斗(dou)(dou)(dou)方(fang)山(shan)(shan)風景區位于大(da)別山(shan)(shan)南(nan)麓,浠英羅三縣交(jiao)界處,亦稱斗(dou)(dou)(dou)方(fang)禪(chan)林,建(jian)在斗(dou)(dou)(dou)方(fang)山(shan)(shan)上(shang),最初由后唐同(tong)光元年(923)無著禪(chan)師(shi)(shi)建(jian)造,北宋(song)時佛(fo)印禪(chan)師(shi)(shi)駐錫傳(chuan)經,元遭(zao)兵毀。明洪(hong)武重建(jian),規模宏大(da),僧弟(di)子數(shu)百人云集(ji)山(shan)(shan)上(shang),盛(sheng)極一時。建(jian)國(guo)初,寺(si)(si)廟僅(jin)存上(shang)斗(dou)(dou)(dou)方(fang)三重殿(dian)堂,上(shang)殿(dian)梁、柱(zhu)皆石(shi)(shi)(shi)結(jie)構,石(shi)(shi)(shi)柱(zhu)八(ba)(ba)根,高4.6米(mi),柱(zhu)圍(wei)2.2米(mi),建(jian)筑牢(lao)固(gu),造型壯觀(guan)(guan),工程巨(ju)大(da)。殿(dian)前(qian)有(you)月臺(tai)式場(chang)地(di),場(chang)前(qian)有(you)石(shi)(shi)(shi)質(zhi)臺(tai)階。中(zhong)殿(dian)和下(xia)殿(dian)為青(qing)磚結(jie)構,亦有(you)石(shi)(shi)(shi)柱(zhu)八(ba)(ba)根,殿(dian)內(nei)有(you)石(shi)(shi)(shi)質(zhi)佛(fo)龕。近年來,香港印靜(jing)法師(shi)(shi)會同(tong)香港佛(fo)門弟(di)子捐資千萬(wan)元修復斗(dou)(dou)(dou)方(fang)寺(si)(si),中(zhong)國(guo)佛(fo)教協會咨議委員會副主席、當今(jin)禪(chan)宗大(da)德高僧本(ben)煥大(da)法師(shi)(shi)任斗(dou)(dou)(dou)方(fang)寺(si)(si)方(fang)丈。重修后的(de)斗(dou)(dou)(dou)方(fang)寺(si)(si)于1998年11月16日(ri)正式對游人開放。斗(dou)(dou)(dou)方(fang)山(shan)(shan)多石(shi)(shi)(shi)洞怪石(shi)(shi)(shi),相傳(chuan)八(ba)(ba)卦洞右(you)側的(de)石(shi)(shi)(shi)樓,是(shi)(shi)乾隆進士范思皇讀書和倡(chang)"三教"(道、佛(fo)、儒(ru))之所。斗(dou)(dou)(dou)方(fang)山(shan)(shan)是(shi)(shi)佛(fo)教圣地(di),也是(shi)(shi)觀(guan)(guan)光游覽的(de)好去處。
斗(dou)(dou)方(fang)山因(yin)山形(xing)(xing)斗(dou)(dou)方(fang)而得名(ming),不僅是一座歷(li)史悠久的(de)佛(fo)教名(ming)山且諸峰羅列,氣勢(shi)(shi)雄(xiong)偉,山中四(si)千畝林(lin)木郁郁蔥(cong)蔥(cong),花(hua)草斗(dou)(dou)艷,四(si)季春色(se),風光秀麗,氣候宜(yi)人。山南側,奇石(shi)(shi)林(lin)立,千姿百態(tai),因(yin)形(xing)(xing)狀物, 如(ru)生,更有洞府遍布,歷(li)來(lai)為游人所神(shen)往。山東側的(de)“舍利寶(bao)塔”建于北宋時期,紅沙石(shi)(shi)質,單件各幅,行如(ru)立鼓,小巧玲瓏(long),被載(zai)入《中國寶(bao)塔名(ming)勝大辭典》。斗(dou)(dou)方(fang)寺古(gu)殿為一色(se)的(de)花(hua)崗石(shi)(shi)建筑,石(shi)(shi)梁、石(shi)(shi)竹、石(shi)(shi)墩、石(shi)(shi)架、石(shi)(shi)墻貫斗(dou)(dou),上刻蟠龍花(hua)紋,工精形(xing)(xing)肖,勢(shi)(shi)態(tai)宏偉壯觀,富(fu)有濃厚的(de)傳奇色(se)彩(cai),是省級(ji)重點保護(hu)單位。山中還有摹巖刻字十多(duo)處,歷(li)代文(wen)(wen)人騷客(ke)留下的(de)詩文(wen)(wen)上百篇(pian),傳奇故事(shi)數(shu)百個,潛在著(zhu)豐富(fu)的(de)旅游資源(yuan)。