小九華(hua)寺坐落(luo)在風景秀麗的(de)鶯脰湖畔,四周(zhou)環水,只有(you)一(yi)座偉岸挺拔的(de)安(an)德橋(qiao)相連。過去在小九華(hua)寺對面(mian)還(huan)有(you)一(yi)座美(mei)麗的(de)暮虹橋(qiao)做(zuo)伴。紅墻碧(bi)波、晨鼓暮鐘、櫓聲梵音不(bu)絕于耳,不(bu)失為一(yi)塊佛教寶地。小九華(hua)寺面(mian)對鶯湖,鶯湖是(shi)(shi)杭嘉一(yi)帶(dai)的(de)名(ming)湖,它與嘉興南湖、杭州(zhou)西湖齊名(ming)。曾引來(lai)不(bu)少(shao)文人雅(ya)士吟詩作畫(hua),如(ru)(ru)白居易、李白、楊萬里(li)、陸龜(gui)蒙都(dou)留下膾(kuai)炙人口(kou)的(de)詩篇。“小紅吹簫工唱歌”,就是(shi)(shi)在這一(yi)帶(dai)留下的(de)名(ming)句。《水滸傳》、《醒世(shi)恒(heng)言(yan)》等名(ming)著都(dou)有(you)此湖的(de)記述。如(ru)(ru)今小九華(hua)寺已破土重建,大雄寶殿(dian)現已開放。
大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)飛檐翹首(shou),黛(dai)瓦粉墻,巍峨壯觀(guan)。趙(zhao)樸初書題的(de)(de)“大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)”,金光閃耀,高懸(xuan)于正(zheng)門上空,題詞神(shen)(shen)完氣足,實為(wei)(wei)大(da)家手筆(bi)。殿(dian)(dian)正(zheng)中供奉(feng)釋迦牟尼(ni)像(xiang)(xiang),旁邊(bian)是(shi)(shi)迦葉、阿難尊(zun)者侍(shi)立像(xiang)(xiang)。侍(shi)立像(xiang)(xiang)左右分別(bie)是(shi)(shi)阿彌陀佛和藥師佛,妙(miao)相(xiang)(xiang)莊(zhuang)嚴(yan)(yan)、工藝精巧。三尊(zun)佛像(xiang)(xiang)面(mian)容豐(feng)腴飽滿、神(shen)(shen)態溫柔敦(dun)厚、慈容善(shan)目、沉(chen)靜端莊(zhuang)。檀香木佛體裝金重(zhong)彩,佛光垂照。大(da)殿(dian)(dian)兩(liang)側(ce)則是(shi)(shi)形(xing)態各異、栩栩如生的(de)(de)十八羅漢像(xiang)(xiang),神(shen)(shen)情(qing)舉止古拙、匠心獨具、莊(zhuang)嚴(yan)(yan)凝重(zhong)。釋迦牟尼(ni)佛像(xiang)(xiang)的(de)(de)背后安座著海(hai)島(dao)觀(guan)音(yin)(yin)、文殊、普賢菩薩等佛像(xiang)(xiang)。大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)的(de)(de)東面(mian)是(shi)(shi)三圣殿(dian)(dian),西方三圣佛像(xiang)(xiang)裝金罩漆。大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)前東側(ce)是(shi)(shi)觀(guan)音(yin)(yin)殿(dian)(dian),該殿(dian)(dian)雙(shuang)重(zhong)疊檐,兩(liang)層,上下各五間(jian)(jian)。下層三間(jian)(jian)為(wei)(wei)主殿(dian)(dian)堂,內(nei)(nei)塑木質圣觀(guan)音(yin)(yin)菩薩坐姿(zi)像(xiang)(xiang),結跏趺坐,手持甘(gan)露瓶,神(shen)(shen)態慈祥。與(yu)觀(guan)音(yin)(yin)殿(dian)(dian)相(xiang)(xiang)對應的(de)(de)是(shi)(shi)地藏殿(dian)(dian),該殿(dian)(dian)上下兩(liang)層,雙(shuang)檐式建筑(zhu),下層中間(jian)(jian)主殿(dian)(dian)內(nei)(nei)塑地藏菩薩像(xiang)(xiang),頭(tou)帶毗盧冠,身(shen)披袈(jia)裟(sha),結跏趺坐,雙(shuang)手持寶珠,法像(xiang)(xiang)莊(zhuang)嚴(yan)(yan)。鐘、鼓兩(liang)樓(lou)位于天(tian)王殿(dian)(dian)后兩(liang)側(ce)。
小九華(hua)寺(si)(si),據傳是(shi)地(di)(di)藏(zang)王(wang)菩薩不斷(duan)在(zai)這(zhe)里(li)顯示圣跡,錫(xi)井(jing)(jing)(jing)涌泉(quan),頻頻靈(ling)驗(yan)。位于大雄寶(bao)(bao)殿(dian)后的“地(di)(di)藏(zang)泉(quan)井(jing)(jing)(jing)”為(wei)(wei)寺(si)(si)內一寶(bao)(bao)。井(jing)(jing)(jing)口為(wei)(wei)六邊(bian)形,井(jing)(jing)(jing)深10余米。明萬歷(li)年間,小九華(hua)寺(si)(si)大規(gui)模擴建,并興建地(di)(di)藏(zang)閣。地(di)(di)藏(zang)王(wang)菩薩在(zai)空(kong)中顯靈(ling),用杖杵地(di)(di),突涌泉(quan)水,其水甘甜,被后人稱(cheng)為(wei)(wei)“地(di)(di)藏(zang)泉(quan)井(jing)(jing)(jing)”。在(zai)井(jing)(jing)(jing)的東邊(bian),有一棵樹(shu)高丈(zhang)余,莖如碗(wan)口,枝葉(xie)茂盛的桂花(hua)樹(shu),這(zhe)就(jiu)(jiu)是(shi)當年太(tai)虛(xu)(xu)大師到(dao)小九華(hua)寺(si)(si)出家(jia)時親手栽(zai)下的。這(zhe)棵樹(shu),自太(tai)虛(xu)(xu)大師栽(zai)植后,一直默默生長,數年后,花(hua)開芬芳。每逢八月,信眾和游(you)客來到(dao)小九華(hua)寺(si)(si)院,就(jiu)(jiu)會聞到(dao)滿院的桂花(hua)香(xiang)。為(wei)(wei)紀念太(tai)虛(xu)(xu)大師在(zai)此(ci)(ci)出家(jia)植樹(shu),現寺(si)(si)院已將(jiang)此(ci)(ci)樹(shu)圍(wei)欄,以供觀賞。
