棲真(zhen)寺、凈慧寺、安福(fu)寺是文(wen)成(cheng)三大(da)古寺,歷來(lai)遐邇(er)聞名。本寺于唐(tang)元和七年(812)始(shi)建(jian)(jian)(jian)佛(fo)院(yuan)。會昌二年(842)張堯(yao)仁公(gong)擴(kuo)建(jian)(jian)(jian)完成(cheng)。經殘唐(tang)五代(dai),百年戰火,兵荒馬亂、民不(bu)聊生而頹廢。宋(song)天圣(sheng)九年,嚴朗公(gong)遷(qian)(qian)居黃坦于寺址建(jian)(jian)(jian)房,后因人口不(bu)利,空中法樂自(zi)鳴,鐘鼓(gu)自(zi)響,為“佛(fo)地居家不(bu)利”,于宋(song)治平二年將房屋改建(jian)(jian)(jian)寺院(yuan),送水田(tian)235石,子孫(sun)分別(bie)外(wai)遷(qian)(qian)。明(ming)正統(tong)年間(1436-1450)又毀于閩(min)寇禍(huo)?,明(ming)正德(de)九年(1515)再由羅、張氏等(deng)重建(jian)(jian)(jian),明(ming)、清歷代(dai)幾經修葺,至“文(wen)革(ge)”全(quan)部(bu)拆毀,僅存大(da)門(men)臺和張堯(yao)仁公(gong)建(jian)(jian)(jian)僧(seng)房三間,四周的圍墻。
棲(qi)真禪(chan)寺位于(yu)油車港鎮,建于(yu)北宋開寶二年(nian)(969),據清末《聞川志稿》記載,當(dang)時寶月大師云游到麟瑞鄉丁(ding)安蕩畔,棲(qi)真寺舊址時,他認為此地(di)“地(di)廣境(jing)幽,絕絕無塵跡,足可棲(qi)真養道”,于(yu)是(shi)筑庵以弘(hong)揚佛法,寶月也成為棲(qi)真寺的開山祖(zu)師。
棲真(zhen)寺(si)歷(li)(li)經明、清、民國年(nian)代(dai),至今(jin)已有(you)1000余年(nian)歷(li)(li)史。特別是明代(dai)天啟年(nian)間(jian)擴修殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)閣(ge)后,規模(mo)盛大,寺(si)院面積約(yue)32畝。鼎盛時期尚(shang)有(you)和尚(shang)100余人(ren),有(you)大雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、觀(guan)音殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、地藏殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、閻王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、純(chun)陽殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、千佛(fo)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)等(deng)大小殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)10余只。棲真(zhen)寺(si)于1952年(nian)改為糧倉,在有(you)關方面的支持下,進行著重修工作,如今(jin)大雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)已基本竣工,即將(jiang)建(jian)造伽藍殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、星宿殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、千佛(fo)閣(ge)等(deng)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)閣(ge)。今(jin)尚(shang)存明代(dai)所值銀杏,雙樹并(bing)峙,高(gao)二十余米,須(xu)兩三(san)人(ren)圍抱。
本(ben)寺三(san)建(jian)三(san)毀(hui),令得四次(ci)重(zhong)建(jian),地(di)人(ren)張仲(zhong)品(pin)等二十多人(ren)于1993年共議組會集資復(fu)修,蒙臺張植(zhi),嚴侃(kan)、張漢光(guang)等,僑胞程(cheng)煒、胡永(yong)杬等,溫州(zhou)大(da)嶨(xue)、本(ben)地(di)施主大(da)力資助(zhu),今已(yi)建(jian)成金剛殿(dian)、大(da)雄寶殿(dian)、觀(guan)音殿(dian)、地(di)藏殿(dian)、三(san)圣殿(dian)、右僧樓、左廚(chu)房。寺內占地(di)3050 m2,,建(jian)筑面(mian)積(ji)1012 m2,寺周占地(di)3200 m2,本(ben)寺建(jian)筑精美,宏(hong)偉壯觀(guan),仿(fang)唐宋古貌,布局合理(li),對古剎保(bao)護,今后(hou)還(huan)須作(zuo)出不懈努(nu)力。1997年列為文成縣(xian)第五(wu)批文物保(bao)護管理(li)單位。