法(fa)華寺座(zuo)落(luo)在(zai)大連市莊(zhuang)河市城(cheng)山鎮北部。城(cheng)山古(gu)城(cheng)之內,據有(you)(you)關記(ji)載(zai),此(ci)山開拓肇自漢唐,距今已有(you)(you)一千(qian)五百多年歷(li)史。系高句麗(li)第二十六代嬰陽王(wang)為(wei)防御敵軍。在(zai)仙(xian)人指點下興建(jian)此(ci)城(cheng),此(ci)城(cheng)分為(wei)前城(cheng)、后城(cheng)全長8800米,山上建(jian)點將臺(tai)、紫(zi)禁城(cheng)、撩望(wang)臺(tai)、座(zuo)纛旗(qi)、還有(you)(you)蓋秀(xiu)英的梳(shu)妝(zhuang)臺(tai),遺址(zhi)尚(shang)在(zai)現(xian)已復修。
法華(hua)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)原名覺僧寺(si)(si)(si)(si),始建(jian)於明朝萬歷四(si)(si)十二年,據(ju)有關碑文(wen)記載,此(ci)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)當時數殿連亙,結構(gou)精(jing)壯、征諸往昔(xi)、香(xiang)火熾盛、寺(si)(si)(si)(si)中神佛、靈足跡多彰(zhang)、廟(miao)宇周(zhou)圍,怪石(shi)成形,多種多樣,罔(wang)似九龍,陣(zhen)守(shou)(shou)古剎,高山(shan)(shan)天(tian)(tian)作,梵(fan)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)神創,城圍四(si)(si)周(zhou),廟(miao)鎮中央,不遠望(wang)去,山(shan)(shan)嶺嵯峨,道場安(an)詳(xiang),群山(shan)(shan)朝拱,佛殿堂煌,孤城前(qian)仞,佳(jia)木千(qian)嶂(zhang),峭石(shi)崪巍,仙跡徜(chang)徉,天(tian)(tian)造佳(jia)境(jing),可謂禮(li)佛勝(sheng)地,禪(chan)坐(zuo)仙鄉,多少道人曾穩居山(shan)(shan)中內守(shou)(shou)悠(you)閑(xian),此(ci)中妙意,引人向往,本(ben)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)開山(shan)(shan)祖師上通(tong)下知禪(chan)師系上普下靖(jing)之高徒,宿值善根,生有靈光,幼懷貞敏,神通(tong)異(yi)常(chang)不食人間煙火,禪(chan)坐(zuo)功深,老虎把門(men),仙鶴翱翔(xiang),精(jing)通(tong)戒律,研習(xi)教典,旱悟真(zhen)空,覺性圓(yuan)明,門(men)下徒眾,約百余(yu)人,功德圓(yuan)滿(man),金(jin)身坐(zuo)化(hua),以(yi)示后人。
於清朝末期,因地方土匪掃劫,將寺廟焚燒,廟產土地四百余畝全都歸官。后(hou)于民國初年由朱盛真,法名修真老居(ju)士重振道風,此(ci)老人(ren)天性樂(le)善好施,慧根深厚,性好修養,內不染塵,外不著相(xiang),休如琉(liu)璃(li),日本人(ren)曾(ceng)給(gei)拍(pai)照,室內衣物皆現(xian),唯人(ren)無影,現(xian)存肖(xiao)像(xiang),在土改前(qian)夕(xi)曾(ceng)多次救出被國民黨圍(wei)困的八(ba)路軍和(he)連長。
由于(yu)(yu)修(xiu)(xiu)真(zhen)老人(ren)(ren)的慈(ci)(ci)、悲、予樂,有(you)求必應的菩(pu)(pu)薩行(xing)為(wei)(wei)(wei),至(zhi)今令當(dang)地(di)百(bai)姓(xing)及遠(yuan)近信徒傳(chuan)為(wei)(wei)(wei)佳話懷念不(bu)已,并(bing)尊(zun)稱其為(wei)(wei)(wei)朱(zhu)仙姑的德(de)號(hao)。此(ci)(ci)老人(ren)(ren)生(sheng)於一(yi)八(ba)六(liu)九(jiu)年(nian)(nian)三(san)(san)月(yue)十七日(ri),老家(jia)(jia)莊河朱(zhu)家(jia)(jia)隈(wei)屯,從小就與眾(zhong)(zhong)不(bu)同。十八(ba)歲(sui)不(bu)近人(ren)(ren)間(jian)煙火,借用吸煙練(lian)吐納功夫,常坐不(bu)臥,禪(chan)悅(yue)為(wei)(wei)(wei)食,因父母早逝由叔父作主,許配近村狄家(jia)(jia)為(wei)(wei)(wei)妻,結婚之日(ri),夫晚(wan)入室(shi)見其身金光四(si)射,不(bu)敢近前,知非凡人(ren)(ren),次日(ri)乘車送回(hui)朱(zhu)府叔父聽此(ci)(ci)異象,疑為(wei)(wei)(wei)妖精,有(you)意(yi)(yi)將(jiang)其害死,妻兄(xiong)嫂不(bu)忍(ren)帶(dai)著簡單衣物連夜逃出,一(yi)家(jia)(jia)大(da)小無法生(sheng)存,兄(xiong)嫂只能以討(tao)飯為(wei)(wei)(wei)生(sheng)。