中(zhong)方(fang)廣(guang)寺(si)(si)(si)始建(jian)(jian)于東晉(jin)興(xing)寧年(nian)間,開(kai)山(shan)祖(zu)(zu)師(shi)為曇(tan)(tan)猷尊(zun)者(zhe)。中(zhong)方(fang)廣(guang)寺(si)(si)(si)自創建(jian)(jian)后曾(ceng)毀建(jian)(jian)多次,其中(zhong)大(da)的(de)幾次擴建(jian)(jian)整修是宋朝(chao)兩次,主(zhu)持者(zhe)不(bu)詳;明朝(chao)一(yi)次,主(zhu)持者(zhe)為錢塘大(da)賢(xian)葛一(yi)鵬;迄清及近代一(yi)次,主(zhu)持者(zhe)為興(xing)慈法師(shi);現任(ren)一(yi)次(主(zhu)要是一(yi)九(jiu)八○年(nian)至一(yi)九(jiu)八三(san)年(nian)在當地政(zheng)府(fu)和廣(guang)大(da)信眾支持下的(de)重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)工(gong)程),主(zhu)持者(zhe)為通和法師(shi)。重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)后的(de)中(zhong)方(fang)廣(guang)寺(si)(si)(si)主(zhu)要佛教建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)為大(da)殿、觀音殿、祖(zu)(zu)師(shi)堂、曇(tan)(tan)華(hua)亭、銅殿、僧竂、香積(ji)廚等。其中(zhong)特色者(zhe)一(yi)為曇(tan)(tan)華(hua)亭,二為五百(bai)羅(luo)漢銅佛殿,后者(zhe)被僧眾視為該寺(si)(si)(si)鎮山(shan)之寶。另外,寺(si)(si)(si)內有一(yi)株約三(san)百(bai)多年(nian)樹齡的(de)黃(huang)檀,寺(si)(si)(si)內僧人(ren)常可根(gen)據樹的(de)生長(chang)變(bian)化,預測(ce)該地區當年(nian)旱澇災情,甚為奇異。
建筑特色
曇華(hua)亭架于石(shi)(shi)(shi)梁(liang)(liang)之上,憑欄(lan)可俯瞰(kan)溪水(shui)深潭(tan),石(shi)(shi)(shi)深飛瀑(pu)全景(jing)盡收(shou)眼底,該寺始于南宋理宗景(jing)定二年(nian)(nian)(一(yi)一(yi)六(liu)二年(nian)(nian)),天臺(tai)籍(ji)宰相賈似道(dao)(dao)為紀念他的(de)父親,抗金名將賈涉,耗白(bai)銀(yin)五(wu)萬(wan)兩,命萬(wan)年(nian)(nian)寺僧妙弘(hong)法師(shi)修建(jian)。石(shi)(shi)(shi)梁(liang)(liang)橋(qiao)西(xi)端,原有(you)一(yi)座(zuo)小銅(tong)殿(dian),是(shi)天臺(tai)山的(de)重(zhong)要文物之一(yi)。據(ju)史(shi)籍(ji)記(ji)載(zai)∶「(此殿(dian))明(ming)鄭妃所舍(she),高七尺(chi)許(xu),中(zhong)雕鏤五(wu)百羅(luo)漢(han)(han)(han)小像,甚工致(zhi)。」據(ju)今實測∶銅(tong)殿(dian)高約(yue)一(yi).三米(mi)(mi),寬○.六(liu)米(mi)(mi),中(zhong)鑄(zhu)五(wu)百羅(luo)漢(han)(han)(han)像,欄(lan)楹(ying)間(jian)有(you)五(wu)十二字∶「皇明(ming)天啟(qi)元年(nian)(nian)辛酉(you)(一(yi)六(liu)二一(yi)年(nian)(nian))中(zhong)秋吉旦,欽差提督(du)九門(men)太監徐貴等喜助成金殿(dian),永遠供養天臺(tai)勝境(jing)石(shi)(shi)(shi)梁(liang)(liang)橋(qiao)首。清涼山后學沙(sha)門(men)如(ru)壁募造(zao)。」左(zuo)壁有(you)「浙江(jiang)(jiang)布政司(si)參政米(mi)(mi)萬(wan)鍾(zhong)」;「欽差提督(du)分兼管和道(dao)(dao)催浙直福(fu)福(fu)江(jiang)(jiang)木(mu)料工部侍中(zhong)楊師(shi)孔」等題名,右壁題名已漫患不明(ming),五(wu)百羅(luo)漢(han)(han)(han)眉發畢偌,形(xing)象逼真,工藝精(jing)湛。
五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)羅(luo)漢銅(tong)殿(dian),始建于(yu)五(wu)(wu)(wu)代十(shi)國(guo)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)際,據《感應略記》載(zai)∶「就嘉全(quan)億長史畫半千羅(luo)漢形(xing)(xing)象(xiang)。每一迎請(qing),必(bi)于(yu)石橋(qiao)宿夜焚香(xiang)(xiang),具鑼鈸幢蓋,引道入于(yu)殿(dian),香(xiang)(xiang)風送幢之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)勢,前(qian)靡而入,入門(men)即止(zhi),其(qi)(qi)(qi)方(fang)廣寺梵唄方(fang)作,先有金色鳥,飛翔后(hou)(hou)(hou)林樹石畔。吳越國(guo)王錢弘(hong)倜(ti)頻年施(shi)供養,造五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)銅(tong)羅(luo)漢。」