山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)與佛的因(yin)緣最早要追溯到晉(jin)朝(chao),相傳西域僧(seng)人慧照(zhao)來到無(wu)錫(xi)秀(xiu)麗的西神山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)麓(lu)駐錫(xi)傳道(dao),從(cong)(cong)此就有了(le)(le)惠(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)之(zhi)名(ming)。寺(si)(si)(si)(si)建(jian)于(yu)宋景平(ping)元(yuan)年(nian)(公元(yuan)423年(nian)),梁大同三年(nian)(537年(nian)),建(jian)大同殿(dian),易名(ming)為法(fa)(fa)(fa)云禪院(yuan)。唐(tang)(tang)宋間(jian),又改名(ming)為昌師院(yuan)、普利院(yuan)、旌(jing)忠薦(jian)福(fu)功德禪院(yuan)等(deng)。惠(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)是禪宗(zong)道(dao)場,歷(li)史上香火旺盛(sheng)(sheng),高僧(seng)眾(zhong)多,唐(tang)(tang)宋鼎盛(sheng)(sheng)期僧(seng)舍達數千間(jian)。惠(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)因(yin)佛而(er)繁(fan)榮。從(cong)(cong)唐(tang)(tang)朝(chao)會昌至(zhi)清(qing)朝(chao)同治(zhi)的千余(yu)年(nian)間(jian),惠(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)五次(ci)遭劫,五次(ci)重建(jian)。清(qing)朝(chao)乾隆(long)皇帝曾(ceng)到惠(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)禮佛并留下(xia)大量詩篇。1863年(nian)李鴻章(zhang)在(zai)惠(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)廢墟上建(jian)昭忠祠。惠(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)由于(yu)其悠久(jiu)的歷(li)史和深厚(hou)的文化(hua)而(er)歷(li)無(wu)錫(xi)十(shi)大叢(cong)林(lin)之(zhi)首。保存完整的唐(tang)(tang)代聽松石床、唐(tang)(tang)宋經幢、香花(hua)橋、宋代金(jin)蓮橋、明代古銀杏、清(qing)代御(yu)碑等(deng)珍貴文物以及(ji)近年(nian)修(xiu)復(fu)建(jian)造的大雄寶殿(dian)、惠(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)鐘等(deng)展示了(le)(le)佛教文化(hua)的獨(du)特魅力。2004年(nian)4月26日,具有1500余(yu)年(nian)歷(li)史的江南名(ming)剎惠(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)法(fa)(fa)(fa)喜充滿,修(xiu)復(fu)開放(fang)并恢復(fu)宗(zong)教活(huo)動,從(cong)(cong)此晨鐘暮鼓、經聲佛號又回蕩(dang)在(zai)錫(xi)惠(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)麓(lu)。目前的惠(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)佛法(fa)(fa)(fa)僧(seng)三寶俱足(zu),古老的叢(cong)林(lin)正呈現出勃勃生(sheng)機。
惠山(shan)(shan)寺位于無錫惠山(shan)(shan)秀(xiu)嶂(zhang)街(jie)(今惠山(shan)(shan)直街(jie)和(he)橫(heng)街(jie)交接處(chu)),始建于南(nan)北朝。它的前身是南(nan)朝劉宋司(si)徒右(you)長(chang)史湛挺創立的“歷(li)山(shan)(shan)草(cao)(cao)堂(tang)”。劉宋景平元年(nian)(423),把歷(li)山(shan)(shan)草(cao)(cao)堂(tang)改(gai)作僧舍(she),稱(cheng)“華山(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍(she)”,梁朝大同(tong)三年(nian)(537),又(you)把“華山(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍(she)”改(gai)為“慧山(shan)(shan)寺”。
惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si),位(wei)于(yu)(yu)惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)秀嶂街(jie)(今(jin)惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)直(zhi)街(jie)和(he)橫街(jie)交接處),始(shi)建于(yu)(yu)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)北(bei)朝(chao)(chao),距今(jin)已有一(yi)千五(wu)百余年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)。它的(de)(de)前身是南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)朝(chao)(chao)劉(liu)宋(song)司徒(tu)右長史湛挺創立(li)的(de)(de)“歷山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)草堂(tang)(tang)(tang)”。當時他(ta)歸隱在(zai)歷山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)),與(yu)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)朝(chao)(chao)的(de)(de)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)平(ping)王劉(liu)爍以詩章酬和(he),齊江淹亦有繼(ji)作(zuo),后人把他(ta)們(men)的(de)(de)詩作(zuo)列于(yu)(yu)壁間(jian)。劉(liu)宋(song)景(jing)平(ping)元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(423年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),把歷山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)草堂(tang)(tang)(tang)改作(zuo)僧(seng)舍,稱“華山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍”。元徽(474年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——476年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))間(jian),沙門僧(seng)顯,從(cong)京(jing)師(今(jin)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)京(jing))入吳地,在(zai)“華山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍”休(xiu)息過,這是最早而有名望的(de)(de)高僧(seng)。