蘇(su)(su)州(zhou)定慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)位(wei)于(yu)古(gu)(gu)城蘇(su)(su)州(zhou)鳳凰街定慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)巷,環(huan)境幽靜,自古(gu)(gu)以來名人薈(hui)萃,有著(zhu)深厚(hou)的(de)(de)文化底蘊,大雄寶(bao)殿前(qian)(qian)兩棵古(gu)(gu)老的(de)(de)銀杏樹(shu)默(mo)記(ji)著(zhu)定慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)的(de)(de)蒼桑變遷。世紀之交,定慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)又翻開了(le)新(xin)(xin)的(de)(de)一頁(ye),在政(zheng)府(fu)和(he)(he)佛(fo)教界各方人士的(de)(de)大力支持(chi)下,以嶄新(xin)(xin)的(de)(de)面貌展現于(yu)世人面前(qian)(qian)。今(jin)天的(de)(de)定慧(hui)(hui)寺(si),西依鳳凰街,車(che)水馬龍(long),一派(pai)現代氣息;東鄰蘇(su)(su)公弄,曲徑幽深,唐(tang)宋(song)古(gu)(gu)韻猶存。山(shan)門(men)前(qian)(qian)的(de)(de)定慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)巷,巷因寺(si)而得名。巷內的(de)(de)人們每日(ri)伴著(zhu)定慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)的(de)(de)晨鐘暮鼓(gu),作息起(qi)居,雖身處鬧市,卻(que)是(shi)難得的(de)(de)怡然恬靜。在這(zhe)方水土,定慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)猶如一位(wei)禪僧,帶(dai)著(zhu)唐(tang)宋(song)遺風(feng),向我(wo)們走來,走進我(wo)們的(de)(de)生活和(he)(he)心靈,帶(dai)給我(wo)們平(ping)和(he)(he)與安詳(xiang)。
定慧寺現存清代山門、天王殿、大殿等建筑,坐北朝南。大殿為單檐歇山造,面闊三間19米,進深18米,高約12米。四周檐柱均為抹角石柱,檐下布列象鼻昂楓拱十字牌科。梁架扁作,結構完整。殿前古銀杏兩株并峙,樹齡200余年,夏日濃蔭如幄。1991年冬,大殿曾進行修繕。
走近定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si),便可深(shen)(shen)深(shen)(shen)感觸到姑蘇(su)歷史(shi)脈搏的跳動;品味定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si),方可知蘇(su)州(zhou)(zhou)不(bu)愧是(shi)一座歷史(shi)文(wen)化名城。元(yuan)朝時(shi)(shi)期,定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)禪院再(zai)次(ci)被毀(hui)壞,明(ming)洪武年(nian)(nian)間(1368-1398)重修,明(ming)正(zheng)統時(shi)(shi)(1436-1449),蘇(su)州(zhou)(zhou)郡守況鐘重修了大(da)(da)殿(dian),并改(gai)定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)禪院?quot;定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)禪寺(si)"。清康熙年(nian)(nian)間(1662-1722),里人(ren)唐(tang)堯(yao)仁(ren)出(chu)資重修了大(da)(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)、觀音殿(dian)及(ji)彌勒(le)殿(dian)。道光(guang)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(1821)里人(ren)胡珽再(zai)次(ci)重修。然到了咸豐時(shi)(shi)期,內憂不(bu)止,外患頻仍,定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)禪寺(si)再(zai)一次(ci)毀(hui)于戰(zhan)火(huo)。同治三年(nian)(nian)(1864),本(ben)修法(fa)師(shi)募資重建,民國十五年(nian)(nian)(1926)僧靈(ling)馨募資重修,定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)才得以遺存至(zhi)今。但后經戰(zhan)亂,定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)又遭劫(jie)難(nan),大(da)(da)部份(fen)建筑毀(hui)于一旦,僅存山門(men)、天王殿(dian)和大(da)(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian),且均已(yi)殘(can)破(po)(po)不(bu)堪。1958年(nian)(nian)定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)被蘇(su)州(zhou)(zhou)市第七塑料廠(chang)占用(yong)為廠(chang)房(fang)至(zhi)今,唐(tang)宋遺風已(yi)蕩然無(wu)存,古(gu)寺(si)建筑也受到不(bu)同程度的破(po)(po)壞。
唐(tang)咸(xian)通間(jian)(jian)為(wei)盛楚所(suo)創(chuang)般(ban)若(ruo)院(yuan)子院(yuan),五代吳越錢(qian)氏時仍(reng)屬羅漢院(yuan),北宋雍熙間(jian)(jian)稱西方院(yuan),大中祥符間(jian)(jian)賜(si)額(e)定慧禪寺,才與壽寧萬歲禪院(yuan)(雙塔寺)分為(wei)兩寺。元末毀于兵火。明洪武中僧(seng)(seng)澤藏山、景新、惠澤,永(yong)樂中僧(seng)(seng)凈因,先后(hou)重建(jian)。宣德九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1434年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))得知府況鐘捐(juan)(juan)助,正統(tong)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1437年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))重建(jian)大雄(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)。清康(kang)熙初漸形傾圮,十(shi)(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1672年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)(seng)大休駐錫(xi),里人(ren)唐(tang)堯仁捐(juan)(juan)資重建(jian)觀(guan)音(yin)殿(dian)(dian)(dian),重修(xiu)大殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、彌勒殿(dian)(dian)(dian)。道光間(jian)(jian)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)宇失修(xiu),十(shi)(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1836年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))邑人(ren)顧(gu)沅等集資修(xiu)葺。咸(xian)豐十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至同治(zhi)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),因戰爭被毀。同治(zhi)三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)僧(seng)(seng)本修(xiu)師徒相繼募修(xiu)地藏、天王各殿(dian)(dian)(dian)。1926年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)僧(seng)(seng)靈(ling)馨募修(xiu)。