小(xiao)九華(hua)寺(si)坐落在風(feng)景(jing)秀麗的鶯脰湖(hu)(hu)(hu)畔,四周環水,只(zhi)有一(yi)座偉岸(an)挺(ting)拔的安(an)德橋相連。過去在小(xiao)九華(hua)寺(si)對(dui)面(mian)還有一(yi)座美麗的暮(mu)(mu)虹橋做(zuo)伴。紅墻碧波(bo)、晨鼓暮(mu)(mu)鐘、櫓聲梵音不絕于耳,不失為(wei)一(yi)塊佛教寶地。小(xiao)九華(hua)寺(si)面(mian)對(dui)鶯湖(hu)(hu)(hu),鶯湖(hu)(hu)(hu)是(shi)杭嘉一(yi)帶的名(ming)湖(hu)(hu)(hu),它(ta)與嘉興南湖(hu)(hu)(hu)、杭州西(xi)湖(hu)(hu)(hu)齊名(ming)。曾引來不少文(wen)人(ren)雅(ya)士(shi)吟詩作畫(hua),如(ru)白居易、李(li)白、楊萬(wan)里、陸龜蒙都留下(xia)膾炙人(ren)口的詩篇。“小(xiao)紅吹簫(xiao)工唱歌”,就(jiu)是(shi)在這一(yi)帶留下(xia)的名(ming)句。《水滸傳》、《醒世恒言》等名(ming)著都有此湖(hu)(hu)(hu)的記述。如(ru)今小(xiao)九華(hua)寺(si)已(yi)破土重(zhong)建,大雄寶殿現(xian)已(yi)開放。
大(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)飛(fei)檐翹首,黛瓦粉(fen)墻,巍峨(e)壯(zhuang)觀。趙樸(pu)初書題(ti)的“大(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)”,金(jin)(jin)光閃耀,高懸(xuan)于(yu)正門上(shang)空,題(ti)詞神(shen)完氣足,實為大(da)家手(shou)筆。殿(dian)正中(zhong)(zhong)供奉(feng)釋迦牟尼像(xiang),旁邊是(shi)(shi)迦葉、阿難(nan)尊者侍立像(xiang)。侍立像(xiang)左右分(fen)別是(shi)(shi)阿彌陀佛(fo)(fo)和(he)藥(yao)師佛(fo)(fo),妙相(xiang)莊(zhuang)嚴(yan)、工藝精巧。三(san)尊佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)面容豐腴飽滿(man)、神(shen)態溫柔(rou)敦厚、慈容善目、沉靜端莊(zhuang)。檀香木(mu)佛(fo)(fo)體裝金(jin)(jin)重(zhong)(zhong)彩,佛(fo)(fo)光垂照。大(da)殿(dian)兩(liang)(liang)側(ce)則是(shi)(shi)形(xing)態各異、栩(xu)栩(xu)如生(sheng)的十八羅漢(han)像(xiang),神(shen)情舉止古(gu)拙、匠心獨具、莊(zhuang)嚴(yan)凝(ning)重(zhong)(zhong)。釋迦牟尼佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)的背后安座著海(hai)島觀音、文殊、普賢菩(pu)薩等佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)。大(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)的東面是(shi)(shi)三(san)圣(sheng)殿(dian),西方(fang)三(san)圣(sheng)佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)裝金(jin)(jin)罩漆。大(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)前東側(ce)是(shi)(shi)觀音殿(dian),該殿(dian)雙(shuang)重(zhong)(zhong)疊檐,兩(liang)(liang)層(ceng),上(shang)下(xia)(xia)各五間。下(xia)(xia)層(ceng)三(san)間為主殿(dian)堂,內塑木(mu)質(zhi)圣(sheng)觀音菩(pu)薩坐姿像(xiang),結跏趺坐,手(shou)持甘(gan)露瓶(ping),神(shen)態慈祥。與觀音殿(dian)相(xiang)對(dui)應的是(shi)(shi)地藏(zang)殿(dian),該殿(dian)上(shang)下(xia)(xia)兩(liang)(liang)層(ceng),雙(shuang)檐式建筑,下(xia)(xia)層(ceng)中(zhong)(zhong)間主殿(dian)內塑地藏(zang)菩(pu)薩像(xiang),頭帶毗盧冠,身披袈裟,結跏趺坐,雙(shuang)手(shou)持寶(bao)珠,法像(xiang)莊(zhuang)嚴(yan)。鐘、鼓兩(liang)(liang)樓位(wei)于(yu)天(tian)王殿(dian)后兩(liang)(liang)側(ce)。
小九(jiu)華寺(si),據(ju)傳是地(di)(di)藏(zang)王(wang)(wang)菩(pu)薩(sa)不斷(duan)在這(zhe)里顯示圣(sheng)跡,錫(xi)井(jing)涌泉,頻頻靈驗。位(wei)于大(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶殿后(hou)的(de)“地(di)(di)藏(zang)泉井(jing)”為寺(si)內一寶。井(jing)口(kou)為六邊形,井(jing)深10余(yu)米。明(ming)萬(wan)歷(li)年(nian)間,小九(jiu)華寺(si)大(da)(da)規模(mo)擴建,并(bing)興建地(di)(di)藏(zang)閣。地(di)(di)藏(zang)王(wang)(wang)菩(pu)薩(sa)在空中顯靈,用杖杵地(di)(di),突(tu)涌泉水,其(qi)水甘甜(tian),被后(hou)人稱(cheng)為“地(di)(di)藏(zang)泉井(jing)”。在井(jing)的(de)東邊,有一棵(ke)樹高(gao)丈余(yu),莖如碗(wan)口(kou),枝葉茂盛(sheng)的(de)桂花(hua)樹,這(zhe)就(jiu)是當年(nian)太(tai)虛(xu)大(da)(da)師到(dao)小九(jiu)華寺(si)出家時親手栽下(xia)的(de)。這(zhe)棵(ke)樹,自太(tai)虛(xu)大(da)(da)師栽植后(hou),一直默默生長(chang),數(shu)年(nian)后(hou),花(hua)開(kai)芬芳。每(mei)逢八月(yue),信眾和游客來到(dao)小九(jiu)華寺(si)院,就(jiu)會(hui)聞到(dao)滿院的(de)桂花(hua)香。為紀念太(tai)虛(xu)大(da)(da)師在此出家植樹,現(xian)寺(si)院已(yi)將(jiang)此樹圍欄,以供觀賞。