梁朝(chao)(chao)大同(tong)三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(537年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),把華山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍改為(wei)(wei)“慧山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)”。寺(si)(si)僧(seng)陳大德(de)建大同(tong)殿(dian),又名“法云禪(chan)院(yuan)”。唐(tang)朝(chao)(chao)會(hui)昌(841年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——846年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))間(jian),寺(si)(si)毀(hui),唐(tang)朝(chao)(chao)大中(847年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——859年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))期間(jian)重(zhong)建。北(bei)宋(song)至(zhi)道(dao)(995年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——997年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))間(jian),賜(si)額(e)(e)“普利院(yuan)”。北(bei)宋(song)靖康元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1126年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),賜(si)給名相李(li)(li)綱作(zuo) “功德(de)院(yuan)”。宋(song)紹(shao)興(xing)元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1131年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),把該院(yuan)賜(si)給信(xin)安郡王孟忠(zhong)厚(hou),祀昭慈(ci)圣憲孟太(tai)后,改額(e)(e)“旌忠(zhong)薦福(fu)寺(si)(si)”,賜(si)銅(tong)印一(yi)顆(ke),上(shang)鐫“旌忠(zhong)薦福(fu)功德(de)禪(chan)院(yuan)之印”,元朝(chao)(chao)末(mo)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)被毀(hui),明朝(chao)(chao)洪武元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1368年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)普真(zhen)重(zhong)修。永樂五(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1407年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)懷(huai)祖又修建。正統十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1445年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))被火燒毀(hui)。巡撫周忱,知縣項伾重(zhong)建。萬歷二十三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1959年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),有個唐(tang)裕的(de)(de),挾妓游春(chun),競放火炮(pao),炮(pao)火飛上(shang)殿(dian)脊,殿(dian)被焚(fen)毀(hui),次(ci)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)吳申錫捐千金重(zhong)建,他(ta)的(de)(de)兒子澄時又造了禪(chan)堂(tang)(tang)(tang)和(he)不(bu)二法門。康熙(xi)于(yu)(yu)二十三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1684年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)巡時,至(zhi)惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si),在(zai)漪瀾堂(tang)(tang)(tang)品(pin)泉(quan)。第(di)二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),無(wu)錫人周宏詞力加修治(zhi),題額(e)(e)為(wei)(wei)“圣敬式臨”。后來(lai),乾隆六次(ci)到惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),在(zai)秦園(yuan)和(he)竹爐山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)房(fang)休(xiu)息,寫了不(bu)少詩詞,題了不(bu)少匾聯,還特(te)地為(wei)(wei)“惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)”題額(e)(e)。清朝(chao)(chao)感豐(feng)至(zhi)同(tong)治(zhi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian),李(li)(li)鴻章的(de)(de)淮湘軍(jun)曾與(yu)太(tai)平(ping)軍(jun)在(zai)江南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)一(yi)帶激(ji)戰,惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)的(de)(de)寺(si)(si)院(yuan)毀(hui)于(yu)(yu)戰火,僅存(cun)寺(si)(si)門匾額(e)(e)。后來(lai),李(li)(li)鴻章在(zai)惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)的(de)(de)廢墟(xu)上(shang)建立(li)了“昭忠(zhong)祠”,辛亥革命后改為(wei)(wei)“忠(zhong)烈祠”。
由于惠山寺坐(zuo)落在名勝之(zhi)地(di),聲譽早已隨著天下(xia)第二泉的美名而滿天下(xia)。它(ta)早在唐宋之(zhi)時,就香火不絕,盛極一時。寺院范圍包括整個愚公谷(gu)和寄暢園,僧(seng)舍(she)就有一千零四十八間之(zhi)多(duo)。古(gu)往今來(lai),多(duo)少(shao)騷人墨客,以至帝王將相,在經過京杭大運河時,都要在惠山寺逗留。
解放后,市人民政府對惠山(shan)(shan)寺進行了全面整修,1954年重新設計改建了“古(gu)(gu)(gu)華(hua)山(shan)(shan)門”和(he)(he)二(er)山(shan)(shan)門,非常壯嚴古(gu)(gu)(gu)樸。現在(zai)惠山(shan)(shan)寺還保留著(zhu)古(gu)(gu)(gu)跡和(he)(he)建筑(zhu)物(wu)有古(gu)(gu)(gu)華(hua)山(shan)(shan)門、唐(tang)宋石經幢、金剛(gang)殿(dian)、香花(hua)橋和(he)(he)日(ri)月(yue)池、金蓮橋和(he)(he)金蓮池、御碑(bei)亭(ting)、聽松石床、古(gu)(gu)(gu)銀杏樹、大同殿(dian)、竹爐山(shan)(shan)房和(he)(he)云起樓等。