世傳晚唐道(dao)士(shi)施肩吾(即華陽(yang)(yang)真(zhen)人(ren)(ren))曾(ceng)一度由(you)(you)洪都(今南(nan)昌)西山(shan)(shan)來(lai)到贛(gan)州(zhou),與真(zhen)人(ren)(ren)劉(liu)(liu)繼先共同修持于此觀。宋治平年間(jian)(1064~1066)英宗曾(ceng)賜(si)觀額,明(ming)永樂年間(jian)(1403~1423)翰林學士(shi)解縉(jin)曾(ceng)書“玉虛(xu)(xu)觀”額。明(ming)初,劉(liu)(liu)淵然(贛(gan)縣區人(ren)(ren))大真(zhen)人(ren)(ren)將此觀立(li)(li)為(wei)修持之地,遺下四(si)代(dai)(即劉(liu)(liu)淵然、劉(liu)(liu)繼先、劉(liu)(liu)明(ming)清(qing)、劉(liu)(liu)子英)修持立(li)(li)功。修持名(ming)曰(yue):“上(shang)士(shi)修持,升為(wei)天宮;中(zhong)士(shi)修持,南(nan)宮立(li)(li)仙(xian);下士(shi)修持,在(zai)世長年”。觀內(nei)建(jian)有丹(dan)爐、丹(dan)臺和丹(dan)井。當(dang)時玉虛(xu)(xu)觀由(you)(you)皇帝御封道(dao)官掌(zhang)管(guan),并(bing)受龍虎山(shan)(shan)張天師節治。清(qing)代(dai),劉(liu)(liu)子英道(dao)士(shi)設玉虛(xu)(xu)觀為(wei)府(fu)觀,掌(zhang)管(guan)贛(gan)南(nan)道(dao)教(jiao)事務;立(li)(li)陰(yin)陽(yang)(yang)學執(zhi)管(guan)道(dao)綱(gang),焦道(dao)士(shi)主(zhu)(zhu)持觀內(nei)陰(yin)陽(yang)(yang)法事功課。民國時期,在(zai)此興辦小學。解放(fang)后(hou),仍為(wei)水東(dong)(dong)小學用(yong)地。1985年贛(gan)州(zhou)市政府(fu)決定折價歸還,1989年在(zai)水東(dong)(dong)萬(wan)松山(shan)(shan)(又(you)名(ming)仙(xian)山(shan)(shan))重(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)玉虛(xu)(xu)觀,并(bing)由(you)(you)方(fang)業(ye)儒道(dao)長負責籌建(jian)工(gong)作。1990年6月竣(jun)工(gong)后(hou)經批準開放(fang),由(you)(you)方(fang)業(ye)儒任主(zhu)(zhu)持。同年農歷7月7日,方(fang)業(ye)儒主(zhu)(zhu)持隆重(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)玉虛(xu)(xu)觀開光(guang)慶典。出(chu)席慶典的(de)(de)有宗教(jiao)界(jie)人(ren)(ren)士(shi)和信教(jiao)群(qun)眾300多人(ren)(ren)。開光(guang)之后(hou),先后(hou)接(jie)待北京(jing)、上(shang)海、福(fu)建(jian)、廣(guang)東(dong)(dong)、香(xiang)港、臺灣、美國等海內(nei)外道(dao)教(jiao)信士(shi)3000多人(ren)(ren)次。
