中(zhong)(zhong)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)寺又稱(cheng)“云(yun)(yun)中(zhong)(zhong)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)”。在(zai)思(si)明(ming)區(qu)萬(wan)(wan)石(shi)植物園內,因處萬(wan)(wan)石(shi)蓮寺與太平(ping)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)之(zhi)間,因名。傳說始建(jian)于明(ming)代,歲月(yue)不(bu)可考(kao),有(you)僧(seng)(seng)不(bu)知(zhi)名號,未(wei)詳所(suo)(suo)自,隱居中(zhong)(zhong)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan),巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)棲澗飲,修(xiu)定其中(zhong)(zhong),鷓鴣翔飛依(yi)集。后僧(seng)(seng)不(bu)知(zhi)所(suo)(suo)終,里人(ren)(ren)因號“鷓鴣巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)”。后有(you)僧(seng)(seng)人(ren)(ren)建(jian)招提于巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)前,稱(cheng)“云(yun)(yun)中(zhong)(zhong)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)”。清康熙五十(shi)(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1714),僧(seng)(seng)釋果(guo)老(lao)(lao)重興中(zhong)(zhong)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)。道(dao)光(guang)五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1825),因寺宇(yu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)久傾(qing)頹,成(cheng)立董(dong)事會(hui)(hui)重新修(xiu)葺(qi),因蟻患(huan),遂中(zhong)(zhong)輟。十(shi)(shi)九年(nian)(nian)(nian),堪輿家安(an)溪駟嶺林(lin)嘉纏妙(miao)手回春,以改造環境的辦法(fa)根(gen)治(zhi)蟻患(huan),“措改水路,開(kai)消山(shan)殺,不(bu)數日(ri)而蟻盡消”,寺成(cheng),辟二道(dao)山(shan)門(men)(men),過萬(wan)(wan)石(shi)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)寺海會(hui)(hui)橋匾曰“中(zhong)(zhong)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)”;拾級而上,至巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)前,又一(yi)(yi)山(shan)門(men)(men),上題(ti)(ti)“放開(kai)眼界”。光(guang)緒四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1878),山(shan)僧(seng)(seng)紹覺(jue)重修(xiu)第一(yi)(yi)道(dao)山(shan)門(men)(men),于門(men)(men)柱集晉(jin)人(ren)(ren)句題(ti)(ti)聯(lian)云(yun)(yun):“結廬在(zai)人(ren)(ren)境,流(liu)心(xin)叩玄扃(jiong)”,徇山(shan)寺空靈(ling)意境之(zhi)紀(ji)實。民國元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1912)壬子(zi)孟(meng)秋,中(zhong)(zhong)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)董(dong)事邀集老(lao)(lao)年(nian)(nian)(nian)諸友成(cheng)立老(lao)(lao)年(nian)(nian)(nian)會(hui)(hui),每逢(feng)星期日(ri),登臨遠眺,以娛暮年(nian)(nian)(nian)。十(shi)(shi)一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian),會(hui)(hui)所(suo)(suo)傾(qing)頹,老(lao)(lao)年(nian)(nian)(nian)會(hui)(hui)捐(juan)資(zi)(zi)修(xiu)筑,并添置產業,為巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)寺齋糧與老(lao)(lao)年(nian)(nian)(nian)會(hui)(hui)日(ri)常經費。十(shi)(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian),會(hui)(hui)泉法(fa)師(shi)倡修(xiu)中(zhong)(zhong)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)佛(fo)堂寮(liao)舍(she),其皈依(yi)弟子(zi)蔣以德熱烈響應(ying),捐(juan)資(zi)(zi)襄贊。后弘(hong)一(yi)(yi)法(fa)師(shi)來廈講律,會(hui)(hui)泉法(fa)師(shi)延住萬(wan)(wan)石(shi)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan),計(ji)劃修(xiu)葺(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)靜(jing)室供弘(hong)一(yi)(yi)法(fa)師(shi)修(xiu)治(zhi)律學,因廈門(men)(men)島淪陷而未(wei)果(guo)。20世紀(ji)40年(nian)(nian)(nian)代初,會(hui)(hui)泉法(fa)師(shi)徒弟宏壽同時主持(chi)萬(wan)(wan)石(shi)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)、中(zhong)(zhong)巖(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)寺務。
