據滄縣志(zhi)記載:“水月寺原在城外西南角,觀燈(deng)橋(qiao)以西,后周(zhou)廣(guang)順年(nian)公(gong)元953年(nian)始建。明(ming)宣德十年(nian)僧人(ren)(ren)澤(ze)安(an)移建于城北鹽場(chang)東側。明(ming)正統十七年(nian)僧人(ren)(ren)澤(ze)一(yi)重(zhong)修(xiu),清乾隆五十四(si)年(nian),州人(ren)(ren)宋成文、董寶仁等(deng)繼而(er)重(zhong)修(xiu),光(guang)緒(xu)二十一(yi)年(nian)駐防(fang)樂軍梅(mei)東益等(deng)又重(zhong)修(xiu)……可謂(wei)吾邑之冠。”
據說,因清同治年間運(yun)河發大水(shui),在鹽場(chang)附近決(jue)口,洪水(shui)從寺廟越過,故(gu)以(yi)諧音(yin)更名為(wei)水(shui)月寺。當時僅是一(yi)小廟,香火不盛,寺內(nei)方丈性(xing)然,為(wei)重(zhong)修并擴大廟宇,曾斷手化緣以(yi)表(biao)誠(cheng)心。
經過五、六年(nian)時(shi)間,他在(zai)市內(nei)各商家鋪(pu)戶和周圍各鄉村大戶人家,化得一(yi)筆巨資,同(tong)時(shi)得到駐防滄州的(de)統(tong)領(ling)導范(fan)天貴及梅東(dong)益(yi)等的(de)大力支持,開始重修擴建。其規模更加壯觀,氣勢更加宏偉。整個(ge)水月(yue)(yue)寺有山(shan)門(前(qian)殿(dian)(dian))、次(ci)殿(dian)(dian)、大殿(dian)(dian)、后(hou)殿(dian)(dian)為三(san)進院落,均有東(dong)西(xi)配殿(dian)(dian)。還有東(dong)西(xi)兩個(ge)跨院、山(shan)門門匾水月(yue)(yue)寺三(san)個(ge)唐隸大字(zi),為駐滄統(tong)領(ling)范(fan)天貴手書,他本一(yi)介武(wu)夫,為附庸風雅,他從重修廟(miao)宇之日(ri)起,便悉(xi)心習(xi)書練字(zi),等三(san)年(nian)后(hou),寺廟(miao)竣工(gong),水月(yue)(yue)寺三(san)字(zi)也(ye)揮筆練就。
前(qian)(qian)殿內兩側有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)泥塑的(de)(de)頭抵屋頂的(de)(de)身(shen)(shen)軀魁偉、橫(heng)眉(mei)怒目、叱咤風云(yun)的(de)(de)哼哈二(er)將,高(gao)約(yue)兩丈(zhang),十(shi)分威嚴。次殿當中(zhong)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)相(xiang)背而(er)塑前(qian)(qian)后(hou)可觀的(de)(de)兩尊大佛(fo)(fo),一(yi)是“大肚(du)能容,容天(tian)下難(nan)容之事,慈顏常笑,笑世(shi)間(jian)可笑之人”的(de)(de)彌勒(le)佛(fo)(fo),再是著盔(kui)披甲,手執紫金(jin)降魔(mo)杵的(de)(de)韋(wei)陀(即(ji)護(hu)法(fa)神(shen)、類鬧天(tian)宮中(zhong)的(de)(de)二(er)郎神(shen)楊戩(jian))。兩側還有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)四大天(tian)王坐(zuo)象(xiang)高(gao)約(yue)一(yi)丈(zhang)五(wu)尺。有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)的(de)(de)伏(fu)虎(hu)、有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)的(de)(de)玩蛇、有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)的(de)(de)弄劍(jian)、有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)的(de)(de)彈(dan)琵琶(pa)。可謂(wei)威風凜凜、氣勢逼人。此(ci)殿可穿堂而(er)過直通大雄(xiong)寶(bao)殿。此(ci)殿高(gao)達(da)十(shi)二(er)丈(zhang)八(ba)尺,登上(shang)七步臺階(jie)可見(jian)殿前(qian)(qian)平臺正中(zhong)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)高(gao)約(yue)五(wu)丈(zhang)的(de)(de)千斤大鼎(ding)。殿內正中(zhong)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)三尊赤金(jin)鍍身(shen)(shen)的(de)(de)大佛(fo)(fo),為南(nan)海(hai)觀音、西天(tian)如來、釋(shi)迦牟尼(ni)之坐(zuo)象(xiang)。高(gao)約(yue)一(yi)丈(zhang)六尺,面前(qian)(qian)三張供桌有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)香(xiang)爐、蠟千、佛(fo)(fo)罄之類,大殿兩側有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)降龍、伏(fu)虎(hu)、長眉(mei)、長臂、醉(zui)、睡等十(shi)八(ba)羅漢(han),如真人大小,栩栩如生。東西北(bei)三面墻(qiang)壁(bi)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)立體懸空(kong)泥塑和壁(bi)畫,據說是由(you)兩位著名民間(jian)藝人,一(yi)是滄(cang)縣杜(du)林(lin)劉(liu)環師(shi)(shi)傅(fu),一(yi)是青(qing)縣西程(cheng)村馬黑(hei)師(shi)(shi)傅(fu),各自承包打對作,竟(jing)相(xiang)獻(xian)藝,雕塑彩繪(hui)而(er)成(cheng)。其(qi)內容是反映西天(tian)如來佛(fo)(fo),從誕生、成(cheng)長出家,并率幾百名弟子傳經(jing)的(de)(de)過程(cheng)。但見(jian)煙(yan)云(yun)縹渺、海(hai)島仙(xian)山、奇(qi)峰古洞,流云(yun)飛瀑,宛若神(shen)話仙(xian)境。東西兩側還有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)香(xiang)齡溫席、王祥臥(wo)魚、丁香(xiang)割肉等24孝民間(jian)傳說故事。并配(pei)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)花(hua)卉(hui)翎毛、山水(shui)人物(wu)等多種裝飾(shi)圖案,可謂(wei)是妙手奇(qi)塑,巧(qiao)奪天(tian)工,技藝精(jing)(jing)湛,令人嘆為觀止。后(hou)殿內有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)一(yi)精(jing)(jing)致銅塑千手千眼佛(fo)(fo),造型奇(qi)特,精(jing)(jing)藝絕倫。