禪林寺北倚長城(cheng),西顧(gu)京(jing)城(cheng),南(nan)臨(lin)津(jin)唐(tang),東通遼沈,屬(shu)京(jing)津(jin)唐(tang)承(cheng)秦(qin)腹地,西距(ju)(ju)北京(jing)158公里(li)(li),西南(nan)距(ju)(ju)天津(jin)(濱(bin)海新區(qu))175公里(li)(li),南(nan)距(ju)(ju)唐(tang)山(shan)75公里(li)(li)(曹妃(fei)甸(dian)155公里(li)(li)),北距(ju)(ju)承(cheng)德175公里(li)(li),東南(nan)距(ju)(ju)秦(qin)皇島(dao)150公里(li)(li)。該區(qu)群山(shan)環抱、古(gu)樹(shu)參天、寺廟莊(zhuang)嚴(yan)、長城(cheng)巍峨,素已“四古(gu)”著稱(cheng),聞名遐邇。
禪林寺是(shi)(shi)在遵化(hua)市建立(li)較(jiao)早的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)座(zuo)古寺,距(ju)今已有(you)(you)1580多年。相傳在東晉的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)時候,由(you)于(yu)封建王侯(hou)各(ge)霸一(yi)(yi)方,征伐頻繁,把這(zhe)一(yi)(yi)帶鬧(nao)得烽火連天,餓殍遍地(di),方圓百里的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)荒山中(zhong)沒(mei)有(you)(you)一(yi)(yi)戶人(ren)家。就在這(zhe)個(ge)虎狼經常出(chu)沒(mei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)方,僧(seng)人(ren)們卻認(ren)為是(shi)(shi)塊(kuai)“風水寶地(di):”,于(yu)是(shi)(shi)大(da)興(xing)土木,修(xiu)建了這(zhe)座(zuo)寺院,取名“云昌寺”。當時,高大(da)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)朱紅山門,面朝東南(nan),迎同一(yi)(yi)層正(zheng)房(fang)(fang),分為3大(da)間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),東、西(xi)兩(liang)間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)各(ge)立(li)一(yi)(yi)尊木制(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)“哼哈二將”,身高丈余(yu)(yu),頭(tou)觸房(fang)(fang)頂;中(zhong)間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)是(shi)(shi)通往正(zheng)殿(dian)過(guo)道;寺內(nei)(nei)亭臺殿(dian)閣,雕梁畫(hua)棟;院內(nei)(nei)左(zuo)右(you)各(ge)有(you)(you)3間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)對面配房(fang)(fang),是(shi)(shi)人(ren)們燒香(xiang)許(xu)愿的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)方。房(fang)(fang)內(nei)(nei)墻(qiang)壁(bi)繪滿(man)彩色佛(fo)像,東配房(fang)(fang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)畫(hua)像稱(cheng)為“眼(yan)神娘(niang)娘(niang)”,西(xi)配房(fang)(fang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)畫(hua)像稱(cheng)為“藥(yao)王娘(niang)娘(niang)”。配房(fang)(fang)北(bei)面正(zheng)中(zhong)是(shi)(shi)10幾(ji)(ji)間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)香(xiang)殿(dian),廊下八根(gen)筆(bi)直的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)大(da)紅明柱輝(hui)煌耀(yao)眼(yan)。殿(dian)內(nei)(nei)正(zheng)中(zhong)香(xiang)案上鑲有(you)(you)一(yi)(yi)塊(kuai)長4尺、寬2尺的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)石匾,鐫刻著為修(xiu)廟捐款人(ren)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)姓名。