歷史沿革
這座(zuo)寺(si)廟始(shi)建于1922年(nian)。1923年(nian)，佛(fo)教(jiao)天臺宗(zong)大(da)(da)德釋倓虛法師（湛山大(da)(da)師）來長(chang)(chang)春講“般(ban)若心(xin)經”，隨后創建寺(si)廟，該寺(si)原址在商(shang)埠地南(nan)關區(qu)西(xi)四(si)馬路，名為般(ban)若寺(si)。1931年(nian)遷到西(xi)長(chang)(chang)春大(da)(da)街現址長(chang)(chang)春市長(chang)(chang)春大(da)(da)街重建。
般(ban)若(ruo)寺(si)由(you)偽國都(dou)建(jian)設局負(fu)(fu)責(ze)設計與監(jian)理，中(zhong)國人(ren)辦的(de)(de)四先公司(si)負(fu)(fu)責(ze)施工，1932年開(kai)始建(jian)設。由(you)于是中(zhong)國傳統(tong)的(de)(de)佛教建(jian)筑(zhu)，所以在(zai)設計中(zhong)沿用了(le)中(zhong)國傳統(tong)佛寺(si)的(de)(de)布局形式，并參(can)(can)考了(le)北方寺(si)廟建(jian)筑(zhu)的(de)(de)習慣作(zuo)法。個(ge)別繁(fan)瑣之(zhi)處，也(ye)許源于對中(zhong)國傳統(tong)建(jian)筑(zhu)文化詮釋的(de)(de)障礙。但(dan)它(ta)可能是當時由(you)中(zhong)國人(ren)參(can)(can)與設計并建(jian)造起來唯(wei)一的(de)(de)一處大型建(jian)筑(zhu)。1934年命(ming)名(ming)為“護國般(ban)若(ruo)寺(si)”。
護國般若寺建(jian)(jian)于當時大(da)同廣(guang)場(chang)東北側，長春大(da)街以北，東接清明街，整個院落為(wei)78.9x174米的長方(fang)形，總占地(di)面積約1.37萬平方(fang)米。經多次改造(zao)，有建(jian)(jian)筑面積2700平方(fang)米，是長春最(zui)大(da)一處(chu)佛教建(jian)(jian)筑群(qun)。
1941年(nian)日(ri)偽(wei)時期(qi)，由于長(chang)春市(shi)偽(wei)國都城市(shi)建設計(ji)劃的(de)實施，原寺(si)廟被拆除，在現址重建新寺(si)，重建后正式更名為護(hu)國般若寺(si)。
建筑結構
該寺(si)(si)占(zhan)地七千二百平米，是長春(chun)市(shi)最大(da)(da)的(de)佛教(jiao)寺(si)(si)廟(miao)。寺(si)(si)院(yuan)(yuan)的(de)山門(men)為(wei)(wei)(wei)并列的(de)三座拱門(men)組成，門(men)樓(lou)(lou)檐(yan)角飛翹，錯落(luo)有(you)(you)致，建工精(jing)巧(qiao)，門(men)側(ce)紅(hong)墻寫(xie)有(you)(you)“南無阿彌(mi)陀(tuo)佛”六個大(da)(da)字，寺(si)(si)內(nei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)堂聳立，樹(shu)木成蔭，蔚為(wei)(wei)(wei)壯(zhuang)觀(guan)(guan)(guan)。進門(men)左右有(you)(you)鼓樓(lou)(lou)和鐘樓(lou)(lou)，正(zheng)面為(wei)(wei)(wei)天(tian)王殿(dian)(dian)(dian)，殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)正(zheng)中(zhong)(zhong)供奉彌(mi)勒佛像，兩(liang)側(ce)有(you)(you)四大(da)(da)天(tian)王腳踏八怪(guai)塑(su)像，栩(xu)栩(xu)如生。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)后(hou)(hou)塑(su)有(you)(you)護法韋馱菩薩立像.大(da)(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)建在天(tian)王殿(dian)(dian)(dian)后(hou)(hou)面，是整(zheng)個廟(miao)宇的(de)中(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)，寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)外觀(guan)(guan)(guan)莊(zhuang)嚴雄壯(zhuang)，斗拱交(jiao)錯，檐(yan)于高(gao)啄，畫棟雕(diao)梁(liang)，彩畫精(jing)麗(li)，金碧(bi)輝(hui)煌(huang)。