壽(shou)(shou)光城(cheng)(cheng)東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)北(bei)隅、小(xiao)東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)關(guan)村(cun)東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong),文化街(jie)與(yu)東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)環路交匯處,有(you)一(yi)株千(qian)年古槐。此(ci)處也(ye)是寧(ning)國寺故(gu)址所在地。古寧(ning)國寺,東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)南西(xi)北(bei)四面(mian)溝(gou)塹灣塘相(xiang)連。西(xi)邊隔水塘與(yu)壽(shou)(shou)城(cheng)(cheng)小(xiao) 東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)關(guan)比鄰(lin)。廟宇寺院在中(zhong)央高地之上。寺廟山門(men)南向,北(bei)邊正大殿5間,另有(you)東(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)(dong)西(xi)廂(xiang)房。大殿內有(you)佛(fo)像三尊,皆木質雕鏤,工藝(yi)板精細(xi)。其(qi)中(zhong)千(qian)手千(qian)眼佛(fo),更(geng)是別(bie)具一(yi)格,臂膀處伸出(chu)18只手臂,顯示出(chu)無窮的法(fa)力。
寧(ning)(ning)國寺創始于何年,已(yi)不可考。因與北(bei)關村寧(ning)(ning)儀寺齊名,以(yi)此(ci)而(er)推,可能創始于南(nan)(nan)北(bei)朝時期(qi)。“寧(ning)(ning)國”有萬國咸(xian)寧(ning)(ning)之意,南(nan)(nan)北(bei)朝時期(qi)眾(zhong)國紛爭,取寧(ning)(ning)國寺之名,有平安、安定之愿望。
寧(ning)國(guo)寺院中有(you)(you)(you)古(gu)(gu)槐(huai)(huai)(huai)一(yi)株,昔日(ri)為壽城八景之一(yi),“寧(ning)國(guo)古(gu)(gu)槐(huai)(huai)(huai)”也。亦不知植于何年,壽光城民(min)間(jian)有(you)(you)(you)“張飛勒馬(ma)望古(gu)(gu)槐(huai)(huai)(huai)”和“先有(you)(you)(you)老槐(huai)(huai)(huai)蔭(yin),后有(you)(you)(you)壽光城”之說。古(gu)(gu)槐(huai)(huai)(huai)勢如(ru)盤(pan)龍騰飛,蒼(cang)枝勁(jing)健。其(qi)樹(shu)有(you)(you)(you)南(nan)北(bei)(bei)向兩主枝,北(bei)(bei)枝已枯,南(nan)邊一(yi)枝,至今(jin)春夏秋(qiu)之季尚綠意(yi)蔥蘢(long),生長不衰(shuai)。過去古(gu)(gu)槐(huai)(huai)(huai)在寺院中央,樹(shu)冠龐大(da),夏時濃蔭(yin)如(ru)傘,庇蔭(yin)寺院大(da)半天井。今(jin)古(gu)(gu)槐(huai)(huai)(huai)雖逝昔日(ri)風(feng)采(cai),但其(qi)生命(ming)力之頑強(qiang),令人折服。我國(guo)自(zi)周代(dai)(dai)起,國(guo)槐(huai)(huai)(huai)就(jiu)為“公卿大(da)夫之樹(shu)”。因此象首都北(bei)(bei)京國(guo)子(zi)監(大(da)學)有(you)(you)(you)久負盛名(ming)的(de)“吉(ji)祥槐(huai)(huai)(huai)”。貢院(古(gu)(gu)代(dai)(dai)考場)也曾有(you)(you)(you)一(yi)株馳名(ming)京城的(de)“昌槐(huai)(huai)(huai)”。壽城寧(ning)國(guo)寺千年古(gu)(gu)槐(huai)(huai)(huai),與之相比,并不遜(xun)色,只(zhi)是“躲在深閨人未識”。
歲月悠悠,時(shi)過境遷(qian),如今已是“寺院佛僧皆(jie)隱去,唯有古槐尚迎(ying)人”了(le)。為(wei)(wei)了(le)保護(hu)古樹,1983年(nian)春,縣人民政府(fu)撥專款繞(rao)樹修一(yi)多角圍墻,定為(wei)(wei)縣級重點保護(hu)古樹。