山(shan)(shan)(shan)與佛(fo)(fo)的(de)(de)因緣(yuan)最早要追溯到晉朝(chao)(chao),相傳西域(yu)僧(seng)(seng)人慧照來到無錫秀麗的(de)(de)西神(shen)山(shan)(shan)(shan)麓駐(zhu)錫傳道(dao)(dao),從此就有了(le)惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)之名(ming)。寺(si)(si)建(jian)于(yu)宋景(jing)平元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(公元(yuan)423年(nian)(nian)),梁大(da)同(tong)三年(nian)(nian)(537年(nian)(nian)),建(jian)大(da)同(tong)殿,易名(ming)為法(fa)云禪院。唐(tang)(tang)宋間,又改名(ming)為昌師院、普利院、旌忠(zhong)(zhong)薦福(fu)功(gong)德(de)禪院等。惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)是禪宗(zong)道(dao)(dao)場,歷(li)史上香(xiang)火旺(wang)盛,高僧(seng)(seng)眾多,唐(tang)(tang)宋鼎盛期僧(seng)(seng)舍達數千間。惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)因佛(fo)(fo)而繁榮(rong)。從唐(tang)(tang)朝(chao)(chao)會昌至清(qing)朝(chao)(chao)同(tong)治(zhi)的(de)(de)千余(yu)年(nian)(nian)間,惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)五(wu)次(ci)遭劫,五(wu)次(ci)重建(jian)。清(qing)朝(chao)(chao)乾(qian)隆(long)皇帝曾到惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)禮佛(fo)(fo)并(bing)留下大(da)量詩篇。1863年(nian)(nian)李鴻章在(zai)惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)廢墟上建(jian)昭忠(zhong)(zhong)祠。惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)由于(yu)其悠(you)久(jiu)的(de)(de)歷(li)史和深(shen)厚的(de)(de)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)而歷(li)無錫十大(da)叢(cong)林(lin)之首。保存完整(zheng)的(de)(de)唐(tang)(tang)代聽(ting)松石床、唐(tang)(tang)宋經幢、香(xiang)花橋、宋代金蓮橋、明代古(gu)銀杏、清(qing)代御碑等珍貴文(wen)(wen)物以(yi)及近年(nian)(nian)修(xiu)復(fu)(fu)建(jian)造的(de)(de)大(da)雄寶殿、惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)鐘等展示了(le)佛(fo)(fo)教(jiao)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)的(de)(de)獨特魅力。2004年(nian)(nian)4月26日(ri),具有1500余(yu)年(nian)(nian)歷(li)史的(de)(de)江南名(ming)剎惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)法(fa)喜充滿,修(xiu)復(fu)(fu)開(kai)放并(bing)恢復(fu)(fu)宗(zong)教(jiao)活動,從此晨鐘暮鼓(gu)、經聲佛(fo)(fo)號又回蕩在(zai)錫惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)麓。目前的(de)(de)惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)佛(fo)(fo)法(fa)僧(seng)(seng)三寶俱足(zu),古(gu)老的(de)(de)叢(cong)林(lin)正呈現(xian)出勃(bo)勃(bo)生機。
惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺位于無錫惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)秀嶂街(今(jin)惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)直街和橫街交接(jie)處),始建(jian)于南(nan)北朝。它的(de)前身是(shi)南(nan)朝劉宋(song)司徒(tu)右長史(shi)湛挺創立的(de)“歷山(shan)(shan)(shan)草(cao)堂”。劉宋(song)景平元年(423),把歷山(shan)(shan)(shan)草(cao)堂改作僧(seng)舍(she),稱“華山(shan)(shan)(shan)精舍(she)”,梁朝大同三年(537),又把“華山(shan)(shan)(shan)精舍(she)”改為“慧山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺”。
惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si),位于(yu)(yu)惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)秀(xiu)嶂街(今惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)直街和(he)橫街交(jiao)接處),始建(jian)于(yu)(yu)南北(bei)朝(chao)(chao),距今已有(you)一千(qian)五百余年(nian)(nian)(nian)。它的(de)(de)前(qian)身是南朝(chao)(chao)劉宋(song)司徒右長(chang)史湛挺創立的(de)(de)“歷山(shan)(shan)草(cao)堂(tang)”。當時(shi)他歸隱在(zai)(zai)(zai)歷山(shan)(shan)(惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)),與(yu)南朝(chao)(chao)的(de)(de)南平(ping)王劉爍以詩章酬和(he),齊江(jiang)淹亦有(you)繼作(zuo)(zuo),后(hou)人(ren)把(ba)(ba)他們的(de)(de)詩作(zuo)(zuo)列于(yu)(yu)壁間(jian)。劉宋(song)景平(ping)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(423年(nian)(nian)(nian)),把(ba)(ba)歷山(shan)(shan)草(cao)堂(tang)改(gai)(gai)作(zuo)(zuo)僧(seng)(seng)舍,稱“華山(shan)(shan)精(jing)(jing)舍”。元(yuan)徽(hui)(474年(nian)(nian)(nian)——476年(nian)(nian)(nian))間(jian),沙門(men)僧(seng)(seng)顯,從京師(今南京)入吳地(di),在(zai)(zai)(zai)“華山(shan)(shan)精(jing)(jing)舍”休息(xi)過,這(zhe)是最早而有(you)名望的(de)(de)高僧(seng)(seng)。梁朝(chao)(chao)大同三(san)(san)(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(537年(nian)(nian)(nian)),把(ba)(ba)華山(shan)(shan)精(jing)(jing)舍改(gai)(gai)為(wei)“慧(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)”。