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)正(zheng)中(zhong)(zhong)供奉釋迦(jia)牟尼佛主，兩(liang)側(ce)為(wei)(wei)(wei)十(shi)八羅漢(han)；殿(dian)(dian)(dian)后(hou)(hou)供奉觀(guan)(guan)(guan)世(shi)音菩薩佛像；再后(hou)(hou)便(bian)是藏經樓(lou)(lou)，收藏著大(da)(da)量佛教(jiao)經典(dian)。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)前蒼松翠柏，古樹(shu)參(can)天(tian)，與寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)紅(hong)綠相映，顯得格外雄偉壯(zhuang)觀(guan)(guan)(guan)。寺(si)(si)院(yuan)(yuan)還建有(you)(you)東西廂房(fang)數十(shi)間，分別為(wei)(wei)(wei)禪(chan)堂、齋堂、起居室等。這就是被(bei)長春(chun)人稱為(wei)(wei)(wei)“大(da)(da)廟(miao)”的(de)長春(chun)般若寺(si)(si)。
般若寺占地面積1、4萬平(ping)方米，建筑面積2700平(ping)方米，是長春市最(zui)大的華教(jiao)廟宇。進(jin)入山(shan)門，東有(you)鐘(zhong)樓(lou)，西有(you)鼓(gu)樓(lou)，這(zhe)兩座建筑設計奇特、工藝精巧(qiao)，遇重要節日，這(zhe)里就會(hui)鐘(zhong)鼓(gu)動齊(qi)鳴(ming)。
整個(ge)廟(miao)宇進深三(san)(san)層(ceng)。第(di)一(yi)層(ceng)是(shi)(shi)彌勒殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內供奉彌勒佛(fo)坐像，殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)前有(you)一(yi)座漢白玉石碑(bei),碑(bei)文記(ji)載(zai)著(zhu)建(jian)廟(miao)的詳細(xi)經過(guo)；第(di)二層(ceng)是(shi)(shi)大雄寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，這是(shi)(shi)整個(ge)廟(miao)宇的中心，也(ye)是(shi)(shi)最大的一(yi)座建(jian)筑；第(di)三(san)(san)層(ceng)是(shi)(shi)西(xi)方三(san)(san)圣(sheng)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，該殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)為二層(ceng)歇山式建(jian)筑，樓(lou)上為藏經樓(lou)，樓(lou)下(xia)供奉阿彌陀佛(fo)、大勢(shi)至(zhi)菩(pu)薩和觀(guan)世(shi)音菩(pu)薩三(san)(san)圣(sheng)像。西(xi)方三(san)(san)圣(sheng)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的兩側是(shi)(shi)大雄寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的后院(yuan)配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),其中東配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)(shi)觀(guan)世(shi)音菩(pu)薩殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，西(xi)配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)(shi)地藏王菩(pu)薩殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。與前兩個(ge)院(yuan)落(luo)相比，這里松柏參天。鳥語繞梁，營造出(chu)一(yi)種古樸、玄(xuan)遠的宗教(jiao)氛圍。
西方三圣殿的(de)后(hou)院，是般若(ruo)寺的(de)盡(jin)頭，墻外就是紛擾的(de)馬路和(he)街市(shi)。這個小院內有(you)三座塔(ta)型建(jian)筑物：前面一座是倓虛法師(shi)七(qi)十壽(shou)辰的(de)紀(ji)念幢；后(hou)面兩(liang)座分別是倓虛法師(shi)和(he)本寺首任住持(chi)澍培(pei)法師(shi)的(de)舍(she)利塔(ta)。
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