山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)與佛的(de)(de)因緣最早要(yao)追溯到晉朝,相傳(chuan)西(xi)域僧人慧照(zhao)來到無(wu)錫秀麗的(de)(de)西(xi)神(shen)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)麓駐錫傳(chuan)道(dao),從此就有了惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)之(zhi)名。寺(si)(si)建(jian)于宋(song)(song)景平元(yuan)年(公(gong)元(yuan)423年),梁(liang)大(da)(da)(da)同三年(537年),建(jian)大(da)(da)(da)同殿(dian),易(yi)名為(wei)法云禪(chan)院(yuan)(yuan)。唐(tang)(tang)宋(song)(song)間(jian)(jian),又改(gai)名為(wei)昌師院(yuan)(yuan)、普(pu)利院(yuan)(yuan)、旌忠薦福功德禪(chan)院(yuan)(yuan)等。惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)是禪(chan)宗道(dao)場(chang),歷(li)史上香(xiang)火旺(wang)盛,高(gao)僧眾(zhong)多,唐(tang)(tang)宋(song)(song)鼎盛期僧舍達數千間(jian)(jian)。惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)因佛而(er)繁(fan)榮。從唐(tang)(tang)朝會昌至清(qing)朝同治的(de)(de)千余(yu)年間(jian)(jian),惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)五次(ci)(ci)遭劫,五次(ci)(ci)重(zhong)建(jian)。清(qing)朝乾隆(long)皇帝曾到惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)禮佛并(bing)留下大(da)(da)(da)量(liang)詩篇。1863年李鴻章在惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)廢墟上建(jian)昭(zhao)忠祠。惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)由于其(qi)悠久(jiu)的(de)(de)歷(li)史和深厚的(de)(de)文化而(er)歷(li)無(wu)錫十大(da)(da)(da)叢林之(zhi)首。保存完(wan)整的(de)(de)唐(tang)(tang)代聽松(song)石床、唐(tang)(tang)宋(song)(song)經(jing)幢、香(xiang)花橋、宋(song)(song)代金蓮橋、明代古銀杏、清(qing)代御碑等珍貴文物以(yi)及(ji)近(jin)年修(xiu)復(fu)建(jian)造的(de)(de)大(da)(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)、惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)鐘等展(zhan)示了佛教(jiao)文化的(de)(de)獨(du)特魅力。2004年4月26日(ri),具有1500余(yu)年歷(li)史的(de)(de)江(jiang)南名剎惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)法喜充滿,修(xiu)復(fu)開放并(bing)恢復(fu)宗教(jiao)活動,從此晨鐘暮鼓、經(jing)聲佛號又回蕩(dang)在錫惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)麓。目(mu)前的(de)(de)惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)佛法僧三寶俱(ju)足,古老的(de)(de)叢林正呈現出勃勃生機。
惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺位于(yu)無錫惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)秀嶂街(jie)(jie)(今惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)直街(jie)(jie)和(he)橫街(jie)(jie)交(jiao)接處),始建于(yu)南北朝(chao)。它的前身(shen)是南朝(chao)劉宋司徒(tu)右長史湛挺創立的“歷山(shan)(shan)(shan)草(cao)堂”。劉宋景平元年(nian)(423),把(ba)歷山(shan)(shan)(shan)草(cao)堂改(gai)作僧舍(she),稱“華山(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍(she)”,梁(liang)朝(chao)大同三年(nian)(537),又把(ba)“華山(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍(she)”改(gai)為“慧山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺”。
惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)(si),位(wei)于惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)秀嶂街(今(jin)惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)直(zhi)街和(he)(he)橫街交接處(chu)),始建(jian)(jian)于南(nan)北朝(chao),距(ju)今(jin)已有(you)一千(qian)(qian)五(wu)百余年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)。它的(de)(de)前身(shen)是(shi)南(nan)朝(chao)劉(liu)宋(song)司(si)徒(tu)右長史湛挺創立的(de)(de)“歷山(shan)(shan)草堂”。當時(shi)他(ta)歸隱在(zai)(zai)(zai)歷山(shan)(shan)(惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)),與(yu)南(nan)朝(chao)的(de)(de)南(nan)平王劉(liu)爍以詩(shi)章酬和(he)(he),齊江淹(yan)亦有(you)繼作(zuo),后人把他(ta)們的(de)(de)詩(shi)作(zuo)列于壁間。劉(liu)宋(song)景平元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(423年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),把歷山(shan)(shan)草堂改(gai)(gai)作(zuo)僧舍,稱“華山(shan)(shan)精(jing)(jing)舍”。元(yuan)徽(474年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——476年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))間,沙(sha)門僧顯,從京(jing)師(今(jin)南(nan)京(jing))入吳地,在(zai)(zai)(zai)“華山(shan)(shan)精(jing)(jing)舍”休(xiu)息(xi)過(guo),這是(shi)最(zui)早而有(you)名望(wang)的(de)(de)高僧。梁朝(chao)大(da)同三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(537年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),把華山(shan)(shan)精(jing)(jing)舍改(gai)(gai)為(wei)“慧山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)”。