新建玉(yu)虛觀為(wei)(wei)(wei)一(yi)棟二層樓(lou)的殿(dian)堂(tang)(tang),樓(lou)下正廳是三(san)清(qing)官,上(shang)書“清(qing)絕塵囂贛(gan)南無雙(shuang)福地,高凌云漢虔州(zhou)第一(yi)仙山”。三(san)清(qing)圣像(xiang)兩旁列有(you)四(si)位神(shen)像(xiang):左為(wei)(wei)(wei)朱元帥、王靈官;右為(wei)(wei)(wei)馬天(tian)君、殷元帥。三(san)清(qing)官左為(wei)(wei)(wei)“宗師(shi)堂(tang)(tang)”,右為(wei)(wei)(wei)“追思堂(tang)(tang)”。樓(lou)上(shang):中為(wei)(wei)(wei)天(tian)師(shi)殿(dian)(供(gong)張道陵),左為(wei)(wei)(wei)萬(wan)壽宮(供(gong)許遜),右為(wei)(wei)(wei)純陽(yang)殿(dian)(供(gong)呂洞賓)。后樓(lou)下為(wei)(wei)(wei)財(cai)神(shen)殿(dian)。玉(yu)虛觀已成為(wei)(wei)(wei)贛(gan)州(zhou)地區道眾(zhong)的活動中心。
觀(guan)門為(wei)八卦形石(shi)門,兩側石(shi)刻楹聯,文曰(yue):“三(san)清(qing)古道千秋業,四(si)要玄機萬世師(shi)。”兩尊青(qing)石(shi)雄獅踞立(li)兩旁,狀(zhuang)似諦聽鐘聲,縱覽云海。朱紅(hong)圍墻(qiang),上書“德配(pei)天地(di),道法(fa)自然(ran)”。進玉虛觀(guan)即至觀(guan)內(nei)正(zheng)殿(dian)(dian)葛(ge)仙(xian)殿(dian)(dian)(又名太極殿(dian)(dian))。八卦門正(zheng)中(zhong)上方仿宋(song)書“大葛(ge)仙(xian)殿(dian)(dian)”。殿(dian)(dian)深29.2米,寬(kuan)17.0米,建筑面積576平方米。大殿(dian)(dian)前后三(san)進,正(zheng)中(zhong)有24根朱紅(hong)圓柱落地(di),柱礎為(wei)八角形石(shi)雕(diao)(diao)。人字形遞進式五層木(mu)板(ban)倒(dao)壁。宏(hong)制巧(qiao)構,寬(kuan)敞堂皇;雕(diao)(diao)梁(liang)畫棟,朱漆(qi)描金。棟、梁(liang)上浮雕(diao)(diao)為(wei)道家神仙(xian)故事(shi)和(he)“九龍仰(yang)香爐”等(deng)圖(tu)案,寓“九龍竄(cuan)頂”之意。
大殿屋項系(xi)鑄(zhu)鐵瓦(wa),鐵瓦(wa)長(chang)(chang)方形翹頭(tou),每塊長(chang)(chang)40厘米(mi),寬24厘米(mi)。鐵瓦(wa)有(you)(you)兩(liang)類,在翹頭(tou)上一鑄(zhu)“大葛仙”三字(zi),一鑄(zhu)“名山”兩(liang)字(zi)中夾牡丹(dan)。此(ci)瓦(wa)系(xi)1939年大殿火毀后重建時,為防火患及大風而鑄(zhu)造。殿上方有(you)(you)神(shen)龕(kan)高4.0米(mi),寬4.4米(mi)。滾龍抱柱長(chang)(chang)方形匾(bian)額(e)紅底金字(zi),題曰“太(tai)極左宮”,匾(bian)額(e)四周雕盤(pan)金龍,匾(bian)額(e)頂部懸雕一描金展大鵬鳥。龕(kan)兩(liang)側(ce)有(you)(you)聯:“葛水長(chang)(chang)流神(shen)澤達,仙山持立(li)圣光明。”神(shen)龕(kan)正中端坐“葛仙翁”神(shen)像(xiang),金面、黑須,雙目平視,頭(tou)戴(dai)雙翅(chi)搭(da)肩宰相帽,身(shen)著(zhu)金絲蟒袍系(xi)玉帶,其后有(you)(you)仙翁立(li)行(xing)像(xiang),裝(zhuang)束(shu)神(shen)態與坐像(xiang)相同(tong)。
