曹山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)原名(ming)荷玉山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),四周的(de)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)就像一(yi)朵朵的(de)蓮(lian)(lian)花瓣,曹山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)便坐落(luo)在蓮(lian)(lian)花瓣當中(zhong),猶(you)如一(yi)顆蓮(lian)(lian)心。正(zheng)對(dui)(dui)(dui)著寺(si)(si)廟的(de)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)叫供養(yang)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),它(ta)的(de)形狀就像一(yi)碗盛滿的(de)齋飯,供奉著菩薩,與供養(yang)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)相對(dui)(dui)(dui)的(de)是虎(hu)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),虎(hu)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)的(de)右(you)邊(bian)是龍(long)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),它(ta)與虎(hu)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)形成了龍(long)虎(hu)之勢,與四周的(de)蓮(lian)(lian)花瓣圍抱著曹山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si),讓曹山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)院端正(zheng)坐落(luo)在正(zheng)中(zhong)廣(guang)闊(kuo)的(de)空間,面對(dui)(dui)(dui)供養(yang)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),形成一(yi)個天然的(de)大佛法壇(tan)。
《中國旅游文化大(da)辭典(dian)》中載(zai):祖(zu)師本(ben)寂俗姓黃(huang),名(ming)(ming)元證,法(fa)號本(ben)寂,系(xi)福(fu)建莆田人,19歲在福(fu)建靈(ling)山出(chu)家,25歲受(shou)戒,得(de)到江(jiang)西(xi)宜豐洞(dong)山高僧良介禪師真傳,來到宜黃(huang)弘揚(yang)宗(zong)(zong)法(fa),他在曹(cao)山“法(fa)席大(da)興,學者云萃,洞(dong)山之宗(zong)(zong),至(zhi)即為(wei)盛”,名(ming)(ming)揚(yang)四(si)海,被稱為(wei)“曹(cao)洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)”,為(wei)中國佛教禪宗(zong)(zong)五大(da)派系(xi)之一(yi),故(gu)曹(cao)山寶積寺(si)被稱為(wei)“曹(cao)洞(dong)宗(zong)(zong)”’祖(zu)庭(ting)。
宋明清歷(li)代《宜黃縣志》和《宗(zong)(zong)教(jiao)詞典(dian)》多(duo)版(ban)記載:在(zai)我(wo)國(guo)、日本、東南亞、朝(chao)鮮多(duo)國(guo),至今有(you)千余(yu)座曹洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)派(pai)系(xi)寺(si)廟和上(shang)千萬信徒(tu)。史(shi)載:宋朝(chao)嘉(jia)定16年(公元1223年),日本學僧道(dao)元(承陽大師)來華參禪(chan),拜(bai)曹洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)第十三代祖師如凈禪(chan)師為師3年,受(shou)禪(chan)宗(zong)(zong)和法衣而歸,回日本建永平寺(si)作為傳(chuan)播(bo)曹洞(dong)(dong)宗(zong)(zong)的根本道(dao)場,法系(xi)繁衍(yan),至今教(jiao)徒(tu)有(you)800多(duo)萬,寺(si)廟15000多(duo)座。
本寂禪(chan)師(shi)在(zai)曹(cao)山傳(chuan)法(fa)31年,弟子過百,信徒數千。公元(yuan)901年圓寂后就葬在(zai)曹(cao)山寺西側的鳳形坑,享年62歲。1743年,清雍(yong)正皇帝加封為“定藏元(yuan)證禪(chan)師(shi)”,祖(zu)師(shi)塔(ta)于1983年修復。