“南(nan)山(shan)(shan)新雨后(hou),海(hai)(hai)側青崖舟。燎煙結古寺,石塔鳴鐘樓。浪回金(jin)沙(sha)岸(an),潮(chao)起馥雪鷗。月闌日光嶼,總是琉璃(li)洲。”據傳(chuan),這是明代(dai)文(wen)學家沈環在江蘇(su)通州(zhou)南(nan)山(shan)(shan)寺游(you)歷時(shi)的散作。雖是寥寥數語,卻留(liu)下了400多年(nian)前南(nan)山(shan)(shan)寺的大致輪廓(kuo)。始建于(yu)明代(dai)的通州(zhou)南(nan)山(shan)(shan)寺,濱(bin)江臨海(hai)(hai),位于(yu)古來(lai)盛產(chan)海(hai)(hai)鹽水產(chan)、豐饒
富庶(shu)的(de)(de)通州(zhou)主城區金(jin)沙(sha)(sha),至今已有(you)600多(duo)年的(de)(de)歷史。南(nan)山寺所處金(jin)沙(sha)(sha)本名(ming)古(gu)沙(sha)(sha),南(nan)唐(tang)徐復治海陵鹽政時,見亭戶以(yi)鹵煎鹽, 感喟(kui)而嘆日(ri)(ri):“此金(jin)也。 因海鹽是(shi)當時財賦的(de)(de)主要源泉,北宋(song)初年即(ji)(ji)有(you)金(jin)沙(sha)(sha)亭之(zhi)設(she),后(hou)(hou)(hou)改為(wei)(wei)金(jin)沙(sha)(sha)場。南(nan)山本為(wei)(wei)沙(sha)(sha)洲(zhou)石壘高丘,初無(wu)(wu)寺廟(miao)(miao)(miao)(miao)。至宋(song)元兵(bing)連禍(huo)結(jie),有(you)佚名(ming)僧(seng)(seng)人至此避亂,始建(jian)一小廟(miao)(miao)(miao)(miao),人稱僧(seng)(seng)公(gong)(gong)(gong)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)(miao)(或諧為(wei)(wei)孫公(gong)(gong)(gong)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)(miao)、申公(gong)(gong)(gong)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)(miao))。因金(jin)沙(sha)(sha)地處荒(huang)僻(pi),競無(wu)(wu)人識(shi)得(de)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)(miao)內所供(gong)奉的(de)(de)法(fa)(fa)像(xiang),問于(yu)僧(seng)(seng)公(gong)(gong)(gong),只(zhi)稱藥(yao)師(shi)。于(yu)是(shi),此地居民(min)(min)或有(you)疑(yi)癥,都到(dao)僧(seng)(seng)公(gong)(gong)(gong)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)(miao)祝(zhu)禱求醫,屢得(de)感應,滿(man)其所愿,聲(sheng)(sheng)名(ming)遂(sui)遠(yuan)。另(ling)據地方(fang)志(zhi)籍所載(zai),有(you)一年,明(ming)孝(xiao)昭太(tai)后(hou)(hou)(hou)突發急癥,沉疴數月而不見好(hao)轉(zhuan)。一天,夜夢(meng)神靈現(xian)身,光焰(yan)熾盛(sheng),傳語太(tai)后(hou)(hou)(hou):“金(jin)澤(ze)東方(fang),沙(sha)(sha)隱琉璃,附(fu)日(ri)(ri)而出,藉藥(yao)為(wei)(wei)尊。”明(ming)宜(yi)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)聞言,召集百官階前(qian)議事(shi),眾議紛(fen)紛(fen),都認(ren)為(wei)(wei)與太(tai)后(hou)(hou)(hou)的(de)(de)病(bing)有(you)關,綜合(he)起來就是(shi)治太(tai)后(hou)(hou)(hou)的(de)(de)病(bing)要去東方(fang)海邊的(de)(de)某個產(chan)鹽的(de)(de)地方(fang)。宜(yi)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)就派專(zhuan)使按(an)照群(qun)臣商議的(de)(de)結(jie)果,向(xiang)東尋(xun)找(zhao)。最后(hou)(hou)(hou)找(zhao)到(dao)通州(zhou)金(jin)沙(sha)(sha)鹽場,南(nan)山附(fu)近供(gong)奉藥(yao)師(shi)佛(fo)(fo)的(de)(de)僧(seng)(seng)公(gong)(gong)(gong)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)(miao),與神靈傳托夢(meng)頗為(wei)(wei)吻合(he)。得(de)知消息(xi)的(de)(de)太(tai)后(hou)(hou)(hou)因病(bing)不能親臨,遂(sui)命宮女載(zai)以(yi)鳳(feng)冠,代其前(qian)往。地方(fang)州(zhou)府(fu)在僭(jian)公(gong)(gong)(gong)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)(miao)旁邊興(xing)建(jian)寓所,焚(fen)香齋戒,祝(zhu)禱禮拜。不出半月,太(tai)后(hou)(hou)(hou)鳳(feng)體好(hao)轉(zhuan)。