中(zhong)方(fang)廣寺(si)(si)始建(jian)于(yu)東(dong)晉興寧(ning)年(nian)(nian)間,開山祖師(shi)為(wei)曇猷尊(zun)者(zhe)(zhe)。中(zhong)方(fang)廣寺(si)(si)自創建(jian)后曾(ceng)毀建(jian)多次(ci),其(qi)中(zhong)大的(de)(de)幾次(ci)擴建(jian)整修是宋(song)朝兩次(ci),主(zhu)(zhu)持(chi)(chi)者(zhe)(zhe)不詳(xiang);明(ming)朝一次(ci),主(zhu)(zhu)持(chi)(chi)者(zhe)(zhe)為(wei)錢塘大賢葛一鵬(peng);迄清及近代一次(ci),主(zhu)(zhu)持(chi)(chi)者(zhe)(zhe)為(wei)興慈法師(shi);現任一次(ci)(主(zhu)(zhu)要是一九(jiu)八(ba)○年(nian)(nian)至一九(jiu)八(ba)三年(nian)(nian)在(zai)當地政府和(he)(he)廣大信眾支持(chi)(chi)下的(de)(de)重(zhong)建(jian)工程),主(zhu)(zhu)持(chi)(chi)者(zhe)(zhe)為(wei)通和(he)(he)法師(shi)。重(zhong)建(jian)后的(de)(de)中(zhong)方(fang)廣寺(si)(si)主(zhu)(zhu)要佛教建(jian)筑(zhu)為(wei)大殿(dian)(dian)、觀(guan)音(yin)殿(dian)(dian)、祖師(shi)堂、曇華亭、銅殿(dian)(dian)、僧竂、香積廚等。其(qi)中(zhong)特色(se)者(zhe)(zhe)一為(wei)曇華亭,二為(wei)五百(bai)羅漢銅佛殿(dian)(dian),后者(zhe)(zhe)被僧眾視為(wei)該寺(si)(si)鎮山之寶(bao)。另外,寺(si)(si)內有(you)一株約三百(bai)多年(nian)(nian)樹(shu)齡的(de)(de)黃檀,寺(si)(si)內僧人常可根據(ju)樹(shu)的(de)(de)生長(chang)變化,預(yu)測該地區當年(nian)(nian)旱澇(lao)災(zai)情,甚為(wei)奇異。
建筑特色
曇華(hua)亭架于石梁(liang)之上,憑欄(lan)可俯瞰溪(xi)水深潭,石深飛(fei)瀑全(quan)景盡收眼底,該寺(si)始于南宋理宗景定(ding)二年(一(yi)(yi)一(yi)(yi)六二年),天臺籍宰(zai)相賈似道為紀念(nian)他(ta)的(de)父親,抗(kang)金(jin)名(ming)(ming)將賈涉,耗白銀五(wu)(wu)萬(wan)兩,命萬(wan)年寺(si)僧妙弘(hong)法師修(xiu)建。石梁(liang)橋西端(duan),原有(you)一(yi)(yi)座小銅殿,是天臺山(shan)的(de)重要文物之一(yi)(yi)。據史籍記(ji)載∶「(此殿)明鄭妃(fei)所舍,高(gao)七(qi)尺許,中(zhong)雕鏤五(wu)(wu)百羅漢(han)(han)小像,甚(shen)工(gong)(gong)致。」據今實測∶銅殿高(gao)約(yue)一(yi)(yi).三米,寬○.六米,中(zhong)鑄五(wu)(wu)百羅漢(han)(han)像,欄(lan)楹間有(you)五(wu)(wu)十二字∶「皇明天啟元年辛酉(一(yi)(yi)六二一(yi)(yi)年)中(zhong)秋(qiu)吉旦,欽差提督九門太監徐貴等喜(xi)助(zhu)成金(jin)殿,永遠供養(yang)天臺勝境(jing)石梁(liang)橋首。清涼山(shan)后(hou)學沙門如壁(bi)募造。」左(zuo)壁(bi)有(you)「浙(zhe)江布政司參政米萬(wan)鍾」;「欽差提督分兼(jian)管和道催浙(zhe)直(zhi)福(fu)福(fu)江木料工(gong)(gong)部侍中(zhong)楊師孔」等題(ti)名(ming)(ming),右壁(bi)題(ti)名(ming)(ming)已漫患(huan)不明,五(wu)(wu)百羅漢(han)(han)眉發(fa)畢偌(ruo),形象逼真,工(gong)(gong)藝精湛。
五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)羅漢銅(tong)殿,始建(jian)于五(wu)(wu)(wu)代十國(guo)之(zhi)際,據(ju)《感(gan)應略記》載(zai)(zai)∶「就嘉全億長史畫半(ban)千羅漢形象。每(mei)一(yi)迎請,必于石(shi)(shi)橋宿夜(ye)焚香(xiang)(xiang),具(ju)鑼鈸幢蓋,引道入于殿,香(xiang)(xiang)風送幢之(zhi)勢,前靡而(er)入,入門即(ji)止,其(qi)方(fang)廣(guang)寺梵唄方(fang)作,先(xian)有(you)金色鳥,飛翔后(hou)(hou)林樹(shu)石(shi)(shi)畔(pan)。吳越(yue)國(guo)王(wang)錢弘倜(ti)頻年(nian)施供養,造五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)銅(tong)羅漢。」