望海禪寺建在祖山(shan)山(shan)腰,它背西面東,三(san)面環繞高山(shan),一面通(tong)向(xiang)畫(hua)廊谷,站(zhan)在寺院(yuan)里透過畫(hua)廊谷能夠東望渤海,所(suo)以古人(ren)把這座寺院(yuan)叫作"望海寺",2009年復(fu)建完工后更名為(wei)"望海禪寺"。
據清代(dai)(dai)《臨榆縣(xian)志》記(ji)載,望海禪寺始建于金(jin)代(dai)(dai)大(da)定(ding)年(nian)(nian)(nian)間,也就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)公(gong)(gong)(gong)元(yuan)1161至(zhi)1189年(nian)(nian)(nian)間,由比丘張(zhang)三峰(feng)創建,至(zhi)今已(yi)有800多(duo)年(nian)(nian)(nian)的歷史。到了明(ming)代(dai)(dai)曾經進行三次(ci)重(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu),第一次(ci)是(shi)(shi)在天順(shun)年(nian)(nian)(nian)間,也就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)公(gong)(gong)(gong)元(yuan)1457至(zhi)1464年(nian)(nian)(nian)間,由僧人張(zhang)凈(jing)朗重(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu);第二(er)次(ci)是(shi)(shi)在正德四年(nian)(nian)(nian),就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)1509年(nian)(nian)(nian),由僧人李道敏重(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu);第三次(ci)是(shi)(shi)在崇禎(zhen)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian),就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)公(gong)(gong)(gong)元(yuan)1628年(nian)(nian)(nian),由僧人云祥重(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)。到了清代(dai)(dai)康熙(xi)四十五年(nian)(nian)(nian),就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)公(gong)(gong)(gong)元(yuan)1706年(nian)(nian)(nian),由僧人莊福(fu)再(zai)度重(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)。清代(dai)(dai)中(zhong)期以后(hou),無人修(xiu)(xiu)繕,廢磚爛瓦散落林間,人們都叫它"磚廟"。
望海禪寺(si)不僅人文(wen)景觀(guan)很好(hao),周圍的自(zi)然景觀(guan)也非(fei)常優(you)美(mei),素有"環寺(si)八景"之(zhi)稱(cheng),它們分別(bie)是:渤(bo)海船影,醉臥劉伶,龜兔賽跑,和合二(er)仙,天女云(yun)床,秀才看榜(bang),萬壑松濤,神龜探海。一(yi)個(ge)栩栩如生,活靈活現,把(ba)望海禪寺(si)襯托(tuo)得更加雄(xiong)偉壯觀(guan),大有深山(shan)藏古寺(si)的味道。
天王殿(dian)銅匾(bian)上鑄有"望海禪寺"四個大字(zi),上款是:"徐漢有合家(jia)敬立"。下款為:"歲(sui)次戊子冬(dong)(dong)日(ri)馬世曉(xiao)瑾書"。戊子冬(dong)(dong)日(ri)指(zhi)2008年冬(dong)(dong)天;馬世曉(xiao)先生為中國書協理事、浙江大學(xue)教授。
門(men)口的銅匾上鑄有"伽藍殿"三個(ge)篆字,落(luo)款為(wei)"葉特烈(lie)敬尚(shang)", 葉特烈(lie)先生(sheng)是杭州人,中國(guo)美術學(xue)院諸樂山(shan)教授的學(xue)生(sheng)。
門口銅匾上鑄有"觀音殿"三個(ge)大字,落款為"戊子冬月崔(cui)自默(mo)"。崔(cui)自默(mo)先(xian)生(sheng)是北(bei)京人,著名畫家范(fan)曾先(xian)生(sheng)的弟子。