觀(guan)音庵(an)由正殿(dian)(dian)、配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)、觀(guan)音閣及倉庫(ku)等組成(cheng),占地面積1065平方(fang)(fang)米。正殿(dian)(dian)為(wei)釋(shi)迦牟尼(ni)殿(dian)(dian),座東面西(xi),面闊(kuo)五盈,為(wei)硬山式抬(tai)粱建筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)結構,青瓦(wa)屋(wu)頂,建筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)面積105平方(fang)(fang)米。正殿(dian)(dian)左(zuo)右各(ge)有配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)五間,建筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)面積170平方(fang)(fang)米。左(zuo)配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)為(wei)禪堂(tang)、客廳;右配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)為(wei)生產用房。后(hou)五間草房為(wei)倉庫(ku)。庵(an)院西(xi)南跨(kua)院有觀(guan)音閣一(yi)楹,為(wei)單檐歇山式結構,青瓦(wa)屋(wu)頂,建筑(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)面積30平方(fang)(fang)米。觀(guan)音閣內供(gong)奉南海觀(guan)音菩薩(sa),菩薩(sa)塑(su)像坐南面北,俗稱(cheng)倒座觀(guan)音,亦即(ji)倒座廟稱(cheng)謂(wei)之(zhi)由來。
傳說該廟肇建人之(zhi)一(yi)(yi)的孫(sun)明遠曾得(de)一(yi)(yi)夢(meng),夢(meng)中見南海(hai)觀(guan)(guan)(guan)音(yin)身(shen)著白(bai)衣,自南海(hai)邊飛馳(chi)而(er)來(lai),面(mian)北(bei)座(zuo)南坐于石上(shang)。次日,孫(sun)明遠與他人說起(qi),眾人皆說其與佛有緣。孫(sun)明遠遂起(qi)建廟之(zhi)意。隨即開始籌(chou)款建廟。殿宇(yu)修竣后,置南海(hai)觀(guan)(guan)(guan)音(yin)塑像與夢(meng)中境況一(yi)(yi)般(ban),故有此遼東獨絕(jue)的倒(dao)座(zuo)觀(guan)(guan)(guan)音(yin),成為(wei)大孤(gu)山古建筑群的又一(yi)(yi)奇觀(guan)(guan)(guan)。觀(guan)(guan)(guan)音(yin)庵(an)對聯令人叫絕(jue):“問(wen)大士何(he)故倒(dao)座(zuo),嘆世人不可回(hui)頭。”上(shang)下聯以世人與觀(guan)(guan)(guan)音(yin)的一(yi)(yi)問(wen)一(yi)(yi)答(da),充(chong)滿意趣和智(zhi)慧。
觀(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)音(yin)庵原名觀(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)音(yin)廟(miao),當地人也稱之(zhi)為觀(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)音(yin)會、倒座(zuo)廟(miao),始由孫明遠(yuan)(yuan)、李倫二人肇(zhao)建(jian)(jian)廟(miao)宇,但事隔久遠(yuan)(yuan),年代不詳。至清(qing)咸豐(feng)九(jiu)(jiu)年(1859年)又有周(zhou)長盛(sheng)等重修(xiu)(xiu),歷(li)時一年修(xiu)(xiu)竣,時稱觀(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)音(yin)閣,一九(jiu)(jiu)四一年改名觀(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)音(yin)庵。觀(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)音(yin)庵右(you)側立有清(qing)代“重修(xiu)(xiu)觀(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)音(yin)閣碑(bei)記(ji)(ji)”石(shi)碑(bei)一座(zuo),立于咸豐(feng)十(shi)年(1860年)八月。碑(bei)文(wen)(wen)為陰刻(ke)楷書(shu),碑(bei)左題“重修(xiu)(xiu)觀(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)音(yin)閣碑(bei)記(ji)(ji)”,碑(bei)文(wen)(wen)由山(shan)東文(wen)(wen)登(deng)縣張雨(yu)撰寫,文(wen)(wen)中(zhong)(zhong)記(ji)(ji)載了大孤山(shan)修(xiu)(xiu)建(jian)(jian)觀(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)音(yin)庵的歷(li)史,及(ji)先稱觀(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)音(yin)廟(miao),后稱觀(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)(guan)音(yin)閣名稱演化的過程(cheng),文(wen)(wen)后附有募化修(xiu)(xiu)建(jian)(jian)人員周(zhou)長盛(sheng)、孫秉中(zhong)(zhong),住持鄒空嶢等人的姓名。浙紹會稽山(shan)嚴持中(zhong)(zhong)書(shu)丹。
初(chu)期,觀音庵殿堂被(bei)砸,佛像俱毀,庵內六名尼姑被(bei)逐(zhu)。一(yi)九(jiu)六七年至一(yi)九(jiu)八五年該房產歸孤山(shan)鎮房產管理所(suo)接管,出租給當地居(ju)民居(ju)住。一(yi)九(jiu)八五年后,政(zheng)(zheng)府落(luo)實宗教(jiao)政(zheng)(zheng)策,該房產重新劃(hua)歸宗教(jiao)界。觀音庵重拾香火,并日漸(jian)興盛。