山(shan)與佛(fo)(fo)(fo)的(de)因緣最早要追溯到(dao)晉(jin)朝,相傳(chuan)西(xi)域(yu)僧人慧(hui)照來(lai)到(dao)無(wu)錫(xi)秀麗的(de)西(xi)神山(shan)麓駐錫(xi)傳(chuan)道(dao),從此就有了惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)之名(ming)。寺(si)(si)(si)建于(yu)宋景(jing)平元年(nian)(nian)(公元423年(nian)(nian)),梁大(da)同(tong)三(san)(san)年(nian)(nian)(537年(nian)(nian)),建大(da)同(tong)殿(dian),易名(ming)為(wei)法云禪院。唐(tang)宋間,又改名(ming)為(wei)昌師院、普利(li)院、旌忠薦(jian)福功德禪院等。惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)是禪宗道(dao)場,歷(li)史上香(xiang)火旺(wang)盛,高(gao)僧眾多(duo),唐(tang)宋鼎盛期僧舍達數千間。惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)因佛(fo)(fo)(fo)而繁榮(rong)。從唐(tang)朝會昌至清(qing)朝同(tong)治的(de)千余年(nian)(nian)間,惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)五(wu)次遭劫,五(wu)次重建。清(qing)朝乾(qian)隆皇帝曾到(dao)惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)禮(li)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)并留下大(da)量詩篇。1863年(nian)(nian)李鴻(hong)章在(zai)惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)廢墟(xu)上建昭忠祠。惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)由于(yu)其悠久的(de)歷(li)史和深(shen)厚的(de)文(wen)(wen)化而歷(li)無(wu)錫(xi)十大(da)叢林之首。保存完整的(de)唐(tang)代聽松石床、唐(tang)宋經幢、香(xiang)花橋、宋代金蓮(lian)橋、明代古銀(yin)杏、清(qing)代御碑(bei)等珍貴文(wen)(wen)物(wu)以及近年(nian)(nian)修復建造的(de)大(da)雄(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)、惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)鐘等展示了佛(fo)(fo)(fo)教(jiao)文(wen)(wen)化的(de)獨(du)特(te)魅力。2004年(nian)(nian)4月26日,具(ju)有1500余年(nian)(nian)歷(li)史的(de)江南名(ming)剎(cha)惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)法喜充滿,修復開放并恢復宗教(jiao)活動,從此晨鐘暮鼓、經聲佛(fo)(fo)(fo)號又回蕩(dang)在(zai)錫(xi)惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)麓。目前的(de)惠(hui)(hui)(hui)山(shan)寺(si)(si)(si)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)法僧三(san)(san)寶(bao)俱足(zu),古老的(de)叢林正呈現出(chu)勃勃生機。
惠山寺(si)位于(yu)無錫惠山秀嶂街(今(jin)惠山直街和橫街交接處),始建于(yu)南(nan)北朝。它(ta)的前身是南(nan)朝劉宋司(si)徒(tu)右長史(shi)湛挺創立的“歷(li)山草堂”。劉宋景平元年(423),把(ba)歷(li)山草堂改作僧舍,稱“華山精(jing)舍”,梁朝大同三年(537),又(you)把(ba)“華山精(jing)舍”改為“慧山寺(si)”。
惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si),位于(yu)惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)秀嶂街(今(jin)惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)直(zhi)街和橫街交(jiao)接處),始建(jian)于(yu)南(nan)北朝(chao),距(ju)今(jin)已(yi)有(you)(you)一千五百余年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)。它的(de)(de)前(qian)身是(shi)南(nan)朝(chao)劉(liu)(liu)宋(song)司徒(tu)右長史(shi)湛挺創立(li)的(de)(de)“歷(li)山(shan)(shan)(shan)草(cao)堂”。當時(shi)他歸隱(yin)在(zai)(zai)歷(li)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)),與南(nan)朝(chao)的(de)(de)南(nan)平(ping)王劉(liu)(liu)爍(shuo)以詩(shi)(shi)章酬和,齊江(jiang)淹(yan)亦有(you)(you)繼(ji)作(zuo),后(hou)(hou)人把(ba)(ba)他們的(de)(de)詩(shi)(shi)作(zuo)列于(yu)壁(bi)間。劉(liu)(liu)宋(song)景平(ping)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(423年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),把(ba)(ba)歷(li)山(shan)(shan)(shan)草(cao)堂改(gai)(gai)作(zuo)僧(seng)舍(she),稱(cheng)“華(hua)山(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍(she)”。元(yuan)徽(474年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——476年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))間,沙門(men)僧(seng)顯,從京(jing)師(今(jin)南(nan)京(jing))入吳地,在(zai)(zai)“華(hua)山(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍(she)”休(xiu)息過,這是(shi)最(zui)早(zao)而有(you)(you)名望的(de)(de)高僧(seng)。梁朝(chao)大(da)同(tong)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(537年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),把(ba)(ba)華(hua)山(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍(she)改(gai)(gai)為“慧山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)”。