清康熙(xi)五十三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(一(yi)七一(yi)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)),僧果(guo)老重興中巖(yan)。乾隆(long)盛世,有(you)僧愿翁住山(shan)(shan),能詩,與鷺島雅(ya)士互相唱(chang)酬,一(yi)時文風甚盛。據《嘉(jia)禾名(ming)勝記》記載(zai),「此時巖(yan)之山(shan)(shan)門題(ti)(ti)『歡喜(xi)地(di)』三(san)字(zi),有(you)石(shi)當(dang)戶,鐫『玉笏』兩字(zi)。古榕盤屈,狀者蟠龍(long),拾(shi)級而(er)(er)登,俯(fu)臨(lin)絕壑。」道(dao)光五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(一(yi)八二(er)五年(nian)(nian)(nian)),因(yin)寺(si)(si)宇年(nian)(nian)(nian)久傾頹,成(cheng)立董事(shi)會重新修葺,因(yin)蟻患(huan),遂中輟。道(dao)光十九(jiu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(一(yi)八三(san)九(jiu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)),,堪輿家安溪駟嶺林嘉(jia)纏妙手回春,以改造環境的辦法根治蟻患(huan),「措改水路,開銷山(shan)(shan)殺,不數日而(er)(er)蟻盡(jin)消(xiao)」,寺(si)(si)成(cheng),辟二(er)道(dao)山(shan)(shan)門,過(guo)萬石(shi)巖(yan)寺(si)(si)海會橋匾曰(yue)「中巖(yan)」;拾(shi)級而(er)(er)上,至巖(yan)前,又一(yi)山(shan)(shan)門,上題(ti)(ti)「放開眼界」。光緒四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(一(yi)八七八年(nian)(nian)(nian)),山(shan)(shan)僧紹覺重修第一(yi)道(dao)山(shan)(shan)門,于門柱集晉人句題(ti)(ti)聯云:「結廬在人境,流心叩(kou)玄扃」,洵山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)空(kong)靈意境之紀實(shi)。
一(yi)九一(yi)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)孟秋,中(zhong)(zhong)巖(yan)(yan)董事邀集老(lao)年(nian)(nian)(nian)諸(zhu)友成立(li)老(lao)年(nian)(nian)(nian)會(hui)(hui),每逢星期日,登臨遠眺(tiao),以娛(yu)暮年(nian)(nian)(nian)。一(yi)九二(er)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian),會(hui)(hui)所傾頹,老(lao)年(nian)(nian)(nian)會(hui)(hui)捐(juan)資(zi)(zi)修筑,并添置產業,為巖(yan)(yan)寺齋糧與老(lao)年(nian)(nian)(nian)會(hui)(hui)日常經費。一(yi)九二(er)四年(nian)(nian)(nian),會(hui)(hui)泉法(fa)師倡修中(zhong)(zhong)巖(yan)(yan)佛堂(tang)寮舍,其(qi)皈依弟子蔣以德熱烈回應,捐(juan)資(zi)(zi)襄(xiang)贊。后弘一(yi)法(fa)師來廈(sha)講(jiang)律(lv),會(hui)(hui)泉法(fa)師延住(zhu)萬(wan)(wan)石(shi)巖(yan)(yan),計劃(hua)修葺中(zhong)(zhong)巖(yan)(yan)靜(jing)室供弘一(yi)法(fa)師修治律(lv)學,因廈(sha)門島淪陷而未果。二(er)十(shi)(shi)世紀(ji)四十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)代初,會(hui)(hui)泉法(fa)師徒(tu)弟宏壽同(tong)時主(zhu)持萬(wan)(wan)石(shi)巖(yan)(yan)、中(zhong)(zhong)巖(yan)(yan)寺務(wu),住(zhu)有比丘(qiu)一(yi)人、菜姑兩人。
解放(fang)前后(hou)(hou),寺(si)后(hou)(hou)草(cao)木稀疏,巖石裸露(lu),景況蕭然。后(hou)(hou)來佛宇禪房(fang)盡塌(ta),植物園草(cao)草(cao)搭蓋幾間房(fang)屋。
二十世紀九(jiu)十年(nian)代,中巖重興。先是由萬石巖寺籌資,由開(kai)因姑及(ji)海(hai)外華(hua)僑(qiao)卜希南等贖回。一九(jiu)九(jiu)四年(nian),由宏船徒弟(di)廣載捐獻巨(ju)資,南普陀寺方丈妙湛和尚倡議重修(xiu),并(bing)委派向(xiang)覺法師主(zhu)持(chi)重修(xiu)工程。
一九九五年,由(you)開悟(wu)法(fa)師發(fa)心對寺(si)院進行全面復興擴建。現有(you)大雄寶殿(dian)、地藏(zang)殿(dian)、龍華三會殿(dian)、祖堂(tang)、功德堂(tang)、綜(zong)合樓(lou)、僧舍、三寶塔,總建筑面積一千二百平方米,承蒙楊寶治、王鷺洲(zhou)、郭勝泉、羅爾平等護(hu)(hu)持。大雄寶殿(dian)左「玉笏」與(yu)巖之左下方「澎湖(hu)陣亡將(jiang)士祠(ci)碑」,一九八(ba)四年被公布(bu)為(wei)廈門市第二批文(wen)物保護(hu)(hu)單位。
中巖寺(si)近代以(yi)來住持有會泉(quan)、宏(hong)(hong)壽、宏(hong)(hong)船、宏(hong)(hong)念、開進、心(xin)專姑、妙湛、宏(hong)(hong)輝等。
現住(zhu)有僧侶四(si)人(ren),居(ju)士三人(ren),由開(kai)悟法師住(zhu)持。