宣宗(zong)(zong)(zong)龍顏大喜,為(wei)(wei)感佛(fo)(fo)恩,即(ji)(ji)命內務府(fu)督造藥(yao)師(shi)佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)供(gong)孝(xiao)昭太(tai)后(hou)(hou)(hou)禮敬,又命州(zhou)府(fu)重建(jian)僧(seng)(seng)公(gong)(gong)(gong)廟(miao)(miao)(miao)(miao),更(geng)名(ming)為(wei)(wei)南(nan)山寺,下旨敕(chi)封為(wei)(wei)“藥(yao)師(shi)佛(fo)(fo)道(dao)場”。今存有(you)木梁,上(shang)刻“敕(chi)造藥(yao)師(shi)佛(fo)(fo)道(dao)場”。一時聲(sheng)(sheng)普隆望,雖處遠(yuan)僻(pi),但能來者,無(wu)(wu)論權臣走俗,都紛(fen)紛(fen)求佛(fo)(fo)禮事(shi)。南(nan)山寺遂(sui)承東方(fang)藥(yao)師(shi)之(zhi)凈土,法(fa)(fa)化(hua)群(qun)萌,樂以(yi)濟生。民(min)(min)國二(er)十三年(1934年),有(you)蓮(lian)宗(zong)(zong)(zong)十三祖印(yin)光法(fa)(fa)師(shi)披照金(jin)沙(sha)(sha),南(nan)山寺更(geng)得(de)法(fa)(fa)益(yi)開弘。后(hou)(hou)(hou)華(hua)夏蒙難(nan),南(nan)山寺在兵(bing)荒(huang)之(zhi)中毀之(zhi)殆盡,寺眾流離,僅(jin)存二(er)殿,后(hou)(hou)(hou)作道(dao)觀,即(ji)(ji)是(shi)南(nan)山五帝(di)觀,現(xian)為(wei)(wei)通州(zhou)區文(wen)物保護單(dan)位。
前塵隔海,古(gu)跡飄零。 如(ru)今的(de)(de)南山(shan)寺(si),是在(zai)地(di)方政(zheng)府地(di)大力(li)支(zhi)持下,集(ji)社會各界地(di)鼎力(li)相助,于2006年易地(di)擴建(jian)(jian)后的(de)(de)新寺(si)。新建(jian)(jian)成的(de)(de)南山(shan)寺(si)按叢(cong)林(lin)式寺(si)院設計,主體建(jian)(jian)筑沿中、東(dong)、西軸(zhou)(zhou)線(xian)布局,中軸(zhou)(zhou)線(xian)上依次為影(ying)照(zhao)壁、天王殿(dian)、大雄寶(bao)殿(dian)、放生池,東(dong)軸(zhou)(zhou)線(xian)上依飲為鐘樓、財神殿(dian)
通(tong)州塔、觀音殿(dian)、藥師殿(dian),西(xi)軸線上依次為(wei)帝釋殿(dian)、地藏殿(dian)、翠(cui)微樓等建筑。寺院建筑基(ji)本保持著明(ming)代風格。主(zhu)殿(dian)巍(wei)峨,配(pei)殿(dian)環(huan)繞,廡殿(dian)歇(xie)山(shan)(shan)式屋(wu)頂、明(ming)麗的(de)琉(liu)璃瓦脊、古樸的(de)彩(cai)畫裝飾(shi),顯示出寺院的(de)莊(zhuang)嚴宏偉(wei)。殿(dian)身寬厚(hou)(hou)、臺基(ji)廓大(da),主(zhu)次分明(ming),升降有致。各殿(dian)大(da)木結(jie)構(gou),斗拱形制,構(gou)造精巧,復雜多變,五踩單翅,出檐深(shen)遠,屋(wu)頂吻獸小跑,山(shan)(shan)花(hua)部分采用磚(zhuan)封砌法,整個建筑群既典雅(ya)莊(zhuang)重又莊(zhuang)嚴渾厚(hou)(hou),給人以(yi)強烈的(de)節(jie)奏感和鮮明(ming)的(de)流(liu)動美。
南(nan)山(shan)寺以藥(yao)(yao)師(shi)(shi)(shi)佛(fo)為尊(zun),以琉(liu)(liu)璃(li)凈士為宗,力倡東(dong)方藥(yao)(yao)師(shi)(shi)(shi)佛(fo)琉(liu)(liu)璃(li)凈土法(fa)(fa)門(men),朝唱行(xing)持(chi),暮(mu)思恒守。秉持(chi)“人(ren)間佛(fo)教”的理(li)念,依(yi)止 《藥(yao)(yao)師(shi)(shi)(shi)琉(liu)(liu)璃(li)光如來本(ben)愿功(gong)德經》中(zhong)“一聞(wen)其名號,眾(zhong)病悉除,身心安樂,資(zi)生具足(zu),乃(nai)至菩提”的宏(hong)愿,多次(ci)舉行(xing)藥(yao)(yao)師(shi)(shi)(shi)法(fa)(fa)會,明經之(zhi)(zhi)義諦,循世之(zhi)(zhi)和諧,大力弘揚(yang)現生利益,兼容并收各(ge)家之(zhi)(zhi)優長(chang),氣象日昌,山(shan)門(men)大有(you)中(zhong)興(xing)之(zhi)(zhi)勢(shi)。其影響廣及長(chang)三角乃(nai)至海外四(si)眾(zhong)弟子,咸皆景仰。中(zhong)國佛(fo)教協(xie)會會長(chang)傳(chuan)印法(fa)(fa)師(shi)(shi)(shi)欣然題詞“藥(yao)(yao)師(shi)(shi)(shi)佛(fo)道場,咫尺東(dong)天,東(dong)方琉(liu)(liu)璃(li)世界”,并要求(qiu)南(nan)山(shan)寺重(zhong)點打造(zao)藥(yao)(yao)師(shi)(shi)(shi)佛(fo)道場,堅持(chi)人(ren)間佛(fo)教思想(xiang),弘揚(yang)藥(yao)(yao)師(shi)(shi)(shi)佛(fo)文化(hua),利益群(qun)生。