兩(liang)邊塑(su)有(you)(you)8大(da)金鋼、16羅漢。各(ge)個(ge)佛(fo)像造型(xing)勻稱(cheng),姿勢各(ge)異,栩(xu)栩(xu)如生,較(jiao)引人(ren)注目的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)是(shi)(shi)東北(bei)角的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)彌勒佛(fo)像,它大(da)腹便便,笑容可掬。香(xiang)殿(dian)配有(you)(you)鐘鼓二樓,西(xi)側(ce)郊門,另有(you)(you)一(yi)(yi)跨(kua)院。院內(nei)(nei)各(ge)有(you)(you)3間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)相向的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)正(zheng)房(fang)(fang),北(bei)面3間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)是(shi)(shi)兩(liang)位老方丈的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)寢室,南(nan)面3間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)是(shi)(shi)小(xiao)禪師的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)住處,西(xi)面有(you)(you)四間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)朝東的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)配房(fang)(fang),除去一(yi)(yi)間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)廚房(fang)(fang)外,其余(yu)(yu)3間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)盛滿(man)了大(da)小(xiao)有(you)(you)別、形態各(ge)異的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)銅(tong)制(zhi)佛(fo)像。后(hou)來,幾(ji)(ji)經修(xiu)葺,遼代(dai)乾(qian)統年間(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(1101年)復修(xiu)后(hou),更名“禪林寺”。
山(shan)(shan)有五峰(feng)(feng),中峰(feng)(feng)撐(cheng)出云表,其它四(si)峰(feng)(feng)側立(li)。 這座(zuo)(zuo)屹立(li)于(yu)(yu)(yu)燕山(shan)(shan)叢中的(de)(de)名(ming)山(shan)(shan),東與名(ming)勝(sheng)(sheng)舍身(shen)臺眺望,西和邊關(guan)古隘羅文峪(yu)遙對,南臨沙河(he),北靠長(chang)城(cheng)。五座(zuo)(zuo)并(bing)(bing)峙的(de)(de)峰(feng)(feng)巒自北向(xiang)南延伸十(shi)數里(li),禪林(lin)寺便建于(yu)(yu)(yu)中峰(feng)(feng)下端。著名(ming)的(de)(de)“五峰(feng)(feng)拱翠(cui)(cui)”一景(jing),便來(lai)于(yu)(yu)(yu)此。“周(zhou)圍古松(song)(song)夾徑,林(lin)木(mu)陰翳,云影煙光,紅紫萬狀(zhuang),映(ying)帶寺之(zhi)左右”,形成了東、西“四(si)峰(feng)(feng)側立(li),如拱如傴,儼(yan)然(ran)左右夾輔之(zhi)象,真奇觀哉。境內諸山(shan)(shan)應以茲為(wei)(wei)冠(guan)”,故(gu)于(yu)(yu)(yu)清代列為(wei)(wei)一大名(ming)勝(sheng)(sheng)(見《遵化州志》)。“五峰(feng)(feng)拱翠(cui)(cui)”之(zhi)景(jing),并(bing)(bing)非騷(sao)人(ren)墨(mo)客夸大渲染(ran),事實(shi)上確實(shi)引(yin)人(ren)入(ru)勝(sheng)(sheng)。滿山(shan)(shan)上下怪石(shi)嶙(lin)峋,結構復雜,形態各異(yi)。翠(cui)(cui)柏青(qing)松(song)(song)漫坡(po)遍壑,形狀(zhuang)更為(wei)(wei)奇特,有的(de)(de)橫生于(yu)(yu)(yu)崖額,圓(yuan)圓(yuan)的(de)(de)樹冠(guan),似(si)一頂(ding)華蓋撐(cheng)在半空(kong),有的(de)(de)樹干彎而直立(li)向(xiang)上,形如世外(wai)仙人(ren)騰躍空(kong)中,有的(de)(de)矗(chu)于(yu)(yu)(yu)亂壁、峰(feng)(feng)頂(ding)、怪石(shi)之(zhi)上,迎霜傲雪(xue),挺拔峭立(li),千百年來(lai)吸(xi)引(yin)著無(wu)數的(de)(de)游客。
