fu)福(fu)江(jiang)木料工(gong)部侍中(zhong)楊師(shi)孔」等(deng)題名,右壁題名已漫患(huan)不明,五(wu)(wu)百羅漢(han)眉發畢偌,形(xing)象逼真,工(gong)藝精湛。
五(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)羅(luo)漢(han)銅(tong)殿,始建于(yu)五(wu)(wu)代十(shi)國(guo)之(zhi)(zhi)際,據《感應(ying)略記》載(zai)∶「就嘉全億(yi)長史畫半千羅(luo)漢(han)形(xing)(xing)象。每一(yi)迎請,必于(yu)石(shi)(shi)(shi)橋(qiao)宿夜焚香(xiang),具(ju)鑼鈸幢蓋(gai),引道入于(yu)殿,香(xiang)風(feng)送幢之(zhi)(zhi)勢,前(qian)靡而(er)入,入門即止(zhi),其(qi)方(fang)廣(guang)寺梵唄方(fang)作,先有金色鳥,飛翔后(hou)(hou)林(lin)樹石(shi)(shi)(shi)畔。吳越國(guo)王(wang)錢(qian)弘倜頻年(nian)施供養,造五(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)銅(tong)羅(luo)漢(han)。」后(hou)(hou)來,人(ren)(ren)們(men)還為(wei)(wei)(wei)五(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)羅(luo)漢(han)演義(yi)了許多「神靈(ling)」的(de)故事,有人(ren)(ren)將五(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)應(ying)真(zhen)(zhen)說(shuo)成是(shi)田(tian)(tian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)五(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)壯(zhuang)(zhuang)士(shi)(shi)的(de)化身,田(tian)(tian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)是(shi)戰國(guo)時齊(qi)國(guo)田(tian)(tian)氏(shi)的(de)后(hou)(hou)代。秦(qin)末,其(qi)從(cong)兄田(tian)(tian)儋自立(li)為(wei)(wei)(wei)齊(qi)王(wang),不久戰死,儋弟榮與榮子(zi)廣(guang)相繼為(wei)(wei)(wei)齊(qi)王(wang),田(tian)(tian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)相國(guo)。韓信(xin)破齊(qi),田(tian)(tian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)自立(li)為(wei)(wei)(wei)齊(qi)王(wang),率(lv)領從(cong)屬(shu)五(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)人(ren)(ren)逃(tao)往(wang)海島。劍邦(bang)稱帝,遣使(shi)者招降,田(tian)(tian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)與客二(er)人(ren)(ren)往(wang)洛陽,未至二(er)十(shi)里,羞為(wei)(wei)(wei)漢(han)臣(chen),自殺。留居(ju)海島的(de)部眾,遵田(tian)(tian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)臨行前(qian)之(zhi)(zhi)命,逃(tao)奔到天臺(tai)山(shan)。他們(men)聽(ting)到田(tian)(tian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)義(yi)不降漢(han)的(de)消息后(hou)(hou),悲(bei)憤(fen)填(tian)膺,慷(kang)慨(kai)跳(tiao)崖,以追隨田(tian)(tian)橫(heng)(heng)(heng)。五(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)壯(zhuang)(zhuang)士(shi)(shi)跳(tiao)崖后(hou)(hou),被一(yi)朵朵禪云(yun)托住,說(shuo)是(shi)壯(zhuang)(zhuang)士(shi)(shi)誼氣感動(dong)觀(guan)音菩薩,觀(guan)音撒(sa)下(xia)的(de)五(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)朵白云(yun),五(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)壯(zhuang)(zhuang)士(shi)(shi)變(bian)為(wei)(wei)(wei)五(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)羅(luo)漢(han)。他們(men)以后(hou)(hou)就住在(zai)石(shi)(shi)(shi)梁(liang)飛瀑的(de)中方(fang)廣(guang)寺。以后(hou)(hou),歷代帝王(wang)每當「國(guo)難」當頭的(de)時刻,都遣使(shi)來山(shan)祭請,祈求羅(luo)漢(han)的(de)蔭護。如宋仁(ren)宗(zong)于(yu)景(jing)?四年(nian)(一(yi)○三七年(nian)),遣使(shi)來天臺(tai)供施五(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)應(ying)真(zhen)(zhen),其(qi)敕文(wen)曰(yue)∶朕(zhen)荷祖宗(zong)之(zhi)(zhi)休,丕承洪(hong)業,未賞不虛懷逸士(shi)(shi),側席幽人(ren)(ren)。雅聞天臺(tai)之(zhi)(zhi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)橋(qiao),近接四明之(zhi)(zhi)雪竇,智覺之(zhi)(zhi)遺風(feng)具(ju)在(zai),應(ying)真(zhen)(zhen)之(zhi)(zhi)靈(ling)跡儼存。慨(kai)想名山(shan),載(zai)形(xing)(xing)夢寐。今遣內使(shi)張履信(xin)赍沈香(xiang)山(shan)子(zi)一(yi)座,龍茶二(er)百(bai)(bai)斤,銀五(wu)(wu)百(bai)(bai)兩(liang),御(yu)衣(yi)一(yi)襲,表(biao)朕(zhen)尊(zun)重(zhong)之(zhi)(zhi)意!