慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)寺(si)原名光(guang)孝寺(si),又稱萬壽寺(si)、報恩寺(si)。二(er)00七(qi)年(nian)(nian)十(shi)(shi)二(er)月二(er)十(shi)(shi)五日,經省民宗委(wei)粵民宗行政審批(pi)[2007]26號文《關于同意設立連州市(shi)慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)寺(si)的批(pi)復》正式命名為慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)寺(si)。慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)寺(si)位于連州市(shi)區(qu)慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)路慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)塔側。始建(jian)(jian)于南北朝(chao)宋泰始七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(公(gong)元471年(nian)(nian)),北宋嘉佑(you)六年(nian)(nian)僧法(fa)辯重(zhong)建(jian)(jian),明(ming)朝(chao)嘉靖二(er)十(shi)(shi)二(er)年(nian)(nian)僧普化又重(zhong)建(jian)(jian),清朝(chao)道光(guang)十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)再(zai)重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)。
慧(hui)光寺主(zhu)殿左側為慧(hui)光法堂,堂后(hou)為數十楹方(fang)丈(zhang)禪房(fang)。上(shang)有羅漢堂、華嚴(yan)閣,旁有香(xiang)積廚(chu),中(zhong)造浮(fu)圖(tu)十余丈(zhang),置銀(yin)纓舍利。
歷史背景、現狀與問題
根(gen)據史料記載慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)寺(si)位(wei)于州(zhou)城(cheng)(cheng)南門(men)外東(dong)(dong)(dong)側;連州(zhou)城(cheng)(cheng)規制:平面呈圓(yuan)形,辟東(dong)(dong)(dong)南西三(san)門(men),北置(zhi)北樓無門(men),東(dong)(dong)(dong)西南門(men)辟甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng),西門(men)由(you)于河(he)道(dao)的關系(xi)甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)內置(zhi),東(dong)(dong)(dong)南門(men)均(jun)外置(zhi)甕(weng)城(cheng)(cheng)以利防御。南門(men)為(wei)州(zhou)的主門(men),亦(yi)為(wei)城(cheng)(cheng)池防御的重點,沿河(he)道(dao)圈(quan)一路(lu)橢圓(yuan)形的羅(luo)城(cheng)(cheng),其中東(dong)(dong)(dong)門(men)曰“永東(dong)(dong)(dong)門(men)”,南辟門(men)四(si)座,由(you)西向(xiang)東(dong)(dong)(dong)依(yi)次為(wei)“朝陽門(men)”、“濟川(chuan)門(men)”、“龍澤門(men)”、“鎮江門(men)”;城(cheng)(cheng)隍(huang)廟(miao)、慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)寺(si)、萬壽宮、慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)塔(ta)居南羅(luo)城(cheng)(cheng)的東(dong)(dong)(dong)側,城(cheng)(cheng)隍(huang)廟(miao)、慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)寺(si)、萬壽宮沿東(dong)(dong)(dong)西橫向(xiang)排列,慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)塔(ta)位(wei)于慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)寺(si)東(dong)(dong)(dong)北方向(xiang)。
慧光塔是國(guo)務院公布的(de)重點文(wen)物保(bao)護單位。慧光塔始(shi)建于南北朝時期(qi)的(de)泰(tai)始(shi)四年(公元468年)。宋代重建,兼具唐宋建筑風格,六角九(jiu)層通高49.866米,是廣東省目(mu)前保(bao)存(cun)較好的(de)一座樓閣式磚室(shi)佛教(jiao)塔,且結構較為特(te)殊,其鴛(yuan)鴦交手拱在廣東罕見。慧光塔的(de)西側現狀有一所小學,其余均為二(er)——三層的(de)民宅。
慧光(guang)(guang)塔(ta)位于廣東(dong)省連州市連州鎮慧光(guang)(guang)路(lu)南端107國道旁,地(di)(di)理(li)坐標為東(dong)經112°30′,北(bei)緯24°70′。慧光(guang)(guang)塔(ta)附近(jin)地(di)(di)貌為半丘陵,海拔100米左右,四面環山。東(dong)西兩端從巾(jin)峰(feng)山至連江河(he)地(di)(di)勢逐漸低緩(huan),形成(cheng)東(dong)高西低,南北(bei)相對平緩(huan)的河(he)谷平原(yuan)。