慧光(guang)寺(si)(si)原名光(guang)孝寺(si)(si),又稱萬壽寺(si)(si)、報恩寺(si)(si)。二00七(qi)年(nian)(nian)十(shi)二月二十(shi)五日,經(jing)省民宗(zong)委粵(yue)民宗(zong)行政審批(pi)[2007]26號(hao)文(wen)《關于(yu)同(tong)意設立(li)連(lian)州市(shi)慧光(guang)寺(si)(si)的批(pi)復》正(zheng)式(shi)命名為慧光(guang)寺(si)(si)。慧光(guang)寺(si)(si)位于(yu)連(lian)州市(shi)區慧光(guang)路慧光(guang)塔側。始建于(yu)南北朝(chao)(chao)宋泰始七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(公元471年(nian)(nian)),北宋嘉佑(you)六年(nian)(nian)僧(seng)(seng)法辯(bian)重(zhong)建,明朝(chao)(chao)嘉靖二十(shi)二年(nian)(nian)僧(seng)(seng)普化又重(zhong)建,清朝(chao)(chao)道(dao)光(guang)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)再重(zhong)建。
慧光寺主殿左側為慧光法堂(tang),堂(tang)后為數十(shi)楹方(fang)丈禪房(fang)。上有羅漢(han)堂(tang)、華嚴(yan)閣,旁有香積(ji)廚,中造浮圖十(shi)余丈,置銀纓舍(she)利。
歷史背景、現狀與問題
根據(ju)史料記載慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)(guang)寺位于(yu)州城南(nan)門(men)(men)外(wai)東(dong)(dong)側;連州城規制(zhi):平面呈圓(yuan)形,辟(pi)(pi)東(dong)(dong)南(nan)西(xi)三門(men)(men),北置北樓無門(men)(men),東(dong)(dong)西(xi)南(nan)門(men)(men)辟(pi)(pi)甕(weng)城,西(xi)門(men)(men)由(you)于(yu)河道的(de)(de)(de)關系甕(weng)城內置,東(dong)(dong)南(nan)門(men)(men)均外(wai)置甕(weng)城以利防(fang)御。南(nan)門(men)(men)為(wei)州的(de)(de)(de)主門(men)(men),亦為(wei)城池(chi)防(fang)御的(de)(de)(de)重點,沿(yan)河道圈一(yi)路(lu)橢圓(yuan)形的(de)(de)(de)羅城,其(qi)中東(dong)(dong)門(men)(men)曰“永東(dong)(dong)門(men)(men)”,南(nan)辟(pi)(pi)門(men)(men)四座,由(you)西(xi)向(xiang)東(dong)(dong)依次為(wei)“朝(chao)陽(yang)門(men)(men)”、“濟(ji)川(chuan)門(men)(men)”、“龍澤門(men)(men)”、“鎮江門(men)(men)”;城隍(huang)廟、慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)(guang)寺、萬壽宮(gong)、慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)(guang)塔居南(nan)羅城的(de)(de)(de)東(dong)(dong)側,城隍(huang)廟、慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)(guang)寺、萬壽宮(gong)沿(yan)東(dong)(dong)西(xi)橫向(xiang)排(pai)列,慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)(guang)塔位于(yu)慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)(guang)寺東(dong)(dong)北方(fang)向(xiang)。
慧光塔(ta)(ta)是(shi)國務院公(gong)布的重點文(wen)物保護單位。慧光塔(ta)(ta)始建(jian)(jian)于(yu)南北朝時期的泰始四年(nian)(公(gong)元468年(nian))。宋(song)代重建(jian)(jian),兼具唐宋(song)建(jian)(jian)筑風格,六角九層通高49.866米,是(shi)廣東(dong)省(sheng)目(mu)前保存較好的一(yi)座樓(lou)閣(ge)式磚室佛教塔(ta)(ta),且結(jie)構較為特(te)殊,其鴛鴦交(jiao)手拱在廣東(dong)罕見。慧光塔(ta)(ta)的西(xi)側現狀(zhuang)有一(yi)所(suo)小學,其余均為二——三層的民宅(zhai)。
慧光(guang)塔位于廣(guang)東(dong)省連州(zhou)市連州(zhou)鎮慧光(guang)路南端107國道旁,地理坐標為東(dong)經112°30′,北緯24°70′。慧光(guang)塔附(fu)近地貌為半(ban)丘陵,海拔100米左(zuo)右,四(si)面環山。東(dong)西(xi)兩端從巾(jin)峰(feng)山至連江(jiang)河(he)地勢逐漸低緩,形成東(dong)高(gao)西(xi)低,南北相對平(ping)緩的(de)河(he)谷(gu)平(ping)原。