小(xiao)(xiao)九(jiu)(jiu)華(hua)寺坐(zuo)落在風景秀麗(li)的鶯(ying)脰(dou)湖(hu)畔,四周環(huan)水,只有一座偉岸挺拔的安德橋相連。過(guo)去在小(xiao)(xiao)九(jiu)(jiu)華(hua)寺對(dui)面還有一座美麗(li)的暮(mu)(mu)虹(hong)橋做伴(ban)。紅(hong)墻碧波(bo)、晨鼓暮(mu)(mu)鐘、櫓聲梵音(yin)不絕于耳(er),不失為(wei)一塊佛教寶(bao)地。小(xiao)(xiao)九(jiu)(jiu)華(hua)寺面對(dui)鶯(ying)湖(hu),鶯(ying)湖(hu)是(shi)杭嘉一帶的名(ming)(ming)湖(hu),它(ta)與嘉興南湖(hu)、杭州西湖(hu)齊(qi)名(ming)(ming)。曾引來不少文人雅士(shi)吟詩(shi)作畫,如(ru)白居易、李白、楊萬(wan)里、陸龜蒙(meng)都(dou)(dou)留(liu)下膾(kuai)炙人口的詩(shi)篇(pian)。“小(xiao)(xiao)紅(hong)吹(chui)簫(xiao)工唱歌”,就是(shi)在這一帶留(liu)下的名(ming)(ming)句。《水滸(hu)傳》、《醒世恒言(yan)》等名(ming)(ming)著都(dou)(dou)有此湖(hu)的記述(shu)。如(ru)今小(xiao)(xiao)九(jiu)(jiu)華(hua)寺已破土重建(jian),大雄(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)現已開放。
大(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)飛檐翹首,黛(dai)瓦粉墻,巍峨壯觀(guan)。趙樸初書(shu)題的(de)“大(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)”,金(jin)光(guang)閃(shan)耀,高懸于正門(men)上(shang)空,題詞(ci)神完氣足,實為(wei)大(da)(da)家手筆。殿(dian)(dian)正中(zhong)供奉釋迦牟(mou)尼(ni)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),旁(pang)邊是(shi)迦葉、阿(a)難(nan)尊者(zhe)侍立(li)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)。侍立(li)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)左右分別(bie)是(shi)阿(a)彌陀佛(fo)(fo)和藥師佛(fo)(fo),妙相莊嚴(yan)(yan)、工(gong)藝精(jing)巧。三(san)尊佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)面(mian)容豐腴飽滿、神態(tai)溫柔敦厚、慈(ci)容善目、沉靜端莊。檀香(xiang)木佛(fo)(fo)體裝金(jin)重(zhong)彩,佛(fo)(fo)光(guang)垂照。大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)兩(liang)側(ce)則是(shi)形(xing)態(tai)各異、栩栩如生的(de)十八羅(luo)漢像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),神情舉止(zhi)古拙、匠(jiang)心(xin)獨(du)具(ju)、莊嚴(yan)(yan)凝(ning)重(zhong)。釋迦牟(mou)尼(ni)佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)的(de)背后安座著海島觀(guan)音(yin)、文殊、普(pu)賢菩薩(sa)等(deng)佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)。大(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)的(de)東(dong)面(mian)是(shi)三(san)圣(sheng)殿(dian)(dian),西方三(san)圣(sheng)佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)裝金(jin)罩漆。大(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)前東(dong)側(ce)是(shi)觀(guan)音(yin)殿(dian)(dian),該殿(dian)(dian)雙重(zhong)疊檐,兩(liang)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),上(shang)下(xia)(xia)各五間。下(xia)(xia)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)三(san)間為(wei)主(zhu)殿(dian)(dian)堂,內塑木質圣(sheng)觀(guan)音(yin)菩薩(sa)坐(zuo)姿像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),結跏趺(fu)坐(zuo),手持甘(gan)露瓶,神態(tai)慈(ci)祥。與觀(guan)音(yin)殿(dian)(dian)相對應的(de)是(shi)地(di)藏(zang)殿(dian)(dian),該殿(dian)(dian)上(shang)下(xia)(xia)兩(liang)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),雙檐式建筑(zhu),下(xia)(xia)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)中(zhong)間主(zhu)殿(dian)(dian)內塑地(di)藏(zang)菩薩(sa)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),頭帶毗盧(lu)冠,身披(pi)袈裟,結跏趺(fu)坐(zuo),雙手持寶(bao)珠,法像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)莊嚴(yan)(yan)。鐘(zhong)、鼓兩(liang)樓(lou)位于天王殿(dian)(dian)后兩(liang)側(ce)。
