棲(qi)真寺(si)、凈慧寺(si)、安福寺(si)是文成三大古寺(si),歷來遐邇(er)聞名。本(ben)寺(si)于唐元和(he)(he)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(812)始(shi)建(jian)(jian)佛院。會(hui)昌(chang)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(842)張(zhang)(zhang)堯仁(ren)(ren)公擴建(jian)(jian)完(wan)成。經(jing)殘唐五代(dai)(dai),百年(nian)(nian)(nian)戰火,兵(bing)荒馬亂、民不聊生而頹廢。宋(song)天圣九年(nian)(nian)(nian),嚴朗(lang)公遷居黃坦于寺(si)址建(jian)(jian)房,后因人口(kou)不利,空中法樂自(zi)鳴,鐘鼓自(zi)響,為“佛地居家不利”,于宋(song)治平(ping)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)將房屋(wu)改建(jian)(jian)寺(si)院,送水田235石,子(zi)孫分別外遷。明(ming)正(zheng)統(tong)年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(1436-1450)又(you)毀于閩寇(kou)禍?,明(ming)正(zheng)德九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1515)再由羅、張(zhang)(zhang)氏等重建(jian)(jian),明(ming)、清歷代(dai)(dai)幾經(jing)修葺,至“文革”全部拆毀,僅存大門臺和(he)(he)張(zhang)(zhang)堯仁(ren)(ren)公建(jian)(jian)僧(seng)房三間,四周的(de)圍墻。
棲真禪(chan)寺位于油車(che)港鎮,建于北(bei)宋開寶二年(969),據清末《聞(wen)川志稿》記(ji)載,當時(shi)(shi)寶月(yue)大師云游到麟瑞鄉(xiang)丁安蕩畔,棲真寺舊址時(shi)(shi),他認(ren)為(wei)此地(di)“地(di)廣境幽,絕絕無塵跡,足(zu)可棲真養道”,于是筑庵以弘(hong)揚佛(fo)法,寶月(yue)也成(cheng)為(wei)棲真寺的開山(shan)祖師。
棲真寺歷(li)經(jing)明(ming)、清、民國年代,至今已有(you)1000余年歷(li)史。特別是明(ming)代天啟(qi)年間擴修殿(dian)(dian)(dian)閣(ge)后,規模(mo)盛大,寺院面積約(yue)32畝(mu)。鼎盛時期尚(shang)有(you)和尚(shang)100余人(ren),有(you)大雄寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、觀音殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、地(di)藏殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、閻王殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、純(chun)陽殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、千佛殿(dian)(dian)(dian)等大小殿(dian)(dian)(dian)10余只。棲真寺于(yu)1952年改為糧倉,在有(you)關方面的(de)支持下,進行著重(zhong)修工作,如今大雄寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)已基本竣工,即將建造伽藍(lan)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、星宿殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、千佛閣(ge)等殿(dian)(dian)(dian)閣(ge)。今尚(shang)存(cun)明(ming)代所值銀杏,雙樹(shu)并峙(zhi),高二十余米,須兩三人(ren)圍(wei)抱。
本(ben)寺(si)(si)三建(jian)三毀,令得四次重(zhong)建(jian),地(di)(di)人(ren)張仲品等二十多人(ren)于1993年共議組會集資復修,蒙臺張植,嚴侃、張漢光(guang)等,僑(qiao)胞程煒、胡永杬等,溫州大嶨、本(ben)地(di)(di)施主(zhu)大力資助,今(jin)(jin)已建(jian)成(cheng)金(jin)剛殿(dian)、大雄寶(bao)殿(dian)、觀音殿(dian)、地(di)(di)藏殿(dian)、三圣殿(dian)、右僧(seng)樓、左廚房(fang)。寺(si)(si)內占(zhan)地(di)(di)3050 m2,,建(jian)筑面積1012 m2,寺(si)(si)周占(zhan)地(di)(di)3200 m2,本(ben)寺(si)(si)建(jian)筑精美,宏偉(wei)壯(zhuang)觀,仿唐宋(song)古(gu)貌,布局合理,對古(gu)剎(cha)保(bao)護(hu),今(jin)(jin)后還(huan)須作(zuo)出(chu)不懈努力。1997年列為文成(cheng)縣第(di)五批文物(wu)保(bao)護(hu)管理單位。