蓮山(shan)寺(si)位(wei)于(yu)福(fu)建(jian)龍巖市區(qu)319國(guo)道和福(fu)三線省道交接處之(zhi)蓮花山(shan)西麓。創(chuang)建(jian)于(yu)宋朝,法脈屬(shu)曹(cao)洞宗。《龍巖州志(zhi)(zhi)》載,此處怪石“有(you)若(ruo)蓮瓣》,故(gu)名“蓮山(shan)招提(ti)”。寺(si)內供養觀(guan)世音菩薩,香(xiang)客如(ru)云,屢現靈(ling)異,清朝龍巖知縣(xian)王有(you)容(rong)(rong)禮大士有(you)驗,即捐金置香(xiang)燈田,并(bing)立碑(bei)記(ji)其事,此碑(bei)至今矗立于(yu)寺(si)前(qian)(qian)。據清乾隆《龍巖州志(zhi)(zhi)》載:"在怪石叢(cong)中有(you)若(ruo)蓮瓣",故(gu)名"蓮山(shan)招提(ti)"。"建(jian)觀(guan)音堂,屢現靈(ling)異,祈禱皆應",相傳有(you)"仙人(ren)丹灶"遺跡。登(deng)寺(si)舉目"俯視平疇(chou)、煙樹(shu)如(ru)織(zhi),龍門前(qian)(qian)拱(gong),虎嶺東(dong)環,森然左右;恍如(ru)舍利(li)者,則紫金、九侯也"。清順治十一年,知縣(xian)王有(you)容(rong)(rong)捐金置香(xiang)燈田,現碑(bei)仍豎于(yu)觀(guan)音堂前(qian)(qian),為"景勝""靈(ling)征"之(zhi)地(di)。經考古調查發(fa)現此地(di)有(you)商周時期(qi)的印(yin)紋陶(tao)片和石器,足證(zheng)歷史之(zhi)悠(you)久。
歷代(dai)以來,此寺屢(lv)廢(fei)屢(lv)建,但因地(di)處山(shan)區,交通不(bu)便(bian),所以規模不(bu)大。只(zhi)有一個幾十平方米(mi)的小殿堂,兩間平房,歷代(dai)法師只(zhi)能照顧殿堂香火,維持生計,自己(ji)修(xiu)持而已(yi)。清初(chu)此寺有法師教拳,拳法至今尚流傳(chuan)民間。
蓮山寺構筑布局(ju)合理,氣勢(shi)恢宏,華(hua)麗堂皇(huang)。寺內(nei)寶像莊嚴,輝煌金碧(bi),香(xiang)(xiang)煙繚繞,香(xiang)(xiang)客如云,為閩西(xi)著名佛教勝(sheng)地。
1987年,龍(long)(long)巖市統戰部(bu)延請閩南佛(fo)(fo)學院光炳法(fa)(fa)師(shi)住持蓮(lian)山寺,并劃撥(bo)三十(shi)畝(mu)土地擴建寺院,蓮(lian)山寺寺名(ming)由中國(guo)佛(fo)(fo)教協會會長趙樸初題寫,現已建成大(da)雄寶殿(dian)(dian)、天(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)、大(da)悲(bei)閣、回廊、素食部(bu)、法(fa)(fa)物流(liu)通處,尚在施工的有(you)藏(zang)經(jing)樓、法(fa)(fa)堂(tang)、地藏(zang)殿(dian)(dian)、僧舍、客房、接(jie)待處、停車場、放生(sheng)池等(deng)。按叢林規(gui)格設計(ji),木石(shi)結(jie)構,大(da)殿(dian)(dian)三個門墻上刻有(you)釋迦牟尼傳(chuan),天(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)、大(da)悲(bei)閣、鐘(zhong)鼓(gu)樓前全(quan)部(bu)用石(shi)雕(diao)龍(long)(long)柱(zhu),屋檐翹角(jiao),龍(long)(long)鳳(feng)花(hua)鳥栩栩如生(sheng)。龍(long)(long)巖地區書(shu)協副主席林堅隸書(shu)題寫”天(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)“匾額。殿(dian)(dian)塑有(you)三世佛(fo)(fo)、十(shi)八羅漢、四大(da)天(tian)王(wang)、工藝精湛。最有(you)特色的是一尊滴(di)水(shui)觀音,大(da)雄寶殿(dian)(dian)后面擋墻上,有(you)一天(tian)然石(shi)頂,泉水(shui)下滴(di),即在此因(yin)地制宜塑造一尊觀世音菩(pu)薩像(xiang),使清泉從(cong)大(da)士手中的凈瓶中流(liu)出,滋潤眾生(sheng),信眾驚嘆不已。