歷(li)史(shi)上的(de)圓(yuan)通(tong)庵規模(mo)不大(da),2001年(nian)恢復重建(jian)(jian)(jian)時,更名圓(yuan)通(tong)寺(si)。2003年(nian)3月31日(ri)(農歷(li)二月二十九日(ri)),圓(yuan)通(tong)寺(si)大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)正式(shi)奠基(ji)。經過(guo)近(jin)十年(nian)的(de)努力(li),圓(yuan)通(tong)寺(si)已初具規模(mo)。 現圓(yuan)通(tong)寺(si)占地60余畝,建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)面積19000平方米,建(jian)(jian)(jian)有牌樓(lou)、天王殿(dian)、大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)、觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)閣、藏(zang)經樓(lou)等。寺(si)院內古(gu)木參天,兩棵樹齡千(qian)年(nian),蒼勁挺拔、枝繁葉茂的(de)古(gu)杏樹是(shi)吳江人(ren)文(wen)景(jing)觀(guan)(guan)中(zhong)獨有的(de)“十樣景(jing)樹”;殿(dian)堂(tang)建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)古(gu)典恢宏,佛像(xiang)莊嚴,慈祥栩栩如(ru)生,處處能感應到蓮花(hua)佛國(guo)的(de)觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)道場特(te)色(se);露天金玉觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)、觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)閣內四面觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)均為(wei)江南大(da)型觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)造像(xiang),可與普陀(tuo)山觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)像(xiang)和峨嵋山金頂相媲美;古(gu)典園(yuan)林建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu),小橋流水,蓮花(hua)噴泉(quan),假(jia)山洞(dong)天,風景(jing)秀麗,宛若仙境(jing),歷(li)史(shi)悠久,人(ren)文(wen)景(jing)觀(guan)(guan)極(ji)為(wei)豐富(fu),集(ji)宗教、文(wen)化(hua)于一(yi)體,是(shi)一(yi)座具有千(qian)年(nian)歷(li)史(shi)的(de)江南名剎。
寺前廣場有(you)三(san)楹(ying)石牌(pai)樓(lou),中(zhong)(zhong)間(jian)匾額“圓通寺”三(san)字,為(wei)(wei)著名(ming)國學大師南(nan)懷(huai)謹手(shou)書(shu)(shu)。兩側(ce)配有(you)南(nan)懷(huai)謹先生(sheng)撰寫(xie)、書(shu)(shu)法(fa)(fa)家杜忠誥(gao)書(shu)(shu)寫(xie)的(de)(de)(de)楹(ying)聯:“梵唄鐘聲(sheng)寂寂惺惺觀自在,江(jiang)楓魚火塵塵剎剎見如來”,將佛學哲理和江(jiang)南(nan)水鄉景色融于一體(ti)。牌(pai)樓(lou)內(nei)側(ce)一塊匾額“回頭是岸”,由(you)蘇(su)州(zhou)佛教(jiao)協會(hui)(hui)(hui)副(fu)秘書(shu)(shu)長、吳中(zhong)(zhong)區佛教(jiao)協會(hui)(hui)(hui)會(hui)(hui)(hui)長貫澈大和尚(shang)題寫(xie)。沿中(zhong)(zhong)軸線過(guo)牌(pai)樓(lou)進山門是天(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),“天(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)”三(san)字由(you)江(jiang)蘇(su)著名(ming)書(shu)(shu)法(fa)(fa)家徐利明先生(sheng)撰寫(xie)。天(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)袒腹笑顏的(de)(de)(de)彌勒菩(pu)薩供奉于殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)堂中(zhong)(zhong)央。彌勒菩(pu)薩的(de)(de)(de)后方(fang),身著甲胄、手(shou)執(zhi)金剛杵的(de)(de)(de)韋馱菩(pu)薩,其護法(fa)(fa)護教(jiao)之(zhi)愿,凝然(ran)于氣(qi)宇之(zhi)中(zhong)(zhong)。神(shen)態威嚴(yan)的(de)(de)(de)四大天(tian)王(wang)為(wei)(wei)守護佛法(fa)(fa)之(zhi)善神(shen),分別為(wei)(wei)東方(fang)持國天(tian)王(wang)、南(nan)方(fang)增長天(tian)王(wang)、西(xi)方(fang)廣目天(tian)王(wang)及(ji)北方(fang)多聞天(tian)王(wang),手(shou)中(zhong)(zhong)各拿著象征風調、雨順、國泰、民安的(de)(de)(de)法(fa)(fa)器,守護佛法(fa)(fa)、鎮衛國土。走出天(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)回頭見到的(de)(de)(de)匾額由(you)中(zhong)(zhong)國書(shu)(shu)法(fa)(fa)家協會(hui)(hui)(hui)前會(hui)(hui)(hui)長啟功所題寫(xie)的(de)(de)(de)“三(san)洲(zhou)感應(ying)”。
出天王殿(dian)(dian),兩側(ce)是(shi)(shi)鐘鼓樓。正(zheng)中是(shi)(shi)大(da)(da)雄(xiong)(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian),殿(dian)(dian)匾“大(da)(da)雄(xiong)(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)”四(si)(si)大(da)(da)金字是(shi)(shi)浙江著名書法家俞德明(ming)先(xian)生(sheng)所題(ti)。大(da)(da)雄(xiong)(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)內現(xian)供有三(san)世如來,中間佛(fo)祖本師釋迦牟尼世尊,左為(wei)東方教(jiao)主藥師流璃光(guang)佛(fo),右為(wei)西方教(jiao)主阿彌(mi)陀佛(fo),莊嚴神圣(sheng)。殿(dian)(dian)后(hou)是(shi)(shi)鰲魚觀(guan)島,泥塑彩繪三(san)十二應活靈活現(xian),善才童子(zi)五十三(san)參禪佛(fo)生(sheng)動(dong)逼真(zhen)。大(da)(da)雄(xiong)(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)后(hou)門(men)上方有“慈航普(pu)渡”匾額,為(wei)蘇州佛(fo)教(jiao)協(xie)會(hui)副會(hui)長(chang)、寒山寺方丈秋爽大(da)(da)和尚所題(ti)。大(da)(da)雄(xiong)(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)后(hou)有放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)池,過(guo)放(fang)(fang)生(sheng)池拱橋(qiao),是(shi)(shi)“觀(guan)音(yin)閣”。觀(guan)音(yin)閣是(shi)(shi)二層建筑,里面(mian)供香樟木雕刻而成的四(si)(si)面(mian)千手觀(guan)音(yin),高11.38點米,由寧波宏托精雕有限公司(si)制作,全部貼(tie)金。
圓(yuan)通寺西(xi)花園景觀區(qu)主要(yao)景點有(you)水(shui)上露天(tian)金(jin)玉觀音像(xiang)(xiang)、蓮花池、蓮花噴(pen)泉、待(dai)月樓、回廊(lang)、水(shui)榭、旱船(chuan)(chuan)、茶室、會(hui)務接待(dai)室、九曲石橋、觀湖(hu)亭、慈孝(xiao)亭、假山洞天(tian)、奇花異草、金(jin)魚錦龜(gui)等,景致優雅(ya),一派(pai)江南(nan)園林(lin)特(te)色,特(te)別這旱船(chuan)(chuan),與退思園的“鬧紅(hong)一舸”有(you)異曲同工之妙。圓(yuan)通寺的四面千手觀音像(xiang)(xiang)、“十樣景”銀杏樹、金(jin)剛經塔碑,可以(yi)稱為三絕。