歷史沿革
這(zhe)座寺(si)(si)廟始建(jian)于1922年。1923年，佛教天臺宗大德釋倓虛法師(shi)（湛山大師(shi)）來長(chang)春(chun)(chun)(chun)講(jiang)“般若(ruo)心經”，隨后創(chuang)建(jian)寺(si)(si)廟，該寺(si)(si)原址在(zai)商埠地南關區西四馬路，名為般若(ruo)寺(si)(si)。1931年遷到西長(chang)春(chun)(chun)(chun)大街現(xian)址長(chang)春(chun)(chun)(chun)市(shi)長(chang)春(chun)(chun)(chun)大街重(zhong)建(jian)。
般(ban)若(ruo)寺(si)由(you)偽國都建(jian)設(she)(she)局負責設(she)(she)計(ji)(ji)與(yu)監理，中(zhong)國人(ren)辦(ban)的(de)(de)四先公司負責施工，1932年(nian)開(kai)始建(jian)設(she)(she)。由(you)于是(shi)中(zhong)國傳(chuan)統的(de)(de)佛(fo)(fo)教建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)，所以在(zai)設(she)(she)計(ji)(ji)中(zhong)沿(yan)用(yong)了中(zhong)國傳(chuan)統佛(fo)(fo)寺(si)的(de)(de)布局形式(shi)，并(bing)參考了北方寺(si)廟建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)的(de)(de)習(xi)慣(guan)作(zuo)法。個(ge)別繁瑣之處，也許源(yuan)于對中(zhong)國傳(chuan)統建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)文化(hua)詮釋的(de)(de)障(zhang)礙。但它(ta)可能是(shi)當時由(you)中(zhong)國人(ren)參與(yu)設(she)(she)計(ji)(ji)并(bing)建(jian)造起來(lai)唯一(yi)的(de)(de)一(yi)處大型建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)。1934年(nian)命名為“護國般(ban)若(ruo)寺(si)”。
護國(guo)般(ban)若寺建于當時大(da)同廣(guang)場東北側，長(chang)(chang)春大(da)街(jie)以北，東接清(qing)明街(jie)，整(zheng)個(ge)院落為78.9x174米(mi)(mi)的長(chang)(chang)方形(xing)，總占(zhan)地(di)面積約1.37萬平方米(mi)(mi)。經多次改造，有建筑面積2700平方米(mi)(mi)，是長(chang)(chang)春最大(da)一(yi)處佛教建筑群。
1941年日偽時(shi)期，由于長(chang)春市偽國(guo)都(dou)城(cheng)市建設計劃的(de)實(shi)施(shi)，原寺(si)(si)廟被拆除，在現址(zhi)重建新(xin)寺(si)(si)，重建后正式更名為護國(guo)般若寺(si)(si)。
建筑結構
該寺(si)占地(di)七千二百平米，是長(chang)春市最大的(de)佛(fo)教寺(si)廟(miao)。寺(si)院的(de)山門(men)為(wei)(wei)并列的(de)三座拱門(men)組成(cheng)，門(men)樓(lou)檐角(jiao)飛翹，錯落有(you)致，建(jian)(jian)工精(jing)巧(qiao)，門(men)側(ce)紅墻寫有(you)“南(nan)無阿彌(mi)陀佛(fo)”六個大字(zi)，寺(si)內(nei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)堂(tang)聳立(li)，樹木成(cheng)蔭，蔚為(wei)(wei)壯觀(guan)。進門(men)左右有(you)鼓樓(lou)和鐘樓(lou)，正面(mian)為(wei)(wei)天(tian)王殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)正中供奉彌(mi)勒佛(fo)像(xiang)，兩(liang)側(ce)有(you)四大天(tian)王腳踏八怪塑(su)(su)像(xiang)，栩(xu)栩(xu)如生(sheng)。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)后(hou)(hou)塑(su)(su)有(you)護法韋(wei)馱(tuo)菩薩(sa)立(li)像(xiang).大雄(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)建(jian)(jian)在天(tian)王殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)后(hou)(hou)面(mian)，是整個廟(miao)宇的(de)中心，寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)外觀(guan)莊嚴雄(xiong)壯，斗拱交錯，檐于高啄，畫(hua)棟雕梁，彩畫(hua)精(jing)麗，金碧輝煌。