小九(jiu)(jiu)華寺(si)(si),據(ju)傳是地(di)(di)藏王菩薩(sa)不(bu)斷在(zai)這里顯示圣跡(ji),錫井(jing)涌泉,頻(pin)頻(pin)靈驗。位于大雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)后(hou)的(de)“地(di)(di)藏泉井(jing)”為(wei)(wei)(wei)寺(si)(si)內一寶。井(jing)口為(wei)(wei)(wei)六邊形,井(jing)深10余米。明萬歷年間,小九(jiu)(jiu)華寺(si)(si)大規模擴建,并興建地(di)(di)藏閣(ge)。地(di)(di)藏王菩薩(sa)在(zai)空中顯靈,用杖杵地(di)(di),突涌泉水,其水甘甜,被后(hou)人稱為(wei)(wei)(wei)“地(di)(di)藏泉井(jing)”。在(zai)井(jing)的(de)東邊,有一棵樹(shu)高丈余,莖(jing)如碗口,枝葉茂(mao)盛(sheng)的(de)桂花樹(shu),這就是當年太(tai)(tai)虛(xu)(xu)大師到(dao)(dao)小九(jiu)(jiu)華寺(si)(si)出家(jia)(jia)時親手(shou)栽下的(de)。這棵樹(shu),自太(tai)(tai)虛(xu)(xu)大師栽植后(hou),一直默默生長(chang),數(shu)年后(hou),花開芬芳。每逢(feng)八月(yue),信眾(zhong)和游(you)客(ke)來到(dao)(dao)小九(jiu)(jiu)華寺(si)(si)院,就會聞到(dao)(dao)滿院的(de)桂花香。為(wei)(wei)(wei)紀(ji)念太(tai)(tai)虛(xu)(xu)大師在(zai)此出家(jia)(jia)植樹(shu),現寺(si)(si)院已將此樹(shu)圍欄,以供觀(guan)賞。
小九華(hua)寺又名九華(hua)禪院,原名東岳廟。
小九(jiu)華寺建(jian)于明萬歷(li)四十(shi)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1685年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))里(li)人(ren)吳國(guo)(guo)忠偕僧(seng)通運(yun)募(mu)建(jian)后殿(dian)(dian),奉(feng)祀幽冥教主(zhu)(即地(di)藏王菩薩(sa),故俗(su)稱地(di)藏殿(dian)(dian)),并(bing)鑄爐(lu)于庭中。康熙四十(shi)三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1704年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))國(guo)(guo)忠子昌運(yun)偕僧(seng)朗(lang)涵募(mu)建(jian)大士殿(dian)(dian)。乾隆(long)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1738年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))建(jian)關(guan)帝殿(dian)(dian)、劉公祠。乾隆(long)五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1740年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))監院(yuan)僧(seng)蘊山(shan)建(jian)山(shan)門(men)、客(ke)堂、齋堂、廚房等。乾隆(long)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)被(bei)毀。光(guang)(guang)緒(xu)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1878年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))游(you)方僧(seng)永緣、蓮堂重建(jian)山(shan)門(men)五間(jian)(jian),光(guang)(guang)緒(xu)八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1882年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)蓮覺蓮常建(jian)東客(ke)堂三間(jian)(jian)。光(guang)(guang)緒(xu)九(jiu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1883年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))建(jian)西客(ke)三間(jian)(jian)。光(guang)(guang)緒(xu)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1884年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))筑(zhu)東圍墻,建(jian)方丈室三間(jian)(jian),光(guang)(guang)緒(xu)十(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1885年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))建(jian)觀音殿(dian)(dian)五間(jian)(jian)。史料中的平(ping)望小九(jiu)華寺規模尚可,廟內香火特盛,每(mei)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)農(nong)歷(li)七(qi)月(yue)一日(ri)至十(shi)月(yue)一日(ri),遠近香客(ke)畢集、游(you)人(ren)紛至沓來(lai),香市盛極一時社會影(ying)響極大,在周邊地(di)區形成一定轟動效益(yi),名揚國(guo)(guo)內,流傳東南亞,文人(ren)墨(mo)客(ke)游(you)蹤不絕,留下(xia)甚多(duo)吟詠絕句及書畫墨(mo)寶。
清(qing)朝道光年(nian)間《平望(wang)志》上(shang)記(ji)載(zai):明萬歷年(nian)四(si)十年(nian)(1616)建,是為了紀念(nian)地藏菩薩(sa)。當時(shi)規模(mo)宏(hong)大,設有大士(shi)殿(dian)、藥師殿(dian)、劉(liu)工祠及山門、客房、齋(zhai)堂、廚房,一應俱全,飛(fei)檐翹角(jiao),殿(dian)宇重(zhong)重(zhong),頂膜禮拜的(de)人蜂擁于此(ci),是當時(shi)江南的(de)一座名剎。
歲月(yue)悠悠、滄桑(sang)巨(ju)變,名寺古剎,經(jing)受歷史風(feng)云(yun)。1949年改(gai)為平望糧管(guan)所(suo),1970年改(gai)建(jian)(jian)面粉廠,原先廟宇建(jian)(jian)筑改(gai)作(zuo)它用,面目全非。所(suo)幸至今寺中遺址(zhi)上尚存一棵桂花樹、一棵黃楊樹和一口古井,作(zuo)為物證,留(liu)下了(le)歷史的回憶。