壽(shou)光城東(dong)(dong)北隅、小(xiao)東(dong)(dong)關村(cun)東(dong)(dong),文化街與東(dong)(dong)環路交匯處(chu)(chu),有(you)一(yi)(yi)株千(qian)(qian)年古槐(huai)。此處(chu)(chu)也(ye)是寧(ning)國寺(si)故址(zhi)所在地(di)。古寧(ning)國寺(si),東(dong)(dong)南西北四面溝塹灣塘相(xiang)連。西邊(bian)隔水塘與壽(shou)城小(xiao) 東(dong)(dong)關比(bi)鄰。廟(miao)(miao)宇寺(si)院在中央高地(di)之(zhi)上。寺(si)廟(miao)(miao)山門南向,北邊(bian)正(zheng)大(da)殿5間,另(ling)有(you)東(dong)(dong)西廂房。大(da)殿內有(you)佛像三尊(zun),皆木質雕(diao)鏤,工藝(yi)板精細。其中千(qian)(qian)手(shou)(shou)千(qian)(qian)眼佛,更(geng)是別具一(yi)(yi)格,臂膀(bang)處(chu)(chu)伸(shen)出18只手(shou)(shou)臂,顯示(shi)出無窮(qiong)的法(fa)力。
寧(ning)(ning)國(guo)(guo)寺創始于(yu)何年(nian),已不可(ke)考。因與北關村寧(ning)(ning)儀寺齊名(ming),以此而推,可(ke)能創始于(yu)南北朝(chao)時期(qi)。“寧(ning)(ning)國(guo)(guo)”有萬國(guo)(guo)咸(xian)寧(ning)(ning)之(zhi)意,南北朝(chao)時期(qi)眾(zhong)國(guo)(guo)紛爭,取寧(ning)(ning)國(guo)(guo)寺之(zhi)名(ming),有平(ping)安、安定之(zhi)愿望。
寧(ning)國(guo)寺(si)院(yuan)(yuan)中(zhong)有古(gu)(gu)槐(huai)(huai)(huai)一株(zhu),昔(xi)日為壽(shou)(shou)城(cheng)八景之(zhi)(zhi)一,“寧(ning)國(guo)古(gu)(gu)槐(huai)(huai)(huai)”也(ye)。亦(yi)不(bu)知(zhi)植于何(he)年(nian),壽(shou)(shou)光城(cheng)民間有“張飛勒馬望古(gu)(gu)槐(huai)(huai)(huai)”和“先有老槐(huai)(huai)(huai)蔭,后有壽(shou)(shou)光城(cheng)”之(zhi)(zhi)說。古(gu)(gu)槐(huai)(huai)(huai)勢(shi)如盤龍騰飛,蒼枝(zhi)勁健。其(qi)樹有南北向(xiang)兩主枝(zhi),北枝(zhi)已枯,南邊一枝(zhi),至今(jin)春夏秋之(zhi)(zhi)季尚綠意(yi)蔥(cong)蘢(long),生(sheng)長(chang)不(bu)衰。過去(qu)古(gu)(gu)槐(huai)(huai)(huai)在(zai)寺(si)院(yuan)(yuan)中(zhong)央,樹冠龐大(da),夏時濃蔭如傘,庇蔭寺(si)院(yuan)(yuan)大(da)半天(tian)井。今(jin)古(gu)(gu)槐(huai)(huai)(huai)雖(sui)逝(shi)昔(xi)日風采,但其(qi)生(sheng)命力之(zhi)(zhi)頑強,令(ling)人(ren)(ren)折服。我國(guo)自周代(dai)起,國(guo)槐(huai)(huai)(huai)就為“公卿(qing)大(da)夫之(zhi)(zhi)樹”。因此象首都(dou)北京國(guo)子監(大(da)學)有久負盛名的“吉祥槐(huai)(huai)(huai)”。貢院(yuan)(yuan)(古(gu)(gu)代(dai)考場)也(ye)曾有一株(zhu)馳名京城(cheng)的“昌槐(huai)(huai)(huai)”。壽(shou)(shou)城(cheng)寧(ning)國(guo)寺(si)千年(nian)古(gu)(gu)槐(huai)(huai)(huai),與之(zhi)(zhi)相比,并不(bu)遜色(se),只是“躲在(zai)深閨人(ren)(ren)未(wei)識”。
歲月(yue)悠(you)悠(you),時(shi)過(guo)境遷,如(ru)今(jin)已是“寺院(yuan)佛僧皆隱(yin)去,唯有古槐尚(shang)迎人(ren)”了。為了保(bao)護古樹,1983年春,縣人(ren)民政府(fu)撥專款繞樹修一多(duo)角(jiao)圍墻(qiang),定為縣級重點保(bao)護古樹。