寺(si)(si)(si)僧陳大(da)德(de)建(jian)(jian)大(da)同殿(dian),又名“法云禪(chan)(chan)院(yuan)(yuan)”。唐(tang)朝(chao)會昌(chang)(841年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——846年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))間,寺(si)(si)(si)毀(hui),唐(tang)朝(chao)大(da)中(847年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——859年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))期間重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)。北宋(song)至(zhi)道(995年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——997年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))間,賜(si)額(e)“普利院(yuan)(yuan)”。北宋(song)靖康元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1126年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),賜(si)給名相李(li)綱作(zuo) “功德(de)院(yuan)(yuan)”。宋(song)紹興元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1131年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),把該院(yuan)(yuan)賜(si)給信(xin)安郡(jun)王孟(meng)忠(zhong)(zhong)厚,祀(si)昭慈圣(sheng)憲孟(meng)太(tai)后,改(gai)(gai)額(e)“旌忠(zhong)(zhong)薦(jian)福寺(si)(si)(si)”,賜(si)銅印(yin)一顆,上(shang)鐫“旌忠(zhong)(zhong)薦(jian)福功德(de)禪(chan)(chan)院(yuan)(yuan)之(zhi)印(yin)”,元(yuan)朝(chao)末年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)被毀(hui),明(ming)朝(chao)洪武元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1368年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧普真重(zhong)修(xiu)。永樂五(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1407年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧懷(huai)祖又修(xiu)建(jian)(jian)。正統十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1445年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))被火燒毀(hui)。巡(xun)撫周(zhou)忱,知(zhi)縣項伾重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)。萬歷二(er)(er)十三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1959年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),有(you)個(ge)唐(tang)裕的(de)(de),挾妓游春,競(jing)放火炮,炮火飛(fei)上(shang)殿(dian)脊,殿(dian)被焚毀(hui),次年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)吳申錫捐千(qian)(qian)金重(zhong)建(jian)(jian),他(ta)的(de)(de)兒子澄時(shi)又造了禪(chan)(chan)堂和(he)(he)不(bu)二(er)(er)法門。康熙(xi)于二(er)(er)十三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1684年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))南(nan)巡(xun)時(shi),至(zhi)惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)(si),在(zai)(zai)(zai)漪(yi)瀾(lan)堂品泉。第二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),無錫人周(zhou)宏詞(ci)力加修(xiu)治,題(ti)(ti)額(e)為(wei)“圣(sheng)敬式臨”。后來,乾隆六次到惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan),在(zai)(zai)(zai)秦園和(he)(he)竹爐山(shan)(shan)房休(xiu)息(xi),寫了不(bu)少詩(shi)詞(ci),題(ti)(ti)了不(bu)少匾(bian)聯(lian),還特地為(wei)“惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)”題(ti)(ti)額(e)。清朝(chao)感豐至(zhi)同治年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間,李(li)鴻(hong)章的(de)(de)淮湘軍曾(ceng)與(yu)太(tai)平軍在(zai)(zai)(zai)江南(nan)一帶激戰,惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)的(de)(de)寺(si)(si)(si)院(yuan)(yuan)毀(hui)于戰火,僅(jin)存寺(si)(si)(si)門匾(bian)額(e)。后來,李(li)鴻(hong)章在(zai)(zai)(zai)惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)的(de)(de)廢墟上(shang)建(jian)(jian)立了“昭忠(zhong)(zhong)祠(ci)”,辛(xin)亥革命后改(gai)(gai)為(wei)“忠(zhong)(zhong)烈祠(ci)”。
由(you)于(yu)惠山寺坐落(luo)在名勝(sheng)之地,聲譽早已隨著(zhu)天下第二泉(quan)的美名而滿天下。它早在唐宋之時,就(jiu)香火不絕,盛極一時。寺院范圍包(bao)括整個(ge)愚公谷(gu)和寄暢園,僧(seng)舍就(jiu)有一千零(ling)四十八間之多(duo)。古(gu)往今來,多(duo)少騷人墨客,以至帝王將相,在經過京杭大運河(he)時,都要在惠山寺逗留。
解放后(hou),市人民政府對惠山(shan)(shan)寺進(jin)行了(le)全面(mian)整(zheng)修,1954年重(zhong)新設計改建了(le)“古(gu)華山(shan)(shan)門(men)”和(he)(he)二(er)山(shan)(shan)門(men),非常壯嚴古(gu)樸。現(xian)在惠山(shan)(shan)寺還保留著古(gu)跡和(he)(he)建筑物有古(gu)華山(shan)(shan)門(men)、唐宋石經幢(chuang)、金剛(gang)殿、香花橋和(he)(he)日月池、金蓮(lian)橋和(he)(he)金蓮(lian)池、御碑亭、聽(ting)松(song)石床、古(gu)銀杏樹、大同殿、竹爐山(shan)(shan)房和(he)(he)云起(qi)樓等。