介紹
明(ming)(ming)代永樂十六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(公元(yuan)1418年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),寺(si)僧無(wu)用自應天溧水(今江蘇溧陽(yang)縣)來,與(yu)蒙化土官左氏、蒙化大(da)族善(shan)信(xin)等(deng)共(gong)同(tong)籌資(zi),先期(qi)建(jian)成(cheng)大(da)雄寶殿(dian)(太(tai)陽(yang)宮)。隨之(zhi)(zhi),劈展后地,共(gong)建(jian)成(cheng)三進四院的(de)(de)佛教寺(si)廟建(jian)筑群。明(ming)(ming)正統二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1437年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))開(kai)始塑像(xiang),明(ming)(ming)成(cheng)化元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1465年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))土知府(fu)左氏再(zai)建(jian)雙(shuang)塔(ta)于(yu)二門外,諸(zhu)(zhu)善(shan)信(xin)增建(jian)殿(dian)宇五座,明(ming)(ming)代萬歷二十七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1599年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至(zhi)三十四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1625年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),僧綱司住(zhu)持性定再(zai)次(ci)募(mu)修各殿(dian),又新(xin)建(jian)后殿(dian)、兩廡及更(geng)衣廳并塑羅(luo)漢,至(zhi)此,等(deng)覺寺(si)為規(gui)模最(zui)大(da)時(shi)。《等(deng)覺寺(si)碑記》載:“……功既就,各塑諸(zhu)(zhu)尊金(jin)像(xiang),昭示法眼(yan),于(yu)是(shi)(shi),棟宇巍(wei)峨,后前(qian)(qian)掩映,寶像(xiang)森嚴(yan),金(jin)碧(bi)交輝……”從中可(ke)以看到,當初建(jian)成(cheng)時(shi)的(de)(de)等(deng)覺寺(si),無(wu)論(lun)是(shi)(shi)建(jian)筑規(gui)模還是(shi)(shi)香火之(zhi)(zhi)盛都是(shi)(shi)空(kong)前(qian)(qian)的(de)(de)。清(qing)(qing)代咸豐(feng)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)兵焚,部分(fen)建(jian)筑被毀,僅余太(tai)陽(yang)宮、雙(shuang)塔(ta)等(deng)處(chu)。清(qing)(qing)光緒年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian),于(yu)太(tai)陽(yang)宮之(zhi)(zhi)左建(jian)祿位(wei)祠,祀云貴總督(du)林則徐。在太(tai)陽(yang)宮之(zhi)(zhi)右改建(jian)昭忠祠,祀咸同(tong)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)清(qing)(qing)軍(jun)陣亡、殉難諸(zhu)(zhu)人。
太陽宮建(jian)于(yu)明(ming)永(yong)樂十六(liu)年(1418年),為(wei)面(mian)寬五間(jian)的單檐(yan)歇山式建(jian)筑,正面(mian)及左右(you)檐(yan)下皆設(she)重(zhong)昂五踩斗拱,后檐(yan)以垂柱花板作裝飾,整個建(jian)筑古樸(pu)雄渾。雙(shuang)(shuang)塔(ta)(ta)建(jian)于(yu)明(ming)代(dai)成化元(yuan)年(1465年),為(wei)九級方形密檐(yan)式實(shi)心磚塔(ta)(ta)。其(qi)大小結構相同。塔(ta)(ta)身最下層為(wei)石砌臺(tai)座,上(shang)置磚造須彌座臺(tai)基二(er)層,上(shang)建(jian)塔(ta)(ta)身。雙(shuang)(shuang)塔(ta)(ta)的第一(yi)級東西(xi)南北(bei)各設(she)佛(fo)龕(kan)一(yi)個,內(nei)置大理石佛(fo)像各一(yi)尊,其(qi)中,在西(xi)塔(ta)(ta)南面(mian)鑲嵌明(ming)成化元(yuan)年《新造等(deng)覺寺雙(shuang)(shuang)寶塔(ta)(ta)記》一(yi)通。
縱觀等覺寺(si),其建筑的(de)確非凡。尤其是等覺寺(si)集(ji)塔、寺(si)為一體的(de)佛教(jiao)建筑,建在(zai)城(cheng)池內實(shi)屬少見(jian)。兼之(zhi)等覺寺(si)建筑布局型制(zhi)嚴謹,充分顯(xian)示了古代(dai)匠師(shi)的(de)高(gao)超技(ji)藝,是研究明代(dai)早期木構建筑的(de)重要實(shi)物(wu)例(li)證,文(wen)物(wu)價值極高(gao)。