歷史沿革
這座寺(si)廟始建(jian)于1922年(nian)(nian)。1923年(nian)(nian)，佛教天臺宗大(da)德釋(shi)倓虛法師(shi)（湛山大(da)師(shi)）來長(chang)春講(jiang)“般(ban)若心經”，隨后創建(jian)寺(si)廟，該寺(si)原(yuan)址(zhi)在商埠地南關區西四馬路，名為般(ban)若寺(si)。1931年(nian)(nian)遷到(dao)西長(chang)春大(da)街(jie)現址(zhi)長(chang)春市長(chang)春大(da)街(jie)重建(jian)。
般(ban)若寺(si)由偽(wei)國都(dou)建(jian)(jian)設(she)局負(fu)責(ze)設(she)計(ji)與監理，中(zhong)國人(ren)辦的(de)(de)(de)四先(xian)公司負(fu)責(ze)施(shi)工，1932年開始(shi)建(jian)(jian)設(she)。由于是中(zhong)國傳(chuan)統的(de)(de)(de)佛教建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)，所以在(zai)設(she)計(ji)中(zhong)沿用了(le)中(zhong)國傳(chuan)統佛寺(si)的(de)(de)(de)布局形式，并(bing)參(can)(can)考了(le)北(bei)方寺(si)廟建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)的(de)(de)(de)習慣作(zuo)法。個別(bie)繁瑣之處，也許源于對中(zhong)國傳(chuan)統建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)文化詮釋的(de)(de)(de)障礙。但它可能是當時由中(zhong)國人(ren)參(can)(can)與設(she)計(ji)并(bing)建(jian)(jian)造起來唯一的(de)(de)(de)一處大型建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)。1934年命名(ming)為(wei)“護國般(ban)若寺(si)”。
護國(guo)般若寺建于當時大(da)(da)同廣場東北(bei)側(ce)，長春大(da)(da)街以(yi)北(bei)，東接(jie)清明街，整個院落為78.9x174米(mi)的長方(fang)形，總占地面積約1.37萬平(ping)方(fang)米(mi)。經多(duo)次(ci)改造，有(you)建筑面積2700平(ping)方(fang)米(mi)，是長春最(zui)大(da)(da)一處佛教建筑群。
1941年日偽時期(qi)，由(you)于(yu)長(chang)春(chun)市偽國都城市建(jian)設計劃的實施，原寺廟(miao)被拆除，在現址重建(jian)新寺，重建(jian)后(hou)正式更名為(wei)護國般若寺。
建筑結構
該寺(si)占地七(qi)千(qian)二百平米，是(shi)長春市最大的(de)(de)佛(fo)(fo)教寺(si)廟。寺(si)院的(de)(de)山門為(wei)并列的(de)(de)三座拱門組成(cheng)，門樓(lou)檐角(jiao)飛翹，錯落有致(zhi)，建工精巧，門側紅(hong)墻寫有“南(nan)無阿(a)彌(mi)陀佛(fo)(fo)”六個(ge)大字，寺(si)內(nei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)堂聳(song)立(li)(li)，樹木成(cheng)蔭，蔚為(wei)壯觀(guan)。進門左右有鼓樓(lou)和(he)鐘樓(lou)，正(zheng)面為(wei)天(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)正(zheng)中(zhong)(zhong)供奉(feng)(feng)(feng)彌(mi)勒佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)，兩側有四大天(tian)王(wang)腳踏(ta)八怪塑(su)(su)像(xiang)，栩(xu)栩(xu)如生(sheng)。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)后塑(su)(su)有護法韋馱菩薩(sa)立(li)(li)像(xiang).大雄寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)建在天(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)后面，是(shi)整個(ge)廟宇的(de)(de)中(zhong)(zhong)心(xin)，寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)外(wai)觀(guan)莊(zhuang)嚴雄壯，斗拱交(jiao)錯，檐于高啄，畫棟雕梁(liang)，彩(cai)畫精麗，金碧輝(hui)煌。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)正(zheng)中(zhong)(zhong)供奉(feng)(feng)(feng)釋迦牟尼(ni)佛(fo)(fo)主，兩側為(wei)十八羅(luo)漢(han)；殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)后供奉(feng)(feng)(feng)觀(guan)世音(yin)菩薩(sa)佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)；再(zai)后便是(shi)藏經樓(lou)，收藏著大量佛(fo)(fo)教經典。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)前蒼松翠柏，古樹參天(tian)，與(yu)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)紅(hong)綠相映，顯得格外(wai)雄偉壯觀(guan)。寺(si)院還建有東西廂(xiang)房(fang)數十間，分別為(wei)禪堂、齋堂、起(qi)居室等(deng)。這就是(shi)被長春人稱(cheng)為(wei)“大廟”的(de)(de)長春般若寺(si)。
般若寺占地面(mian)(mian)積1、4萬平方米，建筑面(mian)(mian)積2700平方米，是長春市最大的華教廟宇。進入山門(men)，東(dong)有(you)鐘樓，西有(you)鼓(gu)樓，這(zhe)(zhe)兩座建筑設(she)計奇特、工(gong)藝精巧，遇重要節日，這(zhe)(zhe)里就會(hui)鐘鼓(gu)動齊鳴。
整(zheng)個廟(miao)宇進深三(san)(san)層(ceng)。第一層(ceng)是(shi)彌(mi)(mi)勒殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內供奉(feng)(feng)彌(mi)(mi)勒佛(fo)坐像，殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)前(qian)(qian)有一座(zuo)(zuo)漢白玉石碑(bei),碑(bei)文(wen)記載著(zhu)建廟(miao)的(de)(de)(de)詳細(xi)經(jing)過；第二(er)層(ceng)是(shi)大雄寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，這是(shi)整(zheng)個廟(miao)宇的(de)(de)(de)中心(xin)，也是(shi)最大的(de)(de)(de)一座(zuo)(zuo)建筑；第三(san)(san)層(ceng)是(shi)西(xi)方三(san)(san)圣(sheng)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，該殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)為二(er)層(ceng)歇(xie)山式建筑，樓(lou)上為藏經(jing)樓(lou)，樓(lou)下供奉(feng)(feng)阿彌(mi)(mi)陀佛(fo)、大勢至(zhi)菩(pu)薩和觀世(shi)(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)(dian)(dian)的(de)(de)(de)兩側是(shi)大雄寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的(de)(de)(de)后院(yuan)配殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),其中東配殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)觀世(shi)(shi)音菩(pu)薩殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，西(xi)配殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)地(di)藏王菩(pu)薩殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。與前(qian)(qian)兩個院(yuan)落相比，這里松柏(bo)參天。鳥語(yu)繞梁，營造(zao)出一種古樸(pu)、玄遠(yuan)的(de)(de)(de)宗教氛(fen)圍。
西方三(san)圣(sheng)殿的(de)后院(yuan)，是般(ban)若寺的(de)盡(jin)頭，墻(qiang)外就(jiu)是紛擾的(de)馬路和街(jie)市。這(zhe)個小院(yuan)內有三(san)座塔(ta)型建筑物：前面一座是倓(tan)虛法(fa)(fa)師(shi)(shi)七十(shi)壽辰的(de)紀念幢；后面兩(liang)座分別是倓(tan)虛法(fa)(fa)師(shi)(shi)和本寺首任(ren)住持澍培法(fa)(fa)師(shi)(shi)的(de)舍利塔(ta)。
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