后(hou)(hou)(hou)來,人(ren)(ren)們還為(wei)(wei)五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)羅(luo)漢演義(yi)了許多「神靈」的(de)(de)(de)故事,有人(ren)(ren)將五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)應真(zhen)(zhen)說成是田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)橫(heng)(heng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)壯士(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)(de)化身,田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)橫(heng)(heng)是戰國(guo)時齊國(guo)田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)氏的(de)(de)(de)后(hou)(hou)(hou)代。秦末,其(qi)(qi)(qi)從兄(xiong)田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)儋自立(li)(li)為(wei)(wei)齊王,不久戰死,儋弟(di)榮(rong)與榮(rong)子廣相(xiang)繼為(wei)(wei)齊王,田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)橫(heng)(heng)為(wei)(wei)相(xiang)國(guo)。韓(han)信(xin)破齊,田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)橫(heng)(heng)自立(li)(li)為(wei)(wei)齊王,率領(ling)從屬五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)人(ren)(ren)逃往(wang)海島(dao)。劍邦(bang)稱(cheng)帝,遣(qian)使者招降(jiang)(jiang),田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)橫(heng)(heng)與客二(er)人(ren)(ren)往(wang)洛陽,未至二(er)十(shi)里,羞為(wei)(wei)漢臣,自殺(sha)。留居海島(dao)的(de)(de)(de)部眾,遵田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)橫(heng)(heng)臨行前(qian)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)命(ming),逃奔到(dao)天(tian)臺(tai)山。他們聽(ting)到(dao)田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)橫(heng)(heng)義(yi)不降(jiang)(jiang)漢的(de)(de)(de)消息后(hou)(hou)(hou),悲憤填膺,慷慨(kai)跳崖,以(yi)追隨田(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)橫(heng)(heng)。五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)壯士(shi)(shi)跳崖后(hou)(hou)(hou),被一朵(duo)朵(duo)禪云(yun)托住,說是壯士(shi)(shi)誼氣(qi)感動觀(guan)音(yin)菩(pu)薩,觀(guan)音(yin)撒下的(de)(de)(de)五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)朵(duo)白云(yun),五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)壯士(shi)(shi)變為(wei)(wei)五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)羅(luo)漢。他們以(yi)后(hou)(hou)(hou)就住在石梁飛瀑的(de)(de)(de)中方(fang)廣寺。以(yi)后(hou)(hou)(hou),歷代帝王每當「國(guo)難(nan)」當頭的(de)(de)(de)時刻(ke),都遣(qian)使來山祭(ji)請(qing),祈求羅(luo)漢的(de)(de)(de)蔭護。如(ru)宋仁宗(zong)于(yu)景?四年(一○三七年),遣(qian)使來天(tian)臺(tai)供施(shi)五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)應真(zhen)(zhen),其(qi)(qi)(qi)敕文曰∶朕(zhen)(zhen)荷祖宗(zong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)休,丕承(cheng)洪(hong)業(ye),未賞不虛懷(huai)逸士(shi)(shi),側席幽人(ren)(ren)。雅聞天(tian)臺(tai)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)石橋(qiao),近接(jie)四明之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)雪(xue)竇,智覺之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)遺(yi)風具在,應真(zhen)(zhen)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)靈跡儼存。慨(kai)想名山,載(zai)形(xing)(xing)夢寐。今遣(qian)內使張履信(xin)赍沈香(xiang)(xiang)山子一座(zuo),龍茶二(er)百(bai)斤,銀(yin)五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)兩,御衣一襲(xi),表朕(zhen)(zhen)尊重(zhong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)意!