蓮(lian)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)位于(yu)(yu)福(fu)建龍(long)(long)(long)巖市(shi)區319國(guo)道和(he)福(fu)三線省道交接處之(zhi)蓮(lian)花(hua)山(shan)(shan)(shan)西(xi)麓。創(chuang)建于(yu)(yu)宋(song)朝,法脈屬曹洞宗。《龍(long)(long)(long)巖州(zhou)志》載(zai),此處怪(guai)石(shi)“有(you)(you)若蓮(lian)瓣》,故(gu)名“蓮(lian)山(shan)(shan)(shan)招(zhao)提”。寺(si)內供養(yang)觀(guan)世音(yin)菩薩,香客(ke)如云,屢現靈(ling)異,清朝龍(long)(long)(long)巖知縣(xian)王(wang)有(you)(you)容(rong)禮(li)大士有(you)(you)驗,即捐(juan)金置(zhi)香燈田(tian),并(bing)立碑(bei)(bei)記其事,此碑(bei)(bei)至今矗立于(yu)(yu)寺(si)前。據清乾隆《龍(long)(long)(long)巖州(zhou)志》載(zai):"在怪(guai)石(shi)叢中有(you)(you)若蓮(lian)瓣",故(gu)名"蓮(lian)山(shan)(shan)(shan)招(zhao)提"。"建觀(guan)音(yin)堂(tang),屢現靈(ling)異,祈禱皆應",相(xiang)傳有(you)(you)"仙人丹灶"遺跡(ji)。登寺(si)舉(ju)目"俯視平疇、煙樹如織,龍(long)(long)(long)門前拱,虎嶺東環,森(sen)然(ran)左(zuo)右;恍如舍利者,則紫金、九侯也(ye)"。清順治十一年,知縣(xian)王(wang)有(you)(you)容(rong)捐(juan)金置(zhi)香燈田(tian),現碑(bei)(bei)仍(reng)豎于(yu)(yu)觀(guan)音(yin)堂(tang)前,為"景勝""靈(ling)征"之(zhi)地。經考古(gu)調(diao)查發現此地有(you)(you)商周時期的印紋陶片和(he)石(shi)器,足(zu)證(zheng)歷史(shi)之(zhi)悠久(jiu)。
歷(li)代(dai)以來,此寺屢廢屢建,但因地處(chu)山區,交通不便,所以規模不大。只有(you)一(yi)個幾十平(ping)方米的小殿堂,兩間平(ping)房,歷(li)代(dai)法(fa)師(shi)只能照顧(gu)殿堂香火,維持生計,自己(ji)修持而已。清(qing)初(chu)此寺有(you)法(fa)師(shi)教拳,拳法(fa)至今(jin)尚流(liu)傳民間。
蓮山寺構筑布局合理,氣勢(shi)恢宏(hong),華麗堂皇。寺內寶(bao)像莊嚴,輝煌(huang)金碧,香(xiang)(xiang)煙繚繞,香(xiang)(xiang)客(ke)如云,為閩西(xi)著(zhu)名(ming)佛(fo)教(jiao)勝地(di)。
1987年,龍(long)巖市統(tong)戰部(bu)(bu)延請閩南佛(fo)學院光炳法(fa)師住持蓮山寺(si),并(bing)劃撥三(san)十(shi)(shi)畝土地(di)擴(kuo)建寺(si)院,蓮山寺(si)寺(si)名由(you)中(zhong)(zhong)國佛(fo)教協(xie)會會長(chang)趙樸(pu)初題寫,現已(yi)建成大(da)(da)雄寶殿(dian)(dian)、天(tian)(tian)(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)、大(da)(da)悲(bei)(bei)閣(ge)、回廊、素食部(bu)(bu)、法(fa)物流(liu)通處(chu),尚在施工的有藏(zang)經樓、法(fa)堂(tang)、地(di)藏(zang)殿(dian)(dian)、僧舍、客房(fang)、接待處(chu)、停車場、放生(sheng)池(chi)等。按叢(cong)林規(gui)格(ge)設(she)計,木石(shi)結構(gou),大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)三(san)個門墻(qiang)上刻有釋迦牟(mou)尼傳,天(tian)(tian)(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)、大(da)(da)悲(bei)(bei)閣(ge)、鐘鼓樓前全部(bu)(bu)用(yong)石(shi)雕龍(long)柱,屋檐翹角(jiao),龍(long)鳳花鳥栩栩如生(sheng)。龍(long)巖地(di)區(qu)書協(xie)副主席林堅隸書題寫”天(tian)(tian)(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)“匾(bian)額。殿(dian)(dian)塑有三(san)世佛(fo)、十(shi)(shi)八羅漢(han)、四大(da)(da)天(tian)(tian)(tian)王(wang)、工藝精(jing)湛(zhan)。最有特色的是一(yi)尊滴(di)水觀音,大(da)(da)雄寶殿(dian)(dian)后(hou)面擋墻(qiang)上,有一(yi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)然石(shi)頂,泉水下滴(di),即在此因地(di)制宜塑造一(yi)尊觀世音菩薩(sa)像,使清泉從(cong)大(da)(da)士手中(zhong)(zhong)的凈瓶中(zhong)(zhong)流(liu)出,滋潤眾(zhong)生(sheng),信眾(zhong)驚(jing)嘆(tan)不已(yi)。