據滄縣志記載:“水月寺(si)原在城(cheng)外西(xi)南角,觀燈橋以(yi)西(xi),后周廣(guang)順年(nian)公元953年(nian)始建。明宣德(de)十(shi)年(nian)僧人澤安移建于城(cheng)北鹽場(chang)東側。明正統十(shi)七(qi)年(nian)僧人澤一重(zhong)修,清乾隆(long)五十(shi)四年(nian),州人宋成文、董(dong)寶仁(ren)等繼而重(zhong)修,光(guang)緒二十(shi)一年(nian)駐防樂軍梅(mei)東益(yi)等又重(zhong)修……可謂吾邑之(zhi)冠。”
據說,因清(qing)同治年(nian)間運河發大水,在鹽(yan)場附近決口,洪水從寺廟越過,故(gu)以諧音更(geng)名為水月寺。當時僅是一小廟,香火(huo)不盛,寺內方丈性(xing)然,為重(zhong)修并擴大廟宇(yu),曾斷手化緣以表誠心。
經過五、六年時(shi)間,他(ta)(ta)在市內各(ge)商(shang)家(jia)鋪戶和周圍各(ge)鄉村大(da)戶人家(jia),化得一筆(bi)巨資,同(tong)時(shi)得到駐防滄(cang)州的(de)統領(ling)導范(fan)天貴(gui)及梅東(dong)益等的(de)大(da)力支持,開始重(zhong)修擴建。其(qi)規(gui)模更加壯觀,氣勢更加宏偉(wei)。整個(ge)水月寺(si)(si)(si)有(you)山門(men)(前殿)、次殿、大(da)殿、后殿為(wei)三進院落,均有(you)東(dong)西配殿。還有(you)東(dong)西兩個(ge)跨院、山門(men)門(men)匾(bian)水月寺(si)(si)(si)三個(ge)唐(tang)隸大(da)字,為(wei)駐滄(cang)統領(ling)范(fan)天貴(gui)手(shou)書,他(ta)(ta)本一介武夫(fu),為(wei)附(fu)庸(yong)風雅(ya),他(ta)(ta)從重(zhong)修廟宇之日起,便(bian)悉心(xin)習(xi)書練(lian)字,等三年后,寺(si)(si)(si)廟竣工,水月寺(si)(si)(si)三字也揮筆(bi)練(lian)就。
前(qian)(qian)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)兩側有(you)(you)泥塑的(de)(de)頭抵屋頂(ding)的(de)(de)身軀魁偉、橫眉怒目、叱咤風云(yun)的(de)(de)哼(heng)哈二(er)將(jiang),高(gao)(gao)約兩丈(zhang)(zhang),十(shi)分(fen)威嚴(yan)。次殿(dian)(dian)(dian)當中(zhong)有(you)(you)相(xiang)背(bei)而塑前(qian)(qian)后可(ke)觀的(de)(de)兩尊大(da)(da)(da)(da)佛(fo)(fo)(fo),一(yi)是“大(da)(da)(da)(da)肚(du)能容(rong),容(rong)天(tian)下難容(rong)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)事(shi),慈顏(yan)常笑(xiao),笑(xiao)世間(jian)可(ke)笑(xiao)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)人”的(de)(de)彌(mi)勒佛(fo)(fo)(fo),再是著盔披甲,手執紫(zi)金降魔杵的(de)(de)韋陀(即護法神(shen)、類鬧天(tian)宮中(zhong)的(de)(de)二(er)郎神(shen)楊戩)。兩側還(huan)有(you)(you)四大(da)(da)(da)(da)天(tian)王坐(zuo)象高(gao)(gao)約一(yi)丈(zhang)(zhang)五尺(chi)。有(you)(you)的(de)(de)伏虎(hu)、有(you)(you)的(de)(de)玩蛇、有(you)(you)的(de)(de)弄劍、有(you)(you)的(de)(de)彈琵琶。可(ke)謂威風凜凜、氣勢逼人。此殿(dian)(dian)(dian)可(ke)穿堂而過直(zhi)通大(da)(da)(da)(da)雄寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)。此殿(dian)(dian)(dian)高(gao)(gao)達十(shi)二(er)丈(zhang)(zhang)八(ba)尺(chi),登上七步(bu)臺階可(ke)見(jian)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)前(qian)(qian)平臺正(zheng)中(zhong)有(you)(you)高(gao)(gao)約五丈(zhang)(zhang)的(de)(de)千斤大(da)(da)(da)(da)鼎。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)正(zheng)中(zhong)有(you)(you)三(san)尊赤金鍍身的(de)(de)大(da)(da)(da)(da)佛(fo)(fo)(fo),為(wei)南(nan)海觀音、西(xi)(xi)天(tian)如(ru)來(lai)、釋迦牟尼(ni)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)坐(zuo)象。高(gao)(gao)約一(yi)丈(zhang)(zhang)六(liu)尺(chi),面(mian)前(qian)(qian)三(san)張(zhang)供桌有(you)(you)香(xiang)爐、蠟千、佛(fo)(fo)(fo)罄之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)類,大(da)(da)(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)兩側有(you)(you)降龍、伏虎(hu)、長眉、長臂、醉、睡等(deng)十(shi)八(ba)羅漢,如(ru)真人大(da)(da)(da)(da)小,栩(xu)栩(xu)如(ru)生。東西(xi)(xi)北三(san)面(mian)墻壁有(you)(you)立體懸(xuan)空泥塑和壁畫,據說是由兩位(wei)著名民間(jian)藝人,一(yi)是滄縣杜林劉環師(shi)傅,一(yi)是青(qing)縣西(xi)(xi)程村馬黑師(shi)傅,各自承(cheng)包打(da)對作(zuo),竟相(xiang)獻藝,雕塑彩繪(hui)而成。其(qi)內(nei)容(rong)是反映(ying)西(xi)(xi)天(tian)如(ru)來(lai)佛(fo)(fo)(fo),從誕生、成長出(chu)家,并率幾百名弟子傳經的(de)(de)過程。但見(jian)煙(yan)云(yun)縹渺、海島仙(xian)山、奇(qi)峰古洞,流云(yun)飛瀑,宛若(ruo)神(shen)話仙(xian)境。東西(xi)(xi)兩側還(huan)有(you)(you)香(xiang)齡溫席(xi)、王祥臥魚、丁香(xiang)割肉等(deng)24孝民間(jian)傳說故事(shi)。并配(pei)有(you)(you)花卉翎毛(mao)、山水人物等(deng)多種裝飾圖案,可(ke)謂是妙手奇(qi)塑,巧奪天(tian)工,技(ji)藝精(jing)湛,令人嘆(tan)為(wei)觀止。后殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)有(you)(you)一(yi)精(jing)致銅塑千手千眼佛(fo)(fo)(fo),造型(xing)奇(qi)特,精(jing)藝絕倫。