據滄(cang)縣志記載:“水月(yue)寺原(yuan)在城外西(xi)(xi)南角(jiao),觀(guan)燈橋(qiao)以西(xi)(xi),后周(zhou)廣順年公元(yuan)953年始建。明(ming)(ming)宣德(de)十(shi)(shi)年僧人澤(ze)安移建于城北鹽場東側。明(ming)(ming)正統(tong)十(shi)(shi)七年僧人澤(ze)一重(zhong)修(xiu),清乾隆五十(shi)(shi)四年,州(zhou)人宋(song)成文、董寶仁等(deng)繼(ji)而重(zhong)修(xiu),光(guang)緒二十(shi)(shi)一年駐防樂軍梅東益等(deng)又重(zhong)修(xiu)……可謂吾(wu)邑(yi)之冠。”
據說(shuo),因清同治年間運河發大水,在鹽場附近決口,洪(hong)水從寺(si)廟(miao)越過,故以諧音更名為(wei)水月寺(si)。當時僅是一(yi)小廟(miao),香火不盛,寺(si)內方丈性然(ran),為(wei)重修并擴大廟(miao)宇,曾(ceng)斷手化緣以表(biao)誠心。
經過五、六(liu)年(nian)時間,他(ta)在市內各商(shang)家鋪戶和周圍各鄉村(cun)大(da)(da)戶人家,化得一筆巨資,同時得到駐(zhu)防(fang)滄州的統領(ling)導范天(tian)貴(gui)及(ji)梅東(dong)(dong)益等的大(da)(da)力支持,開始重(zhong)修擴建。其規模更加壯觀(guan),氣勢(shi)更加宏偉(wei)。整(zheng)個水(shui)(shui)(shui)月寺(si)有(you)山(shan)門(men)(前殿)、次殿、大(da)(da)殿、后殿為三進院落,均有(you)東(dong)(dong)西(xi)配殿。還有(you)東(dong)(dong)西(xi)兩個跨院、山(shan)門(men)門(men)匾水(shui)(shui)(shui)月寺(si)三個唐隸大(da)(da)字(zi),為駐(zhu)滄統領(ling)范天(tian)貴(gui)手書,他(ta)本(ben)一介武夫(fu),為附庸(yong)風雅(ya),他(ta)從重(zhong)修廟宇(yu)之日起,便悉心習書練字(zi),等三年(nian)后,寺(si)廟竣工,水(shui)(shui)(shui)月寺(si)三字(zi)也揮筆練就。
前殿(dian)內兩(liang)(liang)側(ce)有(you)(you)泥(ni)塑(su)(su)的(de)(de)(de)(de)頭抵屋頂(ding)的(de)(de)(de)(de)身(shen)軀魁偉、橫眉怒目、叱咤風云(yun)(yun)的(de)(de)(de)(de)哼哈二(er)(er)將,高(gao)約(yue)兩(liang)(liang)丈(zhang),十分威嚴。次(ci)殿(dian)當中有(you)(you)相(xiang)背而塑(su)(su)前后可(ke)觀的(de)(de)(de)(de)兩(liang)(liang)尊大(da)(da)佛(fo)(fo)(fo),一是“大(da)(da)肚能(neng)容(rong),容(rong)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)下難容(rong)之事,慈(ci)顏常笑(xiao)(xiao),笑(xiao)(xiao)世間可(ke)笑(xiao)(xiao)之人”的(de)(de)(de)(de)彌(mi)勒佛(fo)(fo)(fo),再是著(zhu)盔披(pi)甲,手(shou)(shou)執紫金降(jiang)魔杵(chu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)韋陀(即護(hu)法神、類鬧天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)宮中的(de)(de)(de)(de)二(er)(er)郎(lang)神楊戩)。兩(liang)(liang)側(ce)還有(you)(you)四大(da)(da)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)王坐象高(gao)約(yue)一丈(zhang)五(wu)尺(chi)(chi)。有(you)(you)的(de)(de)(de)(de)伏虎(hu)、有(you)(you)的(de)(de)(de)(de)玩蛇、有(you)(you)的(de)(de)(de)(de)弄劍(jian)、有(you)(you)的(de)(de)(de)(de)彈琵琶。可(ke)謂(wei)威風凜(lin)(lin)凜(lin)(lin)、氣勢逼人。此殿(dian)可(ke)穿(chuan)堂而過(guo)直通大(da)(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)。此殿(dian)高(gao)達十二(er)(er)丈(zhang)八尺(chi)(chi),登上七(qi)步臺階可(ke)見殿(dian)前平臺正(zheng)中有(you)(you)高(gao)約(yue)五(wu)丈(zhang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)千(qian)斤大(da)(da)鼎。殿(dian)內正(zheng)中有(you)(you)三(san)(san)尊赤金鍍身(shen)的(de)(de)(de)(de)大(da)(da)佛(fo)(fo)(fo),為南海觀音、西(xi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)如來(lai)、釋迦牟尼之坐象。高(gao)約(yue)一丈(zhang)六尺(chi)(chi),面前三(san)(san)張供桌有(you)(you)香(xiang)爐、蠟千(qian)、佛(fo)(fo)(fo)罄之類,大(da)(da)殿(dian)兩(liang)(liang)側(ce)有(you)(you)降(jiang)龍、伏虎(hu)、長(chang)(chang)眉、長(chang)(chang)臂、醉、睡等(deng)(deng)十八羅漢,如真人大(da)(da)小,栩栩如生。東(dong)(dong)西(xi)北(bei)三(san)(san)面墻壁有(you)(you)立體懸(xuan)空泥(ni)塑(su)(su)和(he)壁畫,據說是由兩(liang)(liang)位著(zhu)名民間藝(yi)人,一是滄縣杜林劉環師(shi)傅,一是青縣西(xi)程村馬黑師(shi)傅,各自承(cheng)包打對(dui)作,竟相(xiang)獻藝(yi),雕塑(su)(su)彩繪而成。其內容(rong)是反映西(xi)天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)如來(lai)佛(fo)(fo)(fo),從誕生、成長(chang)(chang)出家,并(bing)率幾百(bai)名弟子傳經的(de)(de)(de)(de)過(guo)程。但見煙云(yun)(yun)縹渺、海島仙山(shan)、奇(qi)(qi)峰古洞,流云(yun)(yun)飛瀑,宛若神話仙境。東(dong)(dong)西(xi)兩(liang)(liang)側(ce)還有(you)(you)香(xiang)齡溫(wen)席(xi)、王祥臥魚、丁香(xiang)割肉等(deng)(deng)24孝民間傳說故(gu)事。并(bing)配(pei)有(you)(you)花卉翎毛、山(shan)水(shui)人物等(deng)(deng)多種裝(zhuang)飾圖案,可(ke)謂(wei)是妙(miao)手(shou)(shou)奇(qi)(qi)塑(su)(su),巧(qiao)奪天(tian)(tian)(tian)(tian)工,技藝(yi)精(jing)湛,令人嘆為觀止(zhi)。后殿(dian)內有(you)(you)一精(jing)致銅塑(su)(su)千(qian)手(shou)(shou)千(qian)眼佛(fo)(fo)(fo),造型奇(qi)(qi)特,精(jing)藝(yi)絕倫。