蘇州定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)位于古(gu)城(cheng)蘇州鳳(feng)凰街定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)巷(xiang),環境幽靜(jing),自古(gu)以(yi)來名人(ren)薈(hui)萃,有著深(shen)(shen)厚(hou)的(de)(de)(de)文(wen)化底蘊,大(da)雄寶殿前兩棵古(gu)老的(de)(de)(de)銀杏樹(shu)默記著定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)的(de)(de)(de)蒼(cang)桑變遷。世紀之(zhi)交,定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)又(you)翻開了新(xin)(xin)的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)頁,在(zai)政府和佛教界各方人(ren)士的(de)(de)(de)大(da)力支持下,以(yi)嶄新(xin)(xin)的(de)(de)(de)面貌展現(xian)于世人(ren)面前。今天的(de)(de)(de)定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si),西依鳳(feng)凰街,車(che)水馬龍(long),一(yi)(yi)派現(xian)代(dai)氣息(xi);東(dong)鄰蘇公(gong)弄,曲徑幽深(shen)(shen),唐宋古(gu)韻猶存。山(shan)門前的(de)(de)(de)定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)巷(xiang),巷(xiang)因寺(si)而(er)得名。巷(xiang)內的(de)(de)(de)人(ren)們每日伴著定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)的(de)(de)(de)晨鐘暮鼓,作息(xi)起居(ju),雖身處鬧市(shi),卻是難得的(de)(de)(de)怡然恬靜(jing)。在(zai)這方水土,定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)猶如一(yi)(yi)位禪僧,帶著唐宋遺(yi)風(feng),向(xiang)我們走(zou)來,走(zou)進我們的(de)(de)(de)生活和心(xin)靈,帶給我們平和與安詳。
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)(ding)慧(hui)寺(si),便可深(shen)深(shen)感(gan)觸(chu)到姑蘇(su)歷(li)史(shi)脈(mo)搏的跳動;品(pin)味定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)寺(si),方可知蘇(su)州不(bu)愧(kui)是(shi)一座歷(li)史(shi)文化名城。元朝時(shi)期,定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)禪(chan)院再(zai)次被毀壞,明洪武(wu)年(nian)(nian)間(1368-1398)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu),明正統時(shi)(1436-1449),蘇(su)州郡守況鐘重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)了大殿(dian),并改(gai)定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)禪(chan)院?quot;定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)禪(chan)寺(si)"。清康熙年(nian)(nian)間(1662-1722),里人唐(tang)堯仁出資重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)了大雄寶殿(dian)、觀音殿(dian)及彌勒殿(dian)。道光(guang)元年(nian)(nian)(1821)里人胡珽(ting)再(zai)次重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)。然到了咸豐時(shi)期,內憂不(bu)止,外患頻仍,定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)禪(chan)寺(si)再(zai)一次毀于(yu)戰火。同治(zhi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(1864),本修(xiu)(xiu)法師募(mu)資重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)建,民國十五年(nian)(nian)(1926)僧(seng)靈馨募(mu)資重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu),定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)寺(si)才得以遺(yi)存(cun)至今。但后經戰亂(luan),定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)寺(si)又(you)遭劫(jie)難,大部份建筑毀于(yu)一旦,僅存(cun)山門、天王(wang)殿(dian)和大雄寶殿(dian),且均(jun)已殘破(po)不(bu)堪(kan)。1958年(nian)(nian)定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)寺(si)被蘇(su)州市第七塑(su)料廠占(zhan)用為廠房(fang)至今,唐(tang)宋(song)遺(yi)風已蕩然無(wu)存(cun),古(gu)寺(si)建筑也受到不(bu)同程度的破(po)壞。
唐(tang)咸通間為盛楚所創般若院(yuan)子院(yuan),五代吳越錢氏時仍屬羅漢院(yuan),北宋(song)雍熙(xi)(xi)間稱西方院(yuan),大(da)中祥(xiang)符間賜(si)額定慧禪(chan)寺,才與壽寧萬(wan)歲禪(chan)院(yuan)(雙塔寺)分為兩寺。元末毀于兵火。明洪武中僧(seng)澤(ze)藏(zang)山、景新(xin)、惠(hui)澤(ze),永樂中僧(seng)凈因(yin),先(xian)后重建(jian)(jian)。宣德九年(nian)(1434年(nian))得知府況鐘捐(juan)助,正統二年(nian)(1437年(nian))重建(jian)(jian)大(da)雄寶殿(dian)。清康熙(xi)(xi)初漸(jian)形傾圮,十(shi)一年(nian)(1672年(nian))僧(seng)大(da)休駐錫(xi),里人(ren)唐(tang)堯仁(ren)捐(juan)資(zi)重建(jian)(jian)觀音殿(dian),重修(xiu)(xiu)大(da)殿(dian)、彌勒殿(dian)。道(dao)光間殿(dian)宇失(shi)修(xiu)(xiu),十(shi)六(liu)年(nian)(1836年(nian))邑人(ren)顧沅等集(ji)資(zi)修(xiu)(xiu)葺。咸豐十(shi)年(nian)(1860年(nian))至(zhi)同(tong)(tong)治二年(nian)(1863年(nian)),因(yin)戰(zhan)爭被毀。同(tong)(tong)治三年(nian)僧(seng)本修(xiu)(xiu)師(shi)徒相繼募(mu)修(xiu)(xiu)地藏(zang)、天(tian)王各殿(dian)。1926年(nian)僧(seng)靈馨(xin)募(mu)修(xiu)(xiu)。