蓮(lian)(lian)山(shan)(shan)寺位(wei)于(yu)福建龍(long)巖市區(qu)319國(guo)道(dao)和福三(san)線省道(dao)交接處(chu)之(zhi)蓮(lian)(lian)花(hua)山(shan)(shan)西麓。創(chuang)建于(yu)宋(song)朝,法脈屬曹洞(dong)宗。《龍(long)巖州(zhou)志(zhi)(zhi)》載,此處(chu)怪石“有(you)(you)若蓮(lian)(lian)瓣(ban)》,故名“蓮(lian)(lian)山(shan)(shan)招提”。寺內供養觀世音(yin)菩(pu)薩,香(xiang)客如(ru)云,屢現(xian)靈異(yi),清朝龍(long)巖知縣(xian)王(wang)有(you)(you)容(rong)禮大士有(you)(you)驗,即捐(juan)金置(zhi)香(xiang)燈(deng)田(tian)(tian),并立碑(bei)記其事,此碑(bei)至今矗立于(yu)寺前(qian)。據清乾隆(long)《龍(long)巖州(zhou)志(zhi)(zhi)》載:"在怪石叢(cong)中(zhong)有(you)(you)若蓮(lian)(lian)瓣(ban)",故名"蓮(lian)(lian)山(shan)(shan)招提"。"建觀音(yin)堂(tang),屢現(xian)靈異(yi),祈(qi)禱皆應",相傳有(you)(you)"仙人丹灶"遺跡。登寺舉目"俯視平疇(chou)、煙樹如(ru)織,龍(long)門前(qian)拱,虎嶺東環,森然左右;恍如(ru)舍利者(zhe),則紫(zi)金、九侯(hou)也"。清順治十一(yi)年,知縣(xian)王(wang)有(you)(you)容(rong)捐(juan)金置(zhi)香(xiang)燈(deng)田(tian)(tian),現(xian)碑(bei)仍豎(shu)于(yu)觀音(yin)堂(tang)前(qian),為"景(jing)勝""靈征(zheng)"之(zhi)地(di)。經考古調查發現(xian)此地(di)有(you)(you)商周時期的印紋陶片和石器,足證歷史(shi)之(zhi)悠久。
歷代以(yi)來(lai),此寺屢廢屢建,但因地處山區(qu),交(jiao)通不便,所(suo)以(yi)規模不大。只有(you)一(yi)個幾十平方米的小殿堂,兩間(jian)平房,歷代法師只能照顧殿堂香火,維持(chi)生計,自己修持(chi)而已。清初此寺有(you)法師教拳(quan),拳(quan)法至今(jin)尚(shang)流傳(chuan)民間(jian)。
蓮山寺構筑布局合理,氣(qi)勢(shi)恢宏,華(hua)麗堂(tang)皇。寺內寶像莊嚴,輝煌金(jin)碧,香煙(yan)繚繞,香客如(ru)云,為閩西(xi)著名佛教勝(sheng)地。
1987年,龍(long)(long)巖(yan)市統戰(zhan)部(bu)延請閩南佛(fo)學院(yuan)(yuan)光炳法師住持蓮山寺(si),并劃撥(bo)三(san)十畝土(tu)地(di)(di)擴建(jian)寺(si)院(yuan)(yuan),蓮山寺(si)寺(si)名由中國佛(fo)教協會(hui)會(hui)長趙樸初(chu)題(ti)寫,現已建(jian)成大雄寶(bao)殿(dian)、天(tian)(tian)王(wang)(wang)殿(dian)、大悲(bei)閣(ge)、回廊、素食(shi)部(bu)、法物流通處,尚在施工的(de)有(you)藏(zang)經樓、法堂、地(di)(di)藏(zang)殿(dian)、僧舍、客房、接待處、停車場、放生池等。按(an)叢林規格(ge)設計(ji),木(mu)石(shi)結構,大殿(dian)三(san)個(ge)門(men)墻(qiang)上(shang)刻(ke)有(you)釋(shi)迦(jia)牟尼傳,天(tian)(tian)王(wang)(wang)殿(dian)、大悲(bei)閣(ge)、鐘鼓樓前全部(bu)用(yong)石(shi)雕龍(long)(long)柱,屋(wu)檐翹(qiao)角,龍(long)(long)鳳花(hua)鳥栩栩如(ru)生。龍(long)(long)巖(yan)地(di)(di)區書協副主席林堅隸書題(ti)寫”天(tian)(tian)王(wang)(wang)殿(dian)“匾額。殿(dian)塑(su)有(you)三(san)世佛(fo)、十八羅漢、四大天(tian)(tian)王(wang)(wang)、工藝精湛。最有(you)特色的(de)是一尊滴水觀音(yin),大雄寶(bao)殿(dian)后面(mian)擋墻(qiang)上(shang),有(you)一天(tian)(tian)然石(shi)頂,泉水下(xia)滴,即在此因地(di)(di)制宜塑(su)造一尊觀世音(yin)菩薩像,使(shi)清(qing)泉從(cong)大士手中的(de)凈瓶中流出,滋(zi)潤眾生,信眾驚嘆不已。