小九華(hua)寺又名九華(hua)禪院,原(yuan)名東(dong)岳廟。
小九(jiu)華(hua)寺建(jian)于明萬歷(li)四(si)十(shi)四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1685年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))里人吳國(guo)(guo)忠偕僧(seng)通運募建(jian)后殿(dian)(dian)(dian),奉祀幽冥教主(即地藏(zang)王菩薩,故(gu)俗稱地藏(zang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)),并鑄爐于庭中(zhong)(zhong)。康熙四(si)十(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1704年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))國(guo)(guo)忠子昌(chang)運偕僧(seng)朗涵(han)募建(jian)大士殿(dian)(dian)(dian)。乾隆四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1738年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))建(jian)關帝殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、劉公祠。乾隆五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1740年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))監院僧(seng)蘊山(shan)建(jian)山(shan)門(men)、客(ke)堂、齋堂、廚(chu)房等。乾隆十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)被毀。光(guang)(guang)緒(xu)四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1878年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))游(you)方僧(seng)永(yong)緣、蓮(lian)堂重(zhong)建(jian)山(shan)門(men)五間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),光(guang)(guang)緒(xu)八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1882年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)蓮(lian)覺(jue)蓮(lian)常建(jian)東客(ke)堂三(san)間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)。光(guang)(guang)緒(xu)九(jiu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1883年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))建(jian)西客(ke)三(san)間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)。光(guang)(guang)緒(xu)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1884年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))筑東圍墻,建(jian)方丈室三(san)間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),光(guang)(guang)緒(xu)十(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1885年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))建(jian)觀音殿(dian)(dian)(dian)五間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)。史料中(zhong)(zhong)的平望小九(jiu)華(hua)寺規(gui)模尚可,廟內香火特盛,每年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)農(nong)歷(li)七(qi)月一日至(zhi)十(shi)月一日,遠近香客(ke)畢集、游(you)人紛至(zhi)沓(ta)來,香市盛極一時社會影響極大,在周邊地區形成一定轟動效益(yi),名揚國(guo)(guo)內,流(liu)傳東南亞,文人墨(mo)客(ke)游(you)蹤不絕,留下甚多(duo)吟詠絕句及書畫墨(mo)寶。
清朝道光(guang)年(nian)間(jian)《平望志》上記載:明萬(wan)歷(li)年(nian)四十(shi)年(nian)(1616)建,是(shi)為了紀念(nian)地藏(zang)菩薩。當時規模宏大(da),設有大(da)士(shi)殿、藥師殿、劉(liu)工(gong)祠及山門、客房、齋堂、廚房,一(yi)應俱(ju)全(quan),飛檐(yan)翹角,殿宇重重,頂膜禮拜的人(ren)蜂擁(yong)于此,是(shi)當時江南的一(yi)座名(ming)剎(cha)。
歲月(yue)悠悠、滄桑巨變,名(ming)寺(si)古剎(cha),經受歷史(shi)風云。1949年改為平望糧管所,1970年改建面粉廠,原先廟(miao)宇建筑改作它用(yong),面目全非。所幸至今寺(si)中遺址上尚存(cun)一棵桂花(hua)樹、一棵黃楊樹和一口古井,作為物證,留下了歷史(shi)的回憶。