“南(nan)山新雨后,海側青崖舟(zhou)。燎煙結(jie)古(gu)寺(si)(si),石(shi)塔鳴鐘樓。浪回金沙(sha)岸(an),潮(chao)起馥雪鷗。月闌(lan)日光嶼,總是琉璃洲。”據傳,這是明代文(wen)學家沈環在江蘇通(tong)州(zhou)南(nan)山寺(si)(si)游歷時的(de)散作。雖(sui)是寥寥數語,卻(que)留(liu)下了400多年前南(nan)山寺(si)(si)的(de)大致輪(lun)廓。始建于明代的(de)通(tong)州(zhou)南(nan)山寺(si)(si),濱江臨海,位于古(gu)來(lai)盛產海鹽水產、豐饒
富庶的(de)(de)(de)通(tong)州主城區金(jin)(jin)(jin)沙(sha)(sha)(sha),至今已有(you)600多(duo)年(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)(de)歷史(shi)。南(nan)(nan)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)所(suo)(suo)處(chu)金(jin)(jin)(jin)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)本(ben)名古沙(sha)(sha)(sha),南(nan)(nan)唐(tang)徐復治海陵(ling)鹽政時,見亭(ting)戶(hu)以(yi)鹵煎鹽, 感喟而(er)嘆日:“此(ci)金(jin)(jin)(jin)也。 因(yin)海鹽是(shi)當時財(cai)賦的(de)(de)(de)主要源(yuan)泉,北宋初年(nian)(nian)即有(you)金(jin)(jin)(jin)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)亭(ting)之(zhi)(zhi)設,后(hou)(hou)(hou)改為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)金(jin)(jin)(jin)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)場。南(nan)(nan)山(shan)(shan)本(ben)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)洲石壘(lei)高丘(qiu),初無(wu)寺(si)廟(miao)。至宋元兵(bing)連禍結(jie),有(you)佚(yi)名僧(seng)(seng)人至此(ci)避亂,始建(jian)一小廟(miao),人稱(cheng)(cheng)僧(seng)(seng)公(gong)廟(miao)(或(huo)諧(xie)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)孫(sun)公(gong)廟(miao)、申(shen)公(gong)廟(miao))。因(yin)金(jin)(jin)(jin)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)地(di)處(chu)荒僻,競無(wu)人識得廟(miao)內所(suo)(suo)供(gong)奉的(de)(de)(de)法像,問于僧(seng)(seng)公(gong),只稱(cheng)(cheng)藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)師。于是(shi),此(ci)地(di)居民或(huo)有(you)疑癥(zheng)(zheng),都到(dao)僧(seng)(seng)公(gong)廟(miao)祝(zhu)禱(dao)(dao)求(qiu)醫,屢得感應,滿其(qi)所(suo)(suo)愿,聲名遂(sui)遠。另據地(di)方(fang)(fang)志籍所(suo)(suo)載(zai),有(you)一年(nian)(nian),明(ming)孝昭太(tai)(tai)后(hou)(hou)(hou)突發急癥(zheng)(zheng),沉疴數月(yue)而(er)不見好轉。一天,夜夢神靈現身,光焰(yan)熾盛(sheng),傳(chuan)語太(tai)(tai)后(hou)(hou)(hou):“金(jin)(jin)(jin)澤東方(fang)(fang),沙(sha)(sha)(sha)隱琉璃,附日而(er)出,藉藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)尊。”明(ming)宜宗(zong)(zong)聞言,召集百官階前(qian)議事(shi),眾(zhong)議紛(fen)(fen)紛(fen)(fen),都認為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)與太(tai)(tai)后(hou)(hou)(hou)的(de)(de)(de)病(bing)有(you)關,綜(zong)合(he)起來(lai)就是(shi)治太(tai)(tai)后(hou)(hou)(hou)的(de)(de)(de)病(bing)要去東方(fang)(fang)海邊(bian)的(de)(de)(de)某個產鹽的(de)(de)(de)地(di)方(fang)(fang)。宜宗(zong)(zong)就派專使(shi)按照群臣商(shang)議的(de)(de)(de)結(jie)果,向東尋找。最(zui)后(hou)(hou)(hou)找到(dao)通(tong)州金(jin)(jin)(jin)沙(sha)(sha)(sha)鹽場,南(nan)(nan)山(shan)(shan)附近供(gong)奉藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)師佛的(de)(de)(de)僧(seng)(seng)公(gong)廟(miao),與神靈傳(chuan)托夢頗(po)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)吻合(he)。得知(zhi)消(xiao)息的(de)(de)(de)太(tai)(tai)后(hou)(hou)(hou)因(yin)病(bing)不能親臨,遂(sui)命(ming)宮女載(zai)以(yi)鳳(feng)冠,代其(qi)前(qian)往。地(di)方(fang)(fang)州府在僭公(gong)廟(miao)旁邊(bian)興建(jian)寓所(suo)(suo),焚香齋戒,祝(zhu)禱(dao)(dao)禮(li)拜。不出半月(yue),太(tai)(tai)后(hou)(hou)(hou)鳳(feng)體好轉。