概述
上海真如寺也叫普陀真如寺。真如寺(si)位(wei)于上海(hai)普陀(tuo)區真如鎮街(jie)道,占地近20畝,建筑面積1370平(ping)方米(mi),上海(hai)著名的佛寺(si),原名“萬(wan)壽寺(si)”,俗稱“大(da)廟”,全國文(wen)物(wu)保護單位(wei)。上海(hai)普陀(tuo)區境內,歷(li)史上曾(ceng)有(you)不(bu)少寺(si)廟,但絕大(da)多數(shu)都已廢毀,留(liu)存(cun)下來(lai)的寺(si)廟,以真如寺(si)為(wei)建寺(si)最早、影響最深。
南宋嘉(jia)定年(nian)(nian)間(1208-1224年(nian)(nian)),和尚永安建真如(ru)院于官場(chang)(今(jin)大場(chang)附近)。元(yuan)延祐七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(1320年(nian)(nian)),妙心(xin)和尚將其(qi)移至桃浦、梨園浜交匯處東北側今(jin)址(zhi),改名(ming)為(wei)真如(ru)寺(si)。寺(si)名(ming)乃取自(zi)佛經《成唯識論》里的(de)解釋:“真,謂真實,顯非虛妄;如(ru),謂如(ru)常(chang),表無變易。謂此真如(ru),于一切位,常(chang)如(ru)其(qi)性(xing),故曰真如(ru)。”寺(si)內橫梁對聯有“佛日(ri)增輝(hui)崇盛世群咸悟(wu)真如(ru)”之句,點(dian)出(chu)了寺(si)名(ming)的(de)來(lai)歷。
真(zhen)如(ru)(ru)寺(si)(si)遷建(jian)以后(hou),因香火旺盛,寺(si)(si)前(qian)出(chu)現市集(ji),緣寺(si)(si)得名(ming),稱真(zhen)如(ru)(ru)市。隨著(zhu)集(ji)鎮的(de)發展,位于鎮北的(de)真(zhen)如(ru)(ru)寺(si)(si)也不(bu)斷擴大(da)(da)(da)。正殿(dian)(dian)(大(da)(da)(da)雄寶殿(dian)(dian))四(si)周(zhou)擴建(jian)了許多(duo)偏殿(dian)(dian)佛閣,清末時(shi),東(dong)廡有(you)送子觀音殿(dian)(dian)、伽(jia)藍殿(dian)(dian),西(xi)廡有(you)十(shi)王殿(dian)(dian)、痘司殿(dian)(dian),寺(si)(si)前(qian)有(you)韋馱殿(dian)(dian)、鄂王殿(dian)(dian)、魯班(ban)殿(dian)(dian)、財(cai)神殿(dian)(dian)、北方殿(dian)(dian),寺(si)(si)后(hou)有(you)大(da)(da)(da)悲(bei)殿(dian)(dian)、文昌(chang)殿(dian)(dian)、西(xi)方境(jing)等,形(xing)成(cheng)了規模較大(da)(da)(da)的(de)寺(si)(si)廟建(jian)筑(zhu)群。清咸豐十(shi)年(nian)(1860年(nian))太平軍東(dong)進時(shi),除(chu)正殿(dian)(dian)外大(da)(da)(da)部分建(jian)筑(zhu)被毀。
建于元(yuan)代(dai)的(de)真(zhen)如寺正殿,面寬、進(jin)深皆三(san)間(jian),內部(bu)構(gou)造極復雜,歷(li)代(dai)屢經修葺。明洪武年(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1368年(nian)(nian)-1398年(nian)(nian))僧人(ren)(ren)道馨(xin)及弘志年(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1488-1505年(nian)(nian))僧人(ren)(ren)法雷曾兩次重修,清光緒二十年(nian)(nian)(1894年(nian)(nian))又由(you)楊耀文、甘士霖(lin)等發(fa)起,同上(shang)海壽(shou)圣庵僧人(ren)(ren)念岸、念倫聯合發(fa)起募捐修寺活(huo)動,對原(yuan)大殿進(jin)行(xing)大修。現(xian)存(cun)梁、柱、枋(fang)斗拱等主(zhu)體結(jie)構(gou)以(yi)及大部(bu)分構(gou)件皆為元(yuan)代(dai)原(yuan)物,是(shi)我國佛教寺院中為數很少保存(cun)下來(lai)的(de)元(yuan)代(dai)建筑。
“文革”期(qi)間停(ting)止(zhi)宗教活動,寺內佛像(xiang)均被毀(hui)損。