寺(si)(si)僧(seng)陳大(da)德(de)建(jian)大(da)同(tong)殿(dian),又(you)名“法(fa)云禪(chan)院(yuan)”。唐(tang)朝(chao)會昌(chang)(841年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——846年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))間,寺(si)(si)毀,唐(tang)朝(chao)大(da)中(847年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——859年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))期間重建(jian)。北宋(song)至(zhi)道(995年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——997年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))間,賜額(e)(e)“普(pu)利院(yuan)”。北宋(song)靖康(kang)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1126年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),賜給(gei)名相李(li)(li)綱作(zuo) “功德(de)院(yuan)”。宋(song)紹興元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1131年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),把(ba)(ba)該院(yuan)賜給(gei)信安郡王孟忠厚,祀昭慈圣(sheng)憲孟太(tai)后(hou)(hou),改(gai)(gai)額(e)(e)“旌(jing)忠薦(jian)福寺(si)(si)”,賜銅(tong)印一顆(ke),上鐫“旌(jing)忠薦(jian)福功德(de)禪(chan)院(yuan)之印”,元(yuan)朝(chao)末年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)被(bei)毀,明朝(chao)洪武元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1368年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)普(pu)真重修(xiu)。永樂五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1407年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)懷祖又(you)修(xiu)建(jian)。正(zheng)統十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1445年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))被(bei)火燒毀。巡撫周(zhou)忱,知縣項伾重建(jian)。萬歷(li)二(er)(er)(er)十三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1959年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),有(you)(you)個唐(tang)裕(yu)的(de)(de),挾妓游春,競放火炮(pao),炮(pao)火飛上殿(dian)脊,殿(dian)被(bei)焚毀,次(ci)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)吳申(shen)錫(xi)捐(juan)千金重建(jian),他的(de)(de)兒子(zi)澄時(shi)又(you)造(zao)了(le)(le)禪(chan)堂和不二(er)(er)(er)法(fa)門(men)。康(kang)熙于(yu)二(er)(er)(er)十三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1684年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))南(nan)巡時(shi),至(zhi)惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si),在(zai)(zai)漪(yi)瀾堂品泉。第二(er)(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),無錫(xi)人周(zhou)宏詞(ci)力加修(xiu)治,題額(e)(e)為“圣(sheng)敬式(shi)臨(lin)”。后(hou)(hou)來,乾隆六次(ci)到惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan),在(zai)(zai)秦園和竹爐(lu)山(shan)(shan)(shan)房休(xiu)息,寫(xie)了(le)(le)不少詩(shi)(shi)詞(ci),題了(le)(le)不少匾聯(lian),還特地為“惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)”題額(e)(e)。清朝(chao)感豐至(zhi)同(tong)治年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間,李(li)(li)鴻章的(de)(de)淮湘軍曾與太(tai)平(ping)軍在(zai)(zai)江(jiang)南(nan)一帶激戰,惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)的(de)(de)寺(si)(si)院(yuan)毀于(yu)戰火,僅存寺(si)(si)門(men)匾額(e)(e)。后(hou)(hou)來,李(li)(li)鴻章在(zai)(zai)惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)的(de)(de)廢(fei)墟上建(jian)立(li)了(le)(le)“昭忠祠”,辛(xin)亥革命后(hou)(hou)改(gai)(gai)為“忠烈祠”。
由于(yu)惠山寺(si)(si)坐落在(zai)名勝之地,聲譽早已隨著天下第二泉(quan)的美(mei)名而滿天下。它早在(zai)唐宋之時,就(jiu)香(xiang)火不絕(jue),盛(sheng)極(ji)一時。寺(si)(si)院范圍包(bao)括整個愚公谷和寄暢(chang)園,僧舍就(jiu)有(you)一千零(ling)四(si)十(shi)八間之多。古往今來(lai),多少(shao)騷(sao)人墨客,以至帝王將相,在(zai)經過京(jing)杭大運河時,都要在(zai)惠山寺(si)(si)逗留。
解放后,市人民政府對惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)寺進行了全面整修,1954年重新設計改建(jian)了“古華(hua)山(shan)門(men)”和(he)二山(shan)門(men),非常壯嚴古樸。現(xian)在惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)寺還保留著古跡和(he)建(jian)筑物有(you)古華(hua)山(shan)門(men)、唐宋(song)石經(jing)幢(chuang)、金(jin)剛殿、香花橋和(he)日月池(chi)、金(jin)蓮(lian)橋和(he)金(jin)蓮(lian)池(chi)、御(yu)碑(bei)亭、聽松石床、古銀杏(xing)樹、大同(tong)殿、竹爐(lu)山(shan)房和(he)云起(qi)樓等(deng)。