神龕(kan)兩(liang)旁站立(li)彩(cai)塑馬(靈耀)、趙(公明)、溫(瓊)、關(羽)“四大(da)(da)(da)元(yuan)帥”和(he)風、雨、雷、電諸神像,威武勇(yong)猛,森嚴肅穆(mu)。神龕(kan)前(qian)為香案(an),仰視有(you)八卦形蜂窩藻(zao)井。殿(dian)正中有(you)青石(shi)浮雕(diao)九(jiu)龍(long)金階,金階兩(liang)旁豎立(li)石(shi)柱(zhu),柱(zhu)鐫:“大(da)(da)(da)葛青云路(lu),仙(xian)(xian)翁紫金街。鶴嶺(ling)駐仙(xian)(xian)蹤(zong),山巒(luan)撐(cheng)突兀(wu),朝拜須清靜,登(deng)臨自(zi)健松。”等字樣;柱(zhu)頂端踞立(li)石(shi)象、石(shi)獅。大(da)(da)(da)殿(dian)橫(heng)梁上和(he)庭柱(zhu)上遍(bian)布匾(bian)額楹聯。整(zheng)座(zuo)大(da)(da)(da)殿(dian)金碧輝(hui)煌,氣勢宏偉。
葛仙殿(dian)(dian)左(zuo)側(ce)為(wei)“老君殿(dian)(dian)”,右側(ce)為(wei)“觀音殿(dian)(dian)”。1994年(nian),兩(liang)殿(dian)(dian)側(ce)各建(jian)(jian)二屋飛檐八角荷葉形(xing)歇山式鐘(zhong)鼓(gu)樓。樓高10.5米,內懸(xuan)鑄鐵鐘(zhong)。鐘(zhong)邊有(you)(you)八卦(gua)圖(tu)案。種身四(si)(si)周鑄文(wen)“帝道遐邇,皇圖(tu)共固,風(feng)調雨(yu)順,國(guo)泰(tai)民(min)安”(民(min)國(guo)七年(nian),1918)。鼓(gu)直徑80厘(li)米,夏(xia)布鼓(gu)面。夏(xia)布浸桐(tong)油后再刷漆,以(yi)代皮鼓(gu)面,此(ci)事頗有(you)(you)來歷(見本志“傳(chuan)說”章)。現(xian)用夏(xia)布鼓(gu)為(wei)1981年(nian)4月置(zhi)。在葛仙殿(dian)(dian)西側(ce),與大殿(dian)(dian)毗連處是三(san)(san)官殿(dian)(dian)。該(gai)殿(dian)(dian)建(jian)(jian)于四(si)(si)十年(nian)代后后期。4榀(pin),畫棟雕(diao)(diao)梁(liang)有(you)(you)朱柱23根,朱紅穹(qiong)形(xing)椽架(jia)頂棚,八卦(gua)形(xing)鏤空藻(zao)井(jing),青石(shi)神臺青石(shi)浮雕(diao)(diao)福、祿(lu)、壽三(san)(san)星及文(wen)房(fang)四(si)(si)寶圖(tu)案。中塑天(tian)官、左(zuo)為(wei)地官、右為(wei)水官神像(xiang)。神臺著置(zhi)一石(shi)香(xiang)妒(du)。出三(san)(san)官殿(dian)(dian)順山勢而(er)下即(ji)至靈(ling)官殿(dian)(dian)。該(gai)殿(dian)(dian)木石(shi)結(jie)構,石(shi)門,朱扉。系三(san)(san)官殿(dian)(dian)同期建(jian)(jian)筑。殿(dian)(dian)前有(you)(you)畫梁(liang)雕(diao)(diao)柱走廊(lang)。門前一石(shi)香(xiang)爐。殿(dian)(dian)正中塑王靈(ling)官、金(jin)甲金(jin)鞭,神威凜赫。左(zuo)塑藥(yao)王,右塑蛇母娘娘神像(xiang)。正中上方橫匾,黑底金(jin)字:“靈(ling)官玉(yu)殿(dian)(dian)”。兩(liang)側(ce)有(you)(you)楹聯。