1979年,上海市文物保管(guan)委員(yuan)會對該寺(si)大修,發現殿內額底(di)部寫(xie)有(you)“時大元歲(sui)次庚申延祐七年癸未季夏月(yue)乙(yi)巳二十一日(ri)巽時鼎建”字(zi)樣,因此確定真如寺(si)殿為元代建筑而列為保護建筑。
歷史追溯
1)明清期間
明(ming)清期間(jian)(jian),在(zai)該(gai)寺正殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)四周又陸(lu)(lu)續興建(jian)了許多偏殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)樓閣:東(dong)(dong)廡有(you)送子觀音殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、伽藍殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian);西(xi)廡有(you)十(shi)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、痘司殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian);寺東(dong)(dong)有(you)東(dong)(dong)岳行(xing)宮、忠顯王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian);寺西(xi)有(you)城隍行(xing)宮、地藏殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian);寺前有(you)韋馱(tuo)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、鄂王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、魯班殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、財神(shen)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、北方(fang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian);寺后有(you)大悲閣、文昌閣、西(xi)方(fang)境(jing)等,形(xing)成規模頗大的寺廟(miao)建(jian)筑群。該(gai)寺正殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)曾歷經(jing)修葺,明(ming)洪武年(nian)間(jian)(jian)及(ji)(ji)弘治(zhi)年(nian)間(jian)(jian),僧(seng)道馨、法雷(lei)2次(ci)重修。清光(guang)緒二十(shi)年(nian)(1894年(nian))又由真如鎮米商楊氏發(fa)起,同(tong)上海壽(shou)圣庵僧(seng)念(nian)岸(an)、念(nian)倫募錢1.5萬(wan)緡(千(qian)文),將單檐3間(jian)(jian)改成雙檐5間(jian)(jian),原梁架等主(zhu)體結構仍(reng)保留元代款式,兩側楹聯:東(dong)(dong)為“佛(fo)日光(guang)輝崇盛(sheng)世群生(sheng)咸悟真如”,西(xi)為“皇(huang)風祥輯衍遐(xia)齡萬(wan)姓同(tong)躋仁壽(shou)”。該(gai)寺韋馱(tuo)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),據洪復章《真如里志》載:“元至順(shun)三(san)年(nian),平(ping)(ping)江路嘉定州僧(seng)嗣文創建(jian),明(ming)正德八年(nian)僧(seng)法雷(lei)重建(jian)。清乾隆三(san)年(nian)里人陸(lu)(lu)偉功重修,乾隆四十(shi)年(nian)陸(lu)(lu)偉功、陸(lu)(lu)茂(mao)功捐(juan)資同(tong)修。”殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內著名(ming)的銅(tong)(tong)彌勒(le)佛(fo)系(xi)明(ming)代所制(zhi),銅(tong)(tong)佛(fo)背(bei)后鐫(juan)有(you)“明(ming)乙酉年(nian)住(zhu)山比丘(qiu)回聞募鑄。”太(tai)平(ping)(ping)天國及(ji)(ji)抗日戰爭時期,幾經(jing)戰火,配殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)及(ji)(ji)附屬(shu)建(jian)筑大多被毀,僅存(cun)長、寬各20米的正殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(大雄寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian))1座。
