慧(hui)光(guang)(guang)(guang)寺(si)原名光(guang)(guang)(guang)孝寺(si),又(you)稱萬壽寺(si)、報恩(en)寺(si)。二(er)00七(qi)年(nian)十(shi)(shi)二(er)月二(er)十(shi)(shi)五(wu)日,經(jing)省民(min)宗委粵民(min)宗行政審(shen)批[2007]26號文《關于同意設(she)立連州市慧(hui)光(guang)(guang)(guang)寺(si)的(de)批復》正式(shi)命名為慧(hui)光(guang)(guang)(guang)寺(si)。慧(hui)光(guang)(guang)(guang)寺(si)位于連州市區慧(hui)光(guang)(guang)(guang)路慧(hui)光(guang)(guang)(guang)塔側。始建(jian)于南北朝(chao)宋泰始七(qi)年(nian)(公元471年(nian)),北宋嘉佑六年(nian)僧法辯重(zhong)建(jian),明朝(chao)嘉靖二(er)十(shi)(shi)二(er)年(nian)僧普(pu)化又(you)重(zhong)建(jian),清(qing)朝(chao)道光(guang)(guang)(guang)十(shi)(shi)年(nian)再重(zhong)建(jian)。
慧(hui)(hui)光寺主(zhu)殿左側為(wei)慧(hui)(hui)光法堂,堂后(hou)為(wei)數十(shi)楹(ying)方丈禪(chan)房。上有羅(luo)漢堂、華(hua)嚴閣,旁有香(xiang)積廚,中造浮圖十(shi)余丈,置(zhi)銀纓舍利(li)。
歷史背景、現狀與問題
根(gen)據史料記載(zai)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)寺(si)(si)位(wei)于州(zhou)城(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)門(men)(men)(men)外東(dong)側;連州(zhou)城(cheng)(cheng)規制:平(ping)面呈圓(yuan)形(xing),辟(pi)(pi)東(dong)南(nan)西(xi)(xi)三門(men)(men)(men),北置北樓無門(men)(men)(men),東(dong)西(xi)(xi)南(nan)門(men)(men)(men)辟(pi)(pi)甕城(cheng)(cheng),西(xi)(xi)門(men)(men)(men)由(you)于河(he)道的(de)關系甕城(cheng)(cheng)內置,東(dong)南(nan)門(men)(men)(men)均(jun)外置甕城(cheng)(cheng)以利(li)防御。南(nan)門(men)(men)(men)為州(zhou)的(de)主門(men)(men)(men),亦(yi)為城(cheng)(cheng)池(chi)防御的(de)重點,沿(yan)河(he)道圈一(yi)路橢圓(yuan)形(xing)的(de)羅(luo)城(cheng)(cheng),其中東(dong)門(men)(men)(men)曰“永(yong)東(dong)門(men)(men)(men)”,南(nan)辟(pi)(pi)門(men)(men)(men)四座,由(you)西(xi)(xi)向(xiang)東(dong)依次(ci)為“朝陽門(men)(men)(men)”、“濟川(chuan)門(men)(men)(men)”、“龍(long)澤門(men)(men)(men)”、“鎮江門(men)(men)(men)”;城(cheng)(cheng)隍廟、慧(hui)(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)寺(si)(si)、萬(wan)壽宮、慧(hui)(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)塔居南(nan)羅(luo)城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)東(dong)側,城(cheng)(cheng)隍廟、慧(hui)(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)寺(si)(si)、萬(wan)壽宮沿(yan)東(dong)西(xi)(xi)橫(heng)向(xiang)排列(lie),慧(hui)(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)塔位(wei)于慧(hui)(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)寺(si)(si)東(dong)北方向(xiang)。
慧光塔(ta)是國(guo)務院公布的重點文物保護單(dan)位。慧光塔(ta)始建于南北朝(chao)時期的泰始四年(公元468年)。宋代重建,兼具唐宋建筑風(feng)格,六角九層通高49.866米,是廣東(dong)省目前保存較(jiao)好的一座樓閣式磚室佛教塔(ta),且結構(gou)較(jiao)為特(te)殊(shu),其鴛鴦交(jiao)手拱在廣東(dong)罕見。慧光塔(ta)的西側現狀有(you)一所小學(xue),其余均為二——三層的民宅。
慧光塔(ta)位于廣東省連(lian)州市連(lian)州鎮慧光路南端(duan)107國(guo)道旁,地(di)理坐標為東經112°30′,北緯(wei)24°70′。慧光塔(ta)附近(jin)地(di)貌為半丘陵(ling),海拔100米左右,四(si)面(mian)環山。東西兩端(duan)從(cong)巾峰山至連(lian)江河(he)地(di)勢逐漸低緩,形成(cheng)東高西低,南北相(xiang)對(dui)平(ping)緩的河(he)谷(gu)平(ping)原。