寺(si)(si)僧(seng)(seng)陳大德(de)建(jian)大同殿(dian),又名“法云禪院(yuan)(yuan)”。唐朝(chao)(chao)會昌(841年(nian)(nian)(nian)——846年(nian)(nian)(nian))間(jian),寺(si)(si)毀(hui),唐朝(chao)(chao)大中(847年(nian)(nian)(nian)——859年(nian)(nian)(nian))期(qi)間(jian)重(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)。北(bei)宋(song)至道(995年(nian)(nian)(nian)——997年(nian)(nian)(nian))間(jian),賜額(e)“普利院(yuan)(yuan)”。北(bei)宋(song)靖康元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1126年(nian)(nian)(nian)),賜給(gei)名相李(li)(li)綱作(zuo)(zuo) “功(gong)德(de)院(yuan)(yuan)”。宋(song)紹興元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1131年(nian)(nian)(nian)),把(ba)(ba)該(gai)院(yuan)(yuan)賜給(gei)信安郡王孟(meng)忠(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)厚(hou),祀昭慈圣憲孟(meng)太(tai)(tai)后(hou),改(gai)(gai)額(e)“旌(jing)忠(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)薦福寺(si)(si)”,賜銅印(yin)一顆(ke),上鐫(juan)“旌(jing)忠(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)薦福功(gong)德(de)禪院(yuan)(yuan)之(zhi)印(yin)”,元(yuan)朝(chao)(chao)末年(nian)(nian)(nian)被(bei)(bei)毀(hui),明朝(chao)(chao)洪武元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1368年(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)(seng)普真重(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)。永樂五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1407年(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)(seng)懷祖又修(xiu)建(jian)。正統十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1445年(nian)(nian)(nian))被(bei)(bei)火燒毀(hui)。巡撫周忱,知縣項伾重(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)。萬(wan)歷二(er)(er)十三(san)(san)(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1959年(nian)(nian)(nian)),有(you)個唐裕(yu)的(de)(de),挾(xie)妓游春,競放火炮,炮火飛上殿(dian)脊(ji),殿(dian)被(bei)(bei)焚毀(hui),次年(nian)(nian)(nian)吳申(shen)錫(xi)捐千(qian)金重(zhong)(zhong)建(jian),他的(de)(de)兒子(zi)澄時(shi)又造了(le)(le)(le)禪堂(tang)和(he)不二(er)(er)法門(men)。康熙(xi)于(yu)(yu)二(er)(er)十三(san)(san)(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1684年(nian)(nian)(nian))南巡時(shi),至惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si),在(zai)(zai)(zai)漪瀾(lan)堂(tang)品泉。第二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian),無錫(xi)人(ren)周宏詞力加修(xiu)治(zhi),題(ti)(ti)額(e)為(wei)“圣敬式(shi)臨”。后(hou)來,乾隆六次到(dao)惠(hui)山(shan)(shan),在(zai)(zai)(zai)秦(qin)園(yuan)和(he)竹爐山(shan)(shan)房休息(xi),寫(xie)了(le)(le)(le)不少詩詞,題(ti)(ti)了(le)(le)(le)不少匾聯,還特地(di)為(wei)“惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)”題(ti)(ti)額(e)。清(qing)朝(chao)(chao)感豐至同治(zhi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian),李(li)(li)鴻(hong)章的(de)(de)淮湘軍曾(ceng)與(yu)太(tai)(tai)平(ping)軍在(zai)(zai)(zai)江(jiang)南一帶激戰,惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)的(de)(de)寺(si)(si)院(yuan)(yuan)毀(hui)于(yu)(yu)戰火,僅存寺(si)(si)門(men)匾額(e)。后(hou)來,李(li)(li)鴻(hong)章在(zai)(zai)(zai)惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)的(de)(de)廢墟上建(jian)立了(le)(le)(le)“昭忠(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)祠”,辛亥革(ge)命(ming)后(hou)改(gai)(gai)為(wei)“忠(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)烈(lie)祠”。
由于(yu)惠山寺(si)坐落(luo)在名(ming)勝之(zhi)地,聲譽早已隨著天(tian)下第二(er)泉的(de)美名(ming)而滿天(tian)下。它早在唐宋之(zhi)時,就香火不(bu)絕,盛極一(yi)時。寺(si)院范圍包括整(zheng)個(ge)愚公谷和寄(ji)暢(chang)園,僧舍就有一(yi)千(qian)零(ling)四十八間(jian)之(zhi)多。古往今(jin)來,多少騷(sao)人墨客,以(yi)至帝王將(jiang)相(xiang),在經(jing)過京杭大運河時,都(dou)要(yao)在惠山寺(si)逗留。
解放后(hou),市人民政府對惠山(shan)寺(si)進(jin)行了全(quan)面整(zheng)修(xiu),1954年重新(xin)設計改建(jian)了“古(gu)華山(shan)門”和二山(shan)門,非常(chang)壯嚴(yan)古(gu)樸(pu)。現在惠山(shan)寺(si)還保留著古(gu)跡和建(jian)筑物有古(gu)華山(shan)門、唐宋石(shi)經幢、金(jin)剛殿(dian)、香花橋(qiao)和日(ri)月池、金(jin)蓮橋(qiao)和金(jin)蓮池、御(yu)碑亭(ting)、聽松石(shi)床、古(gu)銀杏樹、大同殿(dian)、竹(zhu)爐山(shan)房和云(yun)起樓等。