2)解放后
解放后(hou),正(zheng)(zheng)殿獨存,殿內釋(shi)迦(jia)牟尼(ni)佛像(xiang)和寺前原韋馱殿的(de)銅(tong)彌勒佛尚在。1950年10月(yue),市政(zheng)府(fu)曾(ceng)撥款(kuan)維修(xiu)正(zheng)(zheng)殿佛像(xiang),并將鋼彌勒佛設欄保護。1959年5月(yue),被(bei)(bei)定(ding)為(wei)市級文物保護單位。1963年重修(xiu),正(zheng)(zheng)殿仍恢復元代單檐式樣。“文化大(da)革命”中,殿內檀木(mu)釋(shi)迦(jia)牟尼(ni)等(deng)佛像(xiang)和銅(tong)彌勒佛被(bei)(bei)毀(hui),許(xu)多珍貴碑刻文物被(bei)(bei)砸(za)。
1979年,真如寺進行維修,正殿(dian)(dian)內額枋(fang)底(di)部仍保(bao)留(liu)“大(da)(da)元(yuan)歲次庚(geng)申延佑七(qi)年癸未季夏(xia)月己巳(si)二十乙日巽(xun)時(shi)鼎(ding)建(jian)(jian)”雙(shuang)鉤陰刻墨(mo)字(zi),為該寺建(jian)(jian)造年代的(de)佐證。江南地(di)區現存的(de)元(yuan)代建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)物極少(shao),除真如寺外(wai),僅(jin)有(you)蘇州三清殿(dian)(dian),吳縣軒轅(yuan)宮和(he)金(jin)華天寧寺3處。真如大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)共(gong)有(you)木柱16根,每根木柱的(de)地(di)基,用黃(huang)土和(he)鐵渣(zha)分層夯(hang)筑(zhu)(zhu)而(er)成,闊1.8米(mi),長3米(mi),深1.8~2米(mi);各(ge)柱地(di)基,以木相連(lian),為古建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)所罕見,是宋元(yuan)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)的(de)重要特征。在歷(li)次重修時(shi),還發(fa)現柱子、梁枋(fang)、斗拱等(deng)各(ge)項構件的(de)背面及接(jie)榫處,留(liu)有(you)當時(shi)工(gong)匠(jiang)用毛筆墨(mo)書的(de)名稱,多(duo)為江南工(gong)匠(jiang)的(de)習用俗語,有(you)研究(jiu)價(jia)值。為此,有(you)關(guan)部門擬辟為古建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)展覽(lan)館,長期不作宗(zong)教場(chang)所開放。
1991年(nian)后(hou),為滿(man)足佛(fo)教(jiao)徒(tu)活(huo)動需要(yao),將真如寺恢復為宗(zong)教(jiao)場(chang)所,成立真如寺修(xiu)復委員(yuan)會,全國佛(fo)教(jiao)協會副(fu)會長明旸法(fa)師任名(ming)譽主(zhu)任,市佛(fo)教(jiao)協會會長真禪法(fa)師為主(zhu)任。修(xiu)復后(hou)的(de)真如寺除大雄寶殿外,還興建了臥佛(fo)殿、方(fang)丈(zhang)室、后(hou)院、內院、外院、兩廊(lang)、辦公室等,面積由(you)原來的(de)800多(duo)平方(fang)米(mi)(mi)擴大到(dao)2000多(duo)平方(fang)米(mi)(mi)。1992年(nian)1月初(chu),由(you)新加坡法(fa)師林高僧性仁(ren)捐贈的(de)3尊玉(yu)佛(fo)及一些經書,入(ru)寺供藏。其中釋迦牟尼佛(fo)臥像長2.7米(mi)(mi)、重1.3噸(dun),2尊坐(zuo)像分別高2.2米(mi)(mi)和0.8米(mi)(mi)、重2.5噸(dun)和0.1噸(dun)。