宣宗(zong)(zong)龍顏(yan)大喜,為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)感佛恩,即命(ming)內務府督造藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)師佛像供(gong)孝昭太(tai)(tai)后(hou)(hou)(hou)禮(li)敬(jing),又命(ming)州府重(zhong)建(jian)僧(seng)(seng)公(gong)廟(miao),更名為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)南(nan)(nan)山(shan)(shan)寺(si),下旨敕封為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)“藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)師佛道(dao)場”。今存有(you)木梁,上刻(ke)“敕造藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)師佛道(dao)場”。一時聲普隆望(wang),雖處(chu)遠僻,但能來(lai)者,無(wu)論權臣走俗(su),都紛(fen)(fen)紛(fen)(fen)求(qiu)佛禮(li)事(shi)。南(nan)(nan)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)遂(sui)承東方(fang)(fang)藥(yao)(yao)(yao)(yao)師之(zhi)(zhi)凈土,法化(hua)群萌,樂(le)以(yi)濟生。民國二(er)十三(san)(san)年(nian)(nian)(1934年(nian)(nian)),有(you)蓮宗(zong)(zong)十三(san)(san)祖印光法師披(pi)照金(jin)(jin)(jin)沙(sha)(sha)(sha),南(nan)(nan)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)更得法益(yi)開弘。后(hou)(hou)(hou)華夏(xia)蒙(meng)難(nan),南(nan)(nan)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)在兵(bing)荒之(zhi)(zhi)中毀之(zhi)(zhi)殆盡,寺(si)眾(zhong)流(liu)離,僅存二(er)殿,后(hou)(hou)(hou)作道(dao)觀,即是(shi)南(nan)(nan)山(shan)(shan)五帝觀,現為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)通(tong)州區文(wen)物保護單位。
前塵隔海,古跡飄零。 如今的南山寺(si),是(shi)在地方(fang)政(zheng)府(fu)地大力支持下,集社會各界(jie)地鼎力相(xiang)助(zhu),于(yu)2006年易(yi)地擴建后的新寺(si)。新建成的南山寺(si)按叢林式寺(si)院設(she)計,主體(ti)建筑沿(yan)中、東(dong)、西軸(zhou)線(xian)布局,中軸(zhou)線(xian)上(shang)依(yi)次為影照壁(bi)、天(tian)王殿、大雄寶殿、放生池(chi),東(dong)軸(zhou)線(xian)上(shang)依(yi)飲為鐘(zhong)樓、財神殿
通州塔、觀音殿(dian)(dian)、藥師(shi)殿(dian)(dian),西(xi)軸線(xian)上(shang)依次為帝釋殿(dian)(dian)、地藏殿(dian)(dian)、翠微樓等建(jian)筑。寺(si)院(yuan)建(jian)筑基本保(bao)持著明(ming)代風格。主殿(dian)(dian)巍(wei)峨,配殿(dian)(dian)環繞,廡殿(dian)(dian)歇山式屋(wu)頂(ding)、明(ming)麗的琉璃瓦(wa)脊(ji)、古樸的彩畫裝飾,顯示出寺(si)院(yuan)的莊(zhuang)(zhuang)嚴宏偉。殿(dian)(dian)身寬厚、臺基廓大,主次分明(ming),升降有致。各(ge)殿(dian)(dian)大木結(jie)構(gou),斗拱形制,構(gou)造精巧,復雜多變,五(wu)踩單翅,出檐深遠,屋(wu)頂(ding)吻獸小跑(pao),山花部分采用(yong)磚封砌法,整個建(jian)筑群(qun)既(ji)典雅莊(zhuang)(zhuang)重又莊(zhuang)(zhuang)嚴渾厚,給人以強(qiang)烈的節奏感(gan)和鮮(xian)明(ming)的流(liu)動美。
南山寺(si)以(yi)藥師(shi)(shi)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)為尊(zun),以(yi)琉璃(li)(li)凈(jing)士為宗,力倡東(dong)(dong)方藥師(shi)(shi)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)琉璃(li)(li)凈(jing)土法門(men),朝唱行持,暮思恒守。秉持“人間佛(fo)(fo)(fo)教(jiao)”的理念,依(yi)止 《藥師(shi)(shi)琉璃(li)(li)光如(ru)來(lai)本愿功德經(jing)》中“一聞其(qi)名號,眾(zhong)病悉(xi)除,身心安樂,資(zi)生(sheng)具足,乃(nai)至菩(pu)提”的宏愿,多(duo)次舉行藥師(shi)(shi)法會,明經(jing)之(zhi)義諦,循世(shi)之(zhi)和諧(xie),大(da)力弘(hong)揚(yang)(yang)現生(sheng)利益(yi)(yi),兼(jian)容并(bing)收各家之(zhi)優長,氣象日昌,山門(men)大(da)有中興之(zhi)勢。其(qi)影響(xiang)廣及(ji)長三(san)角乃(nai)至海外四(si)眾(zhong)弟(di)子(zi),咸皆景仰。中國佛(fo)(fo)(fo)教(jiao)協會會長傳(chuan)印法師(shi)(shi)欣然題詞“藥師(shi)(shi)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)道場,咫尺東(dong)(dong)天,東(dong)(dong)方琉璃(li)(li)世(shi)界(jie)”,并(bing)要求(qiu)南山寺(si)重點打造藥師(shi)(shi)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)道場,堅持人間佛(fo)(fo)(fo)教(jiao)思想,弘(hong)揚(yang)(yang)藥師(shi)(shi)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)文化,利益(yi)(yi)群(qun)生(sheng)。