出(chu)(chu)靈(ling)官(guan)殿沿百步嶺石階(jie)(jie)而(er)下即(ji)至(zhi)(zhi)地(di)母(mu)殿。1984年(nian)(nian)毀(hui)于(yu)火,1991年(nian)(nian)修復。土木結構(gou),歇山式(shi),八卦門(men)。神(shen)龕內中塑地(di)母(mu)元(yuan)君(jun)(jun),左塑天母(mu)元(yuan)君(jun)(jun),右塑水母(mu)元(yuan)君(jun)(jun)。殿左側為鬼(gui)谷仙師(又(you)稱(cheng)夢(meng)神(shen)),殿右側為五谷天君(jun)(jun)等神(shen)像。出(chu)(chu)地(di)母(mu)殿沿石階(jie)(jie)而(er)下即(ji)至(zhi)(zhi)玉皇(huang)殿(又(you)稱(cheng)玉皇(huang)樓)。1984年(nian)(nian)毀(hui)于(yu)火。1991年(nian)(nian)8月21日奠基,1992年(nian)(nian)12月3日竣工。鋼(gang)筋水泥(ni)框架結構(gou),兩層,仿古宮(gong)殿式(shi),黃琉璃瓦,朱(zhu)紅(hong)圓柱(zhu),紅(hong)墻,飛檐(yan)翹角。欄(lan)柱(zhu)三面雕(diao)花。氣勢恢宏(hong),富麗堂(tang)皇(huang)。
建筑面(mian)積374.76平方米(mi)。樓高(gao)11.3米(mi),長12.9米(mi),寬9.6米(mi)。門前(qian)開鑄(zhu)鐵香爐,系民國二(er)十七(qi)年(nian)(1938)所(suo)置。
玉(yu)皇殿(dian)一(yi)層祀玉(yu)皇大(da)帝。神像端坐于盤龍描金神龕內,前(qian)有金童、玉(yu)女。龕正上(shang)方(fang)一(yi)匾額(e),黑底(di)(di)金字“金闕云宮”。座(zuo)前(qian),左(zuo)塑葛(ge)孝先、薩守堅,右塑張(zhang)道陵、許旌陽,合稱(cheng)“葛(ge)、張(zhang)、許、薩”四信真君站像,傳說(shuo)均為天(tian)樞(shu)內閣成員(yuan)。殿(dian)門上(shang)方(fang)一(yi)大(da)橫匾,亦黑底(di)(di)金字“玉(yu)皇大(da)帝”,兩側有聯(lian)。二樓祀大(da)清道德天(tian)尊、玉(yu)清元始天(tian)尊、上(shang)清靈寶天(tian)尊,又(you)稱(cheng)“三清閣”。
玉虛觀(guan)周(zhou)圍建(jian)(jian)有三(san)座山(shan)門(men):觀(guan)西面(mian)(mian)(mian)為西山(shan)門(men),片石(shi)單面(mian)(mian)(mian)結構,白粉墻(qiang)、橢(tuo)圓門(men)、翹角(jiao)。門(men)上(shang)方扇(shan)形框正面(mian)(mian)(mian)題“三(san)清在即”,背(bei)面(mian)(mian)(mian)題:“道超德(de)茂(mao)”。觀(guan)東面(mian)(mian)(mian)為東山(shan)門(men),建(jian)(jian)筑構型與西山(shan)門(men)一樣。上(shang)書(shu)“葛仙山(shan)”三(san)字。觀(guan)北面(mian)(mian)(mian)為北山(shan)門(men),在山(shan)北區進(jin)口處(chu)。建(jian)(jian)筑造型與西山(shan)門(men)相同。上(shang)書(shu):“咫(zhi)尺西天”。進(jin)此(ci)山(shan)門(men)即到(dao)龍(long)舌池、慈濟寺。
出東(dong)山(shan)(shan)門(men)半(ban)里,登山(shan)(shan)橫越七華里即到東(dong)半(ban)山(shan)(shan)爺(ye)殿。此處系一(yi)搖籃(lan)形山(shan)(shan)谷(gu)盆地(di),方圓開闊,日照(zhao)充(chong)足(zu),山(shan)(shan)水宜人。爺(ye)殿即建(jian)(jian)于(yu)盆地(di)南偏西端(duan)。片石、土墻(qiang)結構(gou),4榀廳堂。中祀葛(ge)爺(ye)(葛(ge)玄之父),左塑葛(ge)娘(葛(ge)玄之母)、觀音、三(san)官、地(di)母神像(xiang)(xiang),右塑天(tian)師(shi)張道陵(ling)、洪鈞老祖、道德天(tian)尊、龍(long)王等神像(xiang)(xiang)。據說此處原有觀音殿、三(san)官殿等12棟廟宇(yu),“文革”中夷為平地(di),于(yu)今只見屋基。爺(ye)殿系1992年四(si)鄉百(bai)姓募建(jian)(jian)。翌年,又在(zai)路口右側建(jian)(jian)靈官殿。