后有(you)城(cheng)山(shan)(shan)當(dang)地(di)紳士華(hua)大(da)爺意(yi)(yi)想恢復城(cheng)山(shan)(shan)廟宇(yu),夜夢仙人(ren)(ren)指(zhi)點,告知該處有(you)一(yi)仙姑可興建此(ci)(ci)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)于(yu)(yu)一(yi)九(jiu)二一(yi)年(nian)(nian)隨(sui)請之入山(shan)(shan)大(da)興土木,仙姑不(bu)臨現場(chang)競對(dui)建筑工程了如指(zhi)掌,并(bing)兼修(xiu)(xiu)城(cheng)山(shan)(shan)五老宮、普蘭(lan)店白(bai)云山(shan)(shan)白(bai)云觀(guan)(guan)、三(san)(san)處廟宇(yu)歷(li)經九(jiu)年(nian)(nian)時間(jian)全部峻工。當(dang)時,此(ci)(ci)山(shan)(shan)的水草皆有(you)靈氣,人(ren)(ren)食之后皆可除(chu)病,遠(yuan)近遐邇(er),逐漸(jian)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)院香火頂(ding)盛(sheng),本寺(si)(si)(si)(si)以天(tian)臺法華(hua)為(wei)(wei)(wei)宗隨(sui)改名為(wei)(wei)(wei)法華(hua)寺(si)(si)(si)(si),當(dang)時僧(seng)俗(su)道(dao)眾(zhong)(zhong)多達幾百(bai)人(ren)(ren)以上,修(xiu)(xiu)學(xue)方法是吐納練(lian)氣,靜坐禪(chan)觀(guan)(guan),其宗旨是,平等慈(ci)(ci)悲,圓(yuan)滿自我,不(bu)擇上下,接引眾(zhong)(zhong)生(sheng),繞益有(you)情,行(xing)菩(pu)(pu)薩道(dao)。于(yu)(yu)一(yi)九(jiu)五○年(nian)(nian)三(san)(san)月(yue)十七日(ri)預知時至(zhi)(生(sheng)日(ri)和故日(ri)是同一(yi)天(tian)),無病坐化,享年(nian)(nian)八(ba)十二歲(sui),一(yi)九(jiu)六(liu)八(ba)年(nian)(nian)此(ci)(ci)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)毀(hui)于(yu)(yu)文革。
于(yu)九(jiu)(jiu)四年(nian)(nian)落實(shi)宗教政(zheng)策(ce)后由當(dang)地(di)(di)政(zheng)府出(chu)(chu)頭,將廟宇(yu)重(zhong)新恢復,請來原大連市佛教協會(hui)名(ming)(ming)譽會(hui)長上(shang)脫下凡老(lao)和尚任持,主要殿(dian)(dian)(dian)堂有大雄寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、準提殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、彌(mi)勒殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、功德堂、護法殿(dian)(dian)(dian)等。老(lao)和尚于(yu)九(jiu)(jiu)六年(nian)(nian)退居大連。經政(zheng)府聘請宗教界領導同意又轉交常愿法師俗名(ming)(ming)朱清艷系老(lao)仙姑第四代嫡孫,生(sheng)於一(yi)(yi)九(jiu)(jiu)六三(san)年(nian)(nian),自幼皈依(yi)三(san)寶(bao),一(yi)(yi)九(jiu)(jiu)九(jiu)(jiu)六年(nian)(nian)于(yu)普蘭店清原寺依(yi)上(shang)修下真(zhen)老(lao)和尚剃度,童貞出(chu)(chu)家,刻(ke)苦耐勞(lao),一(yi)(yi)九(jiu)(jiu)八八年(nian)(nian)受具足戒、多處(chu)參學(xue)(xue)、好修禪凈,常住僧眾、勤奮好學(xue)(xue)、農禪并重(zhong)、持戒念佛,道場以“覺悟人(ren)生(sheng)、奉獻人(ren)生(sheng)”為宗旨,學(xue)(xue)修并進(jin),培養(yang)僧才,并增修念佛堂、圓通寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、客堂、往生(sheng)堂、齋堂、僧寮百余間,現正籌建法堂,會(hui)寺總占地(di)(di)面(mian)積(ji)約二萬六千一(yi)(yi)百平(ping)方米,建筑(zhu)面(mian)積(ji)三(san)千九(jiu)(jiu)百平(ping)方米。