歷史沿革
這座寺廟始建于1922年。1923年，佛教天臺(tai)宗(zong)大(da)德(de)釋(shi)倓虛(xu)法師（湛(zhan)山大(da)師）來長(chang)春講“般若心經”，隨后創建寺廟，該寺原址(zhi)在商埠地(di)南關區西四馬(ma)路，名為般若寺。1931年遷到西長(chang)春大(da)街現址(zhi)長(chang)春市長(chang)春大(da)街重建。
般若(ruo)(ruo)寺由偽國(guo)(guo)(guo)都建(jian)(jian)設局負責(ze)設計與監(jian)理，中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)人(ren)辦的(de)(de)四先公(gong)司負責(ze)施工，1932年開始建(jian)(jian)設。由于是中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)傳統(tong)的(de)(de)佛(fo)教建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)，所以在設計中(zhong)沿(yan)用了(le)中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)傳統(tong)佛(fo)寺的(de)(de)布(bu)局形(xing)式，并參考了(le)北方寺廟(miao)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)的(de)(de)習慣(guan)作法。個別繁瑣之處(chu)，也許源于對(dui)中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)傳統(tong)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)文化詮釋的(de)(de)障礙。但它(ta)可(ke)能(neng)是當時(shi)由中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)人(ren)參與設計并建(jian)(jian)造起來(lai)唯(wei)一(yi)的(de)(de)一(yi)處(chu)大型建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)。1934年命名為“護國(guo)(guo)(guo)般若(ruo)(ruo)寺”。
護國般若寺建(jian)于當時大(da)同廣場東北側，長(chang)春大(da)街(jie)以北，東接清明街(jie)，整個院落為(wei)78.9x174米的(de)長(chang)方(fang)(fang)形，總占地面積約1.37萬平(ping)方(fang)(fang)米。經多次改(gai)造，有(you)建(jian)筑面積2700平(ping)方(fang)(fang)米，是長(chang)春最(zui)大(da)一處佛教(jiao)建(jian)筑群(qun)。
1941年日偽時期，由于長春市偽國都城市建(jian)設計劃的實施，原寺廟被拆除，在現址重建(jian)新(xin)寺，重建(jian)后正式更名為護(hu)國般若寺。
建筑結構
該寺(si)(si)占(zhan)地七(qi)千二百平米，是(shi)(shi)長春(chun)(chun)市最大的佛教(jiao)(jiao)寺(si)(si)廟(miao)。寺(si)(si)院的山門(men)為(wei)并列的三(san)座(zuo)拱門(men)組(zu)成，門(men)樓檐角(jiao)飛翹，錯落有(you)致，建工(gong)精(jing)巧，門(men)側紅墻寫(xie)有(you)“南無阿(a)彌(mi)陀佛”六個(ge)大字，寺(si)(si)內殿(dian)(dian)堂(tang)聳立，樹木成蔭，蔚為(wei)壯(zhuang)觀。進門(men)左右有(you)鼓樓和鐘(zhong)樓，正面為(wei)天(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)，殿(dian)(dian)內正中供(gong)奉(feng)(feng)彌(mi)勒佛像，兩(liang)側有(you)四大天(tian)王(wang)腳(jiao)踏八怪塑像，栩(xu)栩(xu)如生。殿(dian)(dian)后(hou)塑有(you)護法韋(wei)馱(tuo)菩(pu)薩(sa)立像.大雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)建在(zai)天(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)后(hou)面，是(shi)(shi)整個(ge)廟(miao)宇的中心，寶殿(dian)(dian)外觀莊(zhuang)嚴雄(xiong)壯(zhuang)，斗拱交(jiao)錯，檐于高啄，畫棟雕梁，彩(cai)畫精(jing)麗，金碧輝煌。殿(dian)(dian)內正中供(gong)奉(feng)(feng)釋迦牟(mou)尼佛主，兩(liang)側為(wei)十(shi)八羅(luo)漢；殿(dian)(dian)后(hou)供(gong)奉(feng)(feng)觀世音菩(pu)薩(sa)佛像；再后(hou)便是(shi)(shi)藏(zang)(zang)經樓，收藏(zang)(zang)著大量佛教(jiao)(jiao)經典。殿(dian)(dian)前蒼松(song)翠柏，古(gu)樹參天(tian)，與寶殿(dian)(dian)紅綠相映，顯得格外雄(xiong)偉壯(zhuang)觀。寺(si)(si)院還建有(you)東西廂房數十(shi)間，分別為(wei)禪堂(tang)、齋堂(tang)、起居室等。這就(jiu)是(shi)(shi)被長春(chun)(chun)人(ren)稱為(wei)“大廟(miao)”的長春(chun)(chun)般若寺(si)(si)。
般若寺占(zhan)地面(mian)積1、4萬平方米(mi)，建筑面(mian)積2700平方米(mi)，是長春市最大的華(hua)教廟(miao)宇。進入(ru)山門，東有鐘樓(lou)(lou)，西(xi)有鼓樓(lou)(lou)，這(zhe)兩座建筑設(she)計奇特、工藝精巧(qiao)，遇重要節日，這(zhe)里(li)就會鐘鼓動齊鳴。
整(zheng)個(ge)(ge)廟(miao)宇進(jin)深三層。第(di)一層是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)彌(mi)(mi)勒殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內供奉彌(mi)(mi)勒佛坐(zuo)像，殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)前有一座(zuo)漢白玉石碑(bei),碑(bei)文記載著建(jian)廟(miao)的詳細經(jing)過(guo)；第(di)二(er)層是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)大(da)雄(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，這是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)整(zheng)個(ge)(ge)廟(miao)宇的中(zhong)(zhong)心，也是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)最大(da)的一座(zuo)建(jian)筑；第(di)三層是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)西方三圣殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，該(gai)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)為(wei)二(er)層歇(xie)山式建(jian)筑，樓上為(wei)藏經(jing)樓，樓下供奉阿彌(mi)(mi)陀(tuo)佛、大(da)勢至菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)和觀世(shi)音菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)三圣像。西方三圣殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的兩(liang)側是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)大(da)雄(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的后院(yuan)(yuan)配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),其中(zhong)(zhong)東配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)觀世(shi)音菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，西配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)地藏王菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。與(yu)前兩(liang)個(ge)(ge)院(yuan)(yuan)落相比，這里松(song)柏(bo)參天。鳥(niao)語繞(rao)梁(liang)，營(ying)造出一種古樸、玄遠的宗教氛圍。
西方三圣殿的(de)后(hou)院(yuan)，是(shi)(shi)般若(ruo)寺(si)的(de)盡(jin)頭，墻外就是(shi)(shi)紛擾(rao)的(de)馬路和(he)街市。這個小院(yuan)內(nei)有三座(zuo)塔型建筑物：前(qian)面(mian)(mian)一座(zuo)是(shi)(shi)倓虛法師七(qi)十壽(shou)辰(chen)的(de)紀念幢；后(hou)面(mian)(mian)兩座(zuo)分別是(shi)(shi)倓虛法師和(he)本(ben)寺(si)首任住持(chi)澍培法師的(de)舍利(li)塔。
給生活一把琴 