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)正中供奉釋(shi)迦牟尼佛(fo)主，兩(liang)側(ce)為(wei)(wei)十(shi)八羅漢；殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)后(hou)(hou)供奉觀(guan)世音菩薩(sa)佛(fo)像(xiang)；再(zai)后(hou)(hou)便是藏經樓(lou)，收藏著大量佛(fo)教經典。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)前(qian)蒼松(song)翠(cui)柏，古樹參天(tian)，與寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)紅綠相(xiang)映，顯得格外雄(xiong)偉(wei)壯觀(guan)。寺(si)院還建(jian)(jian)有(you)東西廂房數十(shi)間，分別為(wei)(wei)禪堂(tang)、齋(zhai)堂(tang)、起居室等。這就是被長(chang)春人稱(cheng)為(wei)(wei)“大廟(miao)”的(de)長(chang)春般(ban)若寺(si)。
般若寺占地面積(ji)1、4萬(wan)平(ping)方米，建筑面積(ji)2700平(ping)方米，是長春市(shi)最大的華教廟宇。進入山門，東有(you)(you)鐘(zhong)(zhong)樓(lou)，西有(you)(you)鼓樓(lou)，這(zhe)兩座建筑設計奇特(te)、工藝(yi)精巧(qiao)，遇重(zhong)要(yao)節日，這(zhe)里就會(hui)鐘(zhong)(zhong)鼓動(dong)齊鳴。
整個廟(miao)(miao)宇進(jin)深三層(ceng)。第(di)一(yi)(yi)層(ceng)是(shi)(shi)(shi)彌(mi)勒(le)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)供奉彌(mi)勒(le)佛(fo)(fo)坐像，殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)前有一(yi)(yi)座漢白玉石(shi)碑(bei),碑(bei)文(wen)記載著建(jian)廟(miao)(miao)的(de)詳細經過(guo)；第(di)二層(ceng)是(shi)(shi)(shi)大(da)雄寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，這(zhe)(zhe)是(shi)(shi)(shi)整個廟(miao)(miao)宇的(de)中心，也是(shi)(shi)(shi)最(zui)大(da)的(de)一(yi)(yi)座建(jian)筑；第(di)三層(ceng)是(shi)(shi)(shi)西(xi)方三圣殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，該殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)為二層(ceng)歇山式(shi)建(jian)筑，樓(lou)上為藏(zang)經樓(lou)，樓(lou)下供奉阿彌(mi)陀佛(fo)(fo)、大(da)勢至菩薩(sa)和觀世(shi)(shi)音(yin)菩薩(sa)三圣像。西(xi)方三圣殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的(de)兩(liang)側(ce)是(shi)(shi)(shi)大(da)雄寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的(de)后(hou)院配殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),其(qi)中東配殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)觀世(shi)(shi)音(yin)菩薩(sa)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，西(xi)配殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)地藏(zang)王(wang)菩薩(sa)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。與前兩(liang)個院落相比，這(zhe)(zhe)里松(song)柏參天。鳥語繞梁，營造(zao)出一(yi)(yi)種(zhong)古樸(pu)、玄遠的(de)宗教氛圍。
西方三圣殿(dian)的(de)后院，是(shi)(shi)般若寺(si)(si)的(de)盡頭(tou)，墻外就是(shi)(shi)紛擾的(de)馬(ma)路和(he)街市。這(zhe)個(ge)小院內(nei)有三座(zuo)塔(ta)型建筑物：前面一座(zuo)是(shi)(shi)倓(tan)虛法師(shi)七十壽辰的(de)紀念幢；后面兩座(zuo)分別是(shi)(shi)倓(tan)虛法師(shi)和(he)本寺(si)(si)首(shou)任(ren)住持澍培(pei)法師(shi)的(de)舍(she)利塔(ta)。
給生活一把琴 