在葛仙山(shan)(shan)(shan)西北(bei)半(ban)山(shan)(shan)(shan)處建(jian)有(you)娘殿(dian)(dian)。系民間為(wei)紀(ji)念“葛仙翁”之母(mu)(mu)(mu)所(suo)(suo)(suo)建(jian)。傳說始建(jian)于明(ming)末,然史無稽考。幾度興廢。今貌為(wei)4榀木瓦(wa)結構平房,系1986年4月上(shang)饒(rao)“三官會”眾信士所(suo)(suo)(suo)建(jian)。屋頂(ding)飛檐、翹角(jiao),有(you)雙(shuang)龍(long)搶珠(zhu)立(li)體浮塑(su)(su)。殿(dian)(dian)門(men)兩側(ce)(ce)(ce)有(you)楹聯,文曰:“娘德共爹恩定省金仙思復育,殿(dian)(dian)成同像塑(su)(su)往來香客謁虔(qian)誠。”殿(dian)(dian)堂正中木雕(diao)朱漆(qi)、描金神(shen)龕(kan)(kan),兩側(ce)(ce)(ce)有(you)聯,文曰:“嗣漢連(lian)綿傳萬(wan)代,天師道(dao)法保黎(li)民。”中塑(su)(su)鳳冠霞帔、慈眉善目中年女神(shen),乃“葛仙翁”之母(mu)(mu)(mu)。上(shang)懸匾(bian)額,篆(zhuan)刻“圣母(mu)(mu)(mu)元(yuan)君”。左側(ce)(ce)(ce)神(shen)龕(kan)(kan)內(nei)塑(su)(su)葛父(fu),官帽、蟒袍、白須。直匾(bian)書曰“妙道(dao)高玄”。右側(ce)(ce)(ce)神(shen)龕(kan)(kan)內(nei)塑(su)(su)“送子觀音”神(shen)像。殿(dian)(dian)門(men)前一小坪,經(jing)此沿石階下山(shan)(shan)(shan)。坪右側(ce)(ce)(ce)建(jian)有(you)一棟(dong)兩層樓房,為(wei)葛仙山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺觀管委會于1996年所(suo)(suo)(suo)建(jian),為(wei)香客提供飲食、住宿服(fu)務,兼(jian)售香燭、鞭(bian)炮、旅游(you)紀(ji)念品等。在山(shan)(shan)(shan)北(bei),古(gu)柳杉樹側(ce)(ce)(ce),建(jian)有(you)龍(long)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)。該殿(dian)(dian)面對龍(long)舌(she)池。瓦(wa)頂(ding)、土(tu)墻。內(nei)奉祀龍(long)王(wang),有(you)石香爐、香燭臺。
玉(yu)虛觀現存藏經(jing)(jing)有:《道德(de)經(jing)(jing)》、《靈(ling)寶經(jing)(jing)》、《葛仙經(jing)(jing)》、 《玉(yu)皇經(jing)(jing)》、《地母經(jing)(jing)》、《三官經(jing)(jing)》、《靈(ling)官經(jing)(jing)》、《觀音經(jing)(jing)》、《受(shou)生(sheng)經(jing)(jing)》、《金剛經(jing)(jing)》、《蓮華觀音經(jing)(jing)》、《高(gao)皇觀音經(jing)(jing)》、《北斗(dou)經(jing)(jing)》、《太(tai)(tai)陽經(jing)(jing)》、《太(tai)(tai)陰經(jing)(jing)》等14部經(jing)(jing)籍和(he)《早、晚功課經(jing)(jing)》1部。