慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)寺(si)原名光(guang)(guang)孝寺(si),又(you)稱萬(wan)壽寺(si)、報恩寺(si)。二(er)00七(qi)年(nian)十(shi)二(er)月二(er)十(shi)五(wu)日,經省民宗(zong)委粵民宗(zong)行(xing)政審批[2007]26號文《關于(yu)同(tong)意設立連(lian)州市(shi)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)寺(si)的批復》正式命名為慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)寺(si)。慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)寺(si)位于(yu)連(lian)州市(shi)區慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)路慧(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)塔(ta)側。始建(jian)(jian)于(yu)南北朝宋(song)泰始七(qi)年(nian)(公元(yuan)471年(nian)),北宋(song)嘉佑六年(nian)僧法辯重建(jian)(jian),明朝嘉靖二(er)十(shi)二(er)年(nian)僧普(pu)化又(you)重建(jian)(jian),清朝道光(guang)(guang)十(shi)年(nian)再重建(jian)(jian)。
慧(hui)光寺(si)主殿左側為慧(hui)光法堂(tang),堂(tang)后為數十楹方(fang)丈禪房。上有羅漢堂(tang)、華嚴閣,旁(pang)有香積廚,中(zhong)造浮圖十余(yu)丈,置銀(yin)纓舍利。
歷史背景、現狀與問題
根據史料記載慧光(guang)(guang)寺(si)位(wei)于州(zhou)城南(nan)(nan)門(men)(men)(men)外東(dong)(dong)側;連州(zhou)城規(gui)制(zhi):平(ping)面呈圓形,辟東(dong)(dong)南(nan)(nan)西三門(men)(men)(men),北(bei)置北(bei)樓(lou)無門(men)(men)(men),東(dong)(dong)西南(nan)(nan)門(men)(men)(men)辟甕城,西門(men)(men)(men)由于河道的關系甕城內置,東(dong)(dong)南(nan)(nan)門(men)(men)(men)均外置甕城以利(li)防(fang)御(yu)。南(nan)(nan)門(men)(men)(men)為州(zhou)的主門(men)(men)(men),亦為城池(chi)防(fang)御(yu)的重(zhong)點,沿河道圈一路(lu)橢圓形的羅城,其(qi)中東(dong)(dong)門(men)(men)(men)曰“永東(dong)(dong)門(men)(men)(men)”,南(nan)(nan)辟門(men)(men)(men)四座,由西向(xiang)東(dong)(dong)依次為“朝陽門(men)(men)(men)”、“濟川門(men)(men)(men)”、“龍澤門(men)(men)(men)”、“鎮江門(men)(men)(men)”;城隍(huang)廟、慧光(guang)(guang)寺(si)、萬壽宮(gong)、慧光(guang)(guang)塔居南(nan)(nan)羅城的東(dong)(dong)側,城隍(huang)廟、慧光(guang)(guang)寺(si)、萬壽宮(gong)沿東(dong)(dong)西橫向(xiang)排(pai)列,慧光(guang)(guang)塔位(wei)于慧光(guang)(guang)寺(si)東(dong)(dong)北(bei)方向(xiang)。
慧光塔(ta)是國務(wu)院(yuan)公布的(de)重點文物保(bao)護單位。慧光塔(ta)始(shi)建于南北(bei)朝時期的(de)泰始(shi)四年(公元468年)。宋(song)代重建,兼具唐(tang)宋(song)建筑風(feng)格(ge),六角(jiao)九層(ceng)通高(gao)49.866米,是廣東省目前(qian)保(bao)存較好的(de)一座樓閣式(shi)磚(zhuan)室佛教塔(ta),且結構較為(wei)特殊(shu),其(qi)鴛(yuan)鴦交(jiao)手拱在廣東罕(han)見。慧光塔(ta)的(de)西側現狀有一所小(xiao)學,其(qi)余均為(wei)二——三(san)層(ceng)的(de)民宅。
慧光(guang)塔(ta)位于廣東(dong)省連(lian)州(zhou)市(shi)連(lian)州(zhou)鎮慧光(guang)路南端107國道旁,地(di)理坐標為東(dong)經112°30′,北緯24°70′。慧光(guang)塔(ta)附近地(di)貌為半(ban)丘陵,海拔(ba)100米左右(you),四面環山。東(dong)西兩端從巾(jin)峰山至連(lian)江河地(di)勢逐漸低(di)緩,形(xing)成東(dong)高西低(di),南北相對平緩的(de)河谷(gu)平原(yuan)。