后(hou)(hou)來(lai)(lai),人(ren)們(men)還為(wei)(wei)五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)羅漢演義了許多「神靈」的(de)(de)(de)(de)故事,有(you)人(ren)將(jiang)五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)應真(zhen)(zhen)說成(cheng)是田橫(heng)五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)壯士(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)化(hua)身,田橫(heng)是戰國(guo)時(shi)齊國(guo)田氏(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)后(hou)(hou)代。秦末,其(qi)從兄(xiong)田儋(dan)自立為(wei)(wei)齊王(wang),不(bu)(bu)久戰死,儋(dan)弟(di)榮與(yu)榮子(zi)廣(guang)相(xiang)繼為(wei)(wei)齊王(wang),田橫(heng)為(wei)(wei)相(xiang)國(guo)。韓信(xin)破齊,田橫(heng)自立為(wei)(wei)齊王(wang),率領(ling)從屬五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)人(ren)逃(tao)往(wang)(wang)海(hai)(hai)島。劍(jian)邦稱帝(di)(di),遣(qian)(qian)使(shi)(shi)者(zhe)招降,田橫(heng)與(yu)客二(er)人(ren)往(wang)(wang)洛陽,未(wei)至(zhi)二(er)十里,羞為(wei)(wei)漢臣(chen),自殺。留(liu)居海(hai)(hai)島的(de)(de)(de)(de)部眾,遵田橫(heng)臨(lin)行前之(zhi)命,逃(tao)奔到天(tian)(tian)臺山(shan)(shan)。他們(men)聽到田橫(heng)義不(bu)(bu)降漢的(de)(de)(de)(de)消息后(hou)(hou),悲憤填膺,慷慨跳崖,以追隨田橫(heng)。五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)壯士(shi)跳崖后(hou)(hou),被一(yi)朵朵禪云托住,說是壯士(shi)誼氣(qi)感(gan)動觀(guan)音(yin)菩薩,觀(guan)音(yin)撒下的(de)(de)(de)(de)五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)朵白云,五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)壯士(shi)變為(wei)(wei)五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)羅漢。他們(men)以后(hou)(hou)就住在(zai)石(shi)(shi)梁飛瀑的(de)(de)(de)(de)中方(fang)廣(guang)寺。以后(hou)(hou),歷代帝(di)(di)王(wang)每(mei)當「國(guo)難」當頭(tou)的(de)(de)(de)(de)時(shi)刻,都遣(qian)(qian)使(shi)(shi)來(lai)(lai)山(shan)(shan)祭請,祈(qi)求羅漢的(de)(de)(de)(de)蔭護。如宋仁宗(zong)于景(jing)?四年(nian)(一(yi)○三七年(nian)),遣(qian)(qian)使(shi)(shi)來(lai)(lai)天(tian)(tian)臺供施五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)應真(zhen)(zhen),其(qi)敕(chi)文曰(yue)∶朕(zhen)荷祖宗(zong)之(zhi)休(xiu),丕承洪業,未(wei)賞不(bu)(bu)虛(xu)懷(huai)逸士(shi),側席幽人(ren)。雅(ya)聞(wen)天(tian)(tian)臺之(zhi)石(shi)(shi)橋,近接四明(ming)之(zhi)雪(xue)竇,智覺之(zhi)遺風具(ju)在(zai),應真(zhen)(zhen)之(zhi)靈跡儼存。慨想名山(shan)(shan),載(zai)(zai)形夢(meng)寐。今遣(qian)(qian)內使(shi)(shi)張(zhang)履信(xin)赍沈香(xiang)(xiang)山(shan)(shan)子(zi)一(yi)座,龍(long)茶二(er)百(bai)斤,銀五(wu)(wu)(wu)百(bai)兩,御衣一(yi)襲,表(biao)朕(zhen)尊(zun)重之(zhi)意!