小九華(hua)寺又名九華(hua)禪(chan)院,原名東岳廟。
小九(jiu)(jiu)華寺建(jian)(jian)于明萬(wan)歷四(si)十(shi)四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1685年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))里人(ren)(ren)吳國(guo)忠偕僧通運募建(jian)(jian)后殿,奉祀幽冥教主(即地藏王菩薩(sa),故俗稱地藏殿),并鑄爐于庭中(zhong)。康(kang)熙(xi)四(si)十(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1704年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))國(guo)忠子(zi)昌運偕僧朗涵募建(jian)(jian)大士殿。乾(qian)隆四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1738年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))建(jian)(jian)關(guan)帝殿、劉公祠。乾(qian)隆五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1740年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))監(jian)院僧蘊山建(jian)(jian)山門(men)、客堂(tang)、齋(zhai)堂(tang)、廚房等。乾(qian)隆十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)被毀(hui)。光緒(xu)四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1878年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))游方(fang)僧永緣、蓮堂(tang)重建(jian)(jian)山門(men)五間,光緒(xu)八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1882年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧蓮覺蓮常建(jian)(jian)東(dong)(dong)客堂(tang)三(san)間。光緒(xu)九(jiu)(jiu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1883年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))建(jian)(jian)西客三(san)間。光緒(xu)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1884年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))筑東(dong)(dong)圍墻,建(jian)(jian)方(fang)丈(zhang)室三(san)間,光緒(xu)十(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1885年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))建(jian)(jian)觀音殿五間。史(shi)料中(zhong)的平望小九(jiu)(jiu)華寺規模尚可,廟(miao)內香火特盛,每年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)農歷七月一(yi)日(ri)至十(shi)月一(yi)日(ri),遠(yuan)近(jin)香客畢集、游人(ren)(ren)紛至沓來,香市盛極一(yi)時社會影(ying)響極大,在(zai)周(zhou)邊(bian)地區形成一(yi)定轟動效益,名揚國(guo)內,流傳東(dong)(dong)南亞(ya),文人(ren)(ren)墨客游蹤(zong)不絕(jue),留下甚(shen)多吟詠絕(jue)句及(ji)書畫墨寶。
清朝(chao)道光年(nian)間《平望志(zhi)》上記載:明萬(wan)歷年(nian)四十(shi)年(nian)(1616)建,是為了紀念地藏菩薩(sa)。當(dang)時規模宏大,設(she)有(you)大士殿、藥師殿、劉(liu)工祠(ci)及山(shan)門、客房、齋堂、廚房,一應俱全,飛檐翹角,殿宇重(zhong)重(zhong),頂膜禮拜(bai)的(de)人蜂擁于此,是當(dang)時江(jiang)南的(de)一座名剎。
歲月悠悠、滄桑巨(ju)變,名(ming)寺古(gu)剎,經受歷(li)史(shi)風云。1949年(nian)改為平(ping)望糧(liang)管所,1970年(nian)改建面粉廠,原(yuan)先廟宇建筑改作它(ta)用,面目(mu)全非(fei)。所幸至今寺中遺址上尚存(cun)一棵桂(gui)花樹(shu)、一棵黃楊(yang)樹(shu)和一口古(gu)井,作為物(wu)證,留下了歷(li)史(shi)的(de)回憶。