即千(qian)(qian)年(nian)銀(yin)杏(xing)(xing)樹。在(zai)禪(chan)林(lin)(lin)古寺(si)周圍長著(zhu)的十(shi)(shi)三(san)株(zhu)(一雄十(shi)(shi)二雌)蔽天(tian)遮(zhe)日的古銀(yin)杏(xing)(xing)樹,植于秦(qin)代,樹齡2000年(nian)以上。至今仍枝繁葉茂(mao),果實(shi)(shi)累累。雄樹較為高大,被稱為“龍種”,而其(qi)中一株(zhu)雌樹滋生(sheng)三(san)代細樹,稱為“四世同(tong)堂(tang)”。樹心已腐朽,又在(zai)洞腹中生(sheng)出一株(zhu)粗大的銀(yin)杏(xing)(xing),母子(zi)合一共擎蒼天(tian),給(gei)人以神秘莫測之感(gan)。寺(si)廟碑文曾(ceng)記載:“先有禪(chan)林(lin)(lin)后有邊(bian)(邊(bian),指長城),銀(yin)杏(xing)(xing)還在(zai)禪(chan)林(lin)(lin)前(qian)”。足以證(zheng)明(ming)這十(shi)(shi)三(san)株(zhu)銀(yin)杏(xing)(xing)歷盡蒼桑已兩(liang)千(qian)(qian)多年(nian)。清代遵(zun)化州進士史(shi)樸到禪(chan)林(lin)(lin)寺(si)巡(xun)視(shi)時亦留(liu)下贊頌(song)詩(shi)句:“五峰高峙(zhi)瑞去深,秦(qin)寺(si)云昌歷宋金。代出名僧存梵塔,名殊常(chang)寺(si)號禪(chan)林(lin)(lin)。巖(yan)稱虎(hu)嘯馴何(he)跡,石(shi)出雞鳴叩有音。古柏高枝銀(yin)杏(xing)(xing)實(shi)(shi),幾千(qian)(qian)年(nian)物到而今。”
原名云(yun)昌寺,禪(chan)(chan)林(lin)(lin)(lin)(lin)寺始建年(nian)代(dai)不詳,在(zai)(zai)(zai)遼(liao)(liao)代(dai)重(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)時(shi)(shi),得(de)到一塊古碑(bei),考證早在(zai)(zai)(zai)北(bei)朝后秦(qin)時(shi)(shi)就有僧人在(zai)(zai)(zai)此(ci)居住(zhu)。而(er)在(zai)(zai)(zai)后秦(qin)時(shi)(shi),禪(chan)(chan)林(lin)(lin)(lin)(lin)寺(當(dang)時(shi)(shi)名叫云(yun)昌寺)也是重(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu),則此(ci)寺的始建年(nian)代(dai)當(dang)早于南北(bei)朝。禪(chan)(chan)林(lin)(lin)(lin)(lin)寺在(zai)(zai)(zai)遼(liao)(liao)、金(jin)、元,以及清朝時(shi)(shi),都有重(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)碑(bei)記。經東晉重(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)、遼(liao)(liao)統復修(xiu)(xiu),更名為禪(chan)(chan)林(lin)(lin)(lin)(lin)寺,距(ju)今(jin)在(zai)(zai)(zai)1700年(nian)以上。禪(chan)(chan)林(lin)(lin)(lin)(lin)寺坐落(luo)于五峰(feng)山(shan)中峰(feng),寺的匾(bian)額(e)上大字(zi)寫(xie)著“五峰(feng)禪(chan)(chan)林(lin)(lin)(lin)(lin)”依從山(shan)名而(er)得(de)。《五峰(feng)山(shan)志》給它(ta)起名“五峰(feng)禪(chan)(chan)林(lin)(lin)(lin)(lin)”,匾(bian)額(e)寫(xie)上了它(ta)的名字(zi)。當(dang)地(di)人省略去五峰(feng)稱其為“禪(chan)(chan)林(lin)(lin)(lin)(lin)寺”。該(gai)寺毀于抗日戰爭(zheng)時(shi)(shi)期,2000年(nian)重(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu),頗具(ju)規(gui)模。