壽光城東(dong)(dong)(dong)北(bei)隅、小東(dong)(dong)(dong)關村東(dong)(dong)(dong),文(wen)化(hua)街(jie)與(yu)東(dong)(dong)(dong)環路(lu)交匯處(chu),有(you)一株千年古槐。此處(chu)也(ye)是寧國寺(si)(si)故(gu)址所(suo)在地。古寧國寺(si)(si),東(dong)(dong)(dong)南西北(bei)四面溝塹灣塘相連。西邊(bian)隔水(shui)塘與(yu)壽城小 東(dong)(dong)(dong)關比鄰。廟宇(yu)寺(si)(si)院(yuan)在中央高地之上(shang)。寺(si)(si)廟山門(men)南向,北(bei)邊(bian)正大殿5間,另有(you)東(dong)(dong)(dong)西廂房。大殿內有(you)佛像三(san)尊,皆木質雕(diao)鏤,工藝板精(jing)細。其中千手千眼佛,更是別具一格,臂膀(bang)處(chu)伸出18只(zhi)手臂,顯(xian)示出無窮的法力。
寧國寺創始(shi)于(yu)何年,已不(bu)可(ke)考。因與北(bei)關(guan)村寧儀寺齊名,以此而推,可(ke)能創始(shi)于(yu)南北(bei)朝時(shi)期。“寧國”有萬國咸(xian)寧之(zhi)(zhi)意(yi),南北(bei)朝時(shi)期眾(zhong)國紛爭,取(qu)寧國寺之(zhi)(zhi)名,有平安(an)、安(an)定之(zhi)(zhi)愿望。
寧國寺院(yuan)中有(you)(you)古(gu)槐(huai)一(yi)株,昔(xi)日(ri)為(wei)壽(shou)城(cheng)(cheng)八景之(zhi)一(yi),“寧國古(gu)槐(huai)”也(ye)。亦不知(zhi)植(zhi)于(yu)何年(nian),壽(shou)光(guang)城(cheng)(cheng)民(min)間有(you)(you)“張飛(fei)(fei)勒馬(ma)望古(gu)槐(huai)”和“先(xian)有(you)(you)老槐(huai)蔭(yin),后有(you)(you)壽(shou)光(guang)城(cheng)(cheng)”之(zhi)說。古(gu)槐(huai)勢(shi)如(ru)盤龍騰(teng)飛(fei)(fei),蒼枝勁健。其(qi)樹有(you)(you)南(nan)北向兩主(zhu)枝,北枝已(yi)枯,南(nan)邊一(yi)枝,至今(jin)春(chun)夏秋(qiu)之(zhi)季尚(shang)綠意蔥蘢,生長(chang)不衰。過去古(gu)槐(huai)在(zai)寺院(yuan)中央,樹冠龐大,夏時濃(nong)蔭(yin)如(ru)傘(san),庇蔭(yin)寺院(yuan)大半天井。今(jin)古(gu)槐(huai)雖(sui)逝昔(xi)日(ri)風采,但(dan)其(qi)生命(ming)力之(zhi)頑(wan)強,令人(ren)折服。我(wo)國自周代起,國槐(huai)就為(wei)“公卿(qing)大夫(fu)之(zhi)樹”。因此象首都北京國子監(jian)(大學)有(you)(you)久負盛名的“吉祥(xiang)槐(huai)”。貢院(yuan)(古(gu)代考(kao)場)也(ye)曾(ceng)有(you)(you)一(yi)株馳名京城(cheng)(cheng)的“昌槐(huai)”。壽(shou)城(cheng)(cheng)寧國寺千年(nian)古(gu)槐(huai),與之(zhi)相比,并不遜色,只是“躲在(zai)深(shen)閨人(ren)未識”。
歲月悠(you)悠(you),時過境遷,如今已是(shi)“寺院佛僧(seng)皆隱去(qu),唯有古(gu)槐尚迎人”了。為了保護古(gu)樹(shu),1983年(nian)春,縣人民政府(fu)撥(bo)專款(kuan)繞樹(shu)修一多角圍(wei)墻,定為縣級重點保護古(gu)樹(shu)。