小(xiao)九華(hua)寺(si)坐落(luo)在(zai)風景(jing)秀麗的(de)鶯(ying)脰湖畔,四周環水,只有(you)一(yi)(yi)(yi)座(zuo)(zuo)偉岸(an)挺拔的(de)安德橋相(xiang)連。過去在(zai)小(xiao)九華(hua)寺(si)對面(mian)還有(you)一(yi)(yi)(yi)座(zuo)(zuo)美麗的(de)暮(mu)虹橋做伴。紅墻碧波(bo)、晨鼓暮(mu)鐘、櫓聲梵音不絕于耳,不失為一(yi)(yi)(yi)塊(kuai)佛教(jiao)寶地。小(xiao)九華(hua)寺(si)面(mian)對鶯(ying)湖,鶯(ying)湖是杭嘉(jia)一(yi)(yi)(yi)帶的(de)名(ming)(ming)(ming)湖,它與(yu)嘉(jia)興南湖、杭州西湖齊名(ming)(ming)(ming)。曾(ceng)引來不少文人雅士吟(yin)詩作畫,如(ru)白居易、李白、楊(yang)萬(wan)里、陸龜蒙都(dou)留(liu)下膾(kuai)炙(zhi)人口(kou)的(de)詩篇。“小(xiao)紅吹簫工唱歌(ge)”,就是在(zai)這一(yi)(yi)(yi)帶留(liu)下的(de)名(ming)(ming)(ming)句。《水滸(hu)傳》、《醒世恒(heng)言》等名(ming)(ming)(ming)著都(dou)有(you)此湖的(de)記述。如(ru)今小(xiao)九華(hua)寺(si)已破(po)土重建(jian),大雄(xiong)寶殿現已開放(fang)。
大雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)飛檐翹首(shou),黛瓦粉墻,巍峨壯(zhuang)觀(guan)。趙樸(pu)初書題(ti)的(de)“大雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)”,金光閃耀,高懸(xuan)于(yu)正門上空(kong),題(ti)詞神(shen)完氣足(zu),實為(wei)大家手(shou)筆。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)正中供奉釋(shi)迦牟尼像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),旁邊是(shi)迦葉、阿難(nan)尊者侍立(li)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)。侍立(li)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)左右分別是(shi)阿彌陀佛(fo)(fo)和藥(yao)師佛(fo)(fo),妙相(xiang)(xiang)莊(zhuang)嚴、工藝精巧。三尊佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)面(mian)容豐(feng)腴飽滿、神(shen)態溫(wen)柔敦厚、慈容善目、沉靜端莊(zhuang)。檀香木佛(fo)(fo)體裝金重(zhong)彩,佛(fo)(fo)光垂照。大殿(dian)(dian)(dian)兩(liang)(liang)側則是(shi)形態各(ge)異、栩栩如生的(de)十八(ba)羅漢像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),神(shen)情(qing)舉(ju)止古(gu)拙(zhuo)、匠心獨具(ju)、莊(zhuang)嚴凝重(zhong)。釋(shi)迦牟尼佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)的(de)背后(hou)安座著海島觀(guan)音、文殊、普賢菩薩等佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)。大雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)的(de)東(dong)面(mian)是(shi)三圣殿(dian)(dian)(dian),西方三圣佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)裝金罩漆。大雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)前東(dong)側是(shi)觀(guan)音殿(dian)(dian)(dian),該殿(dian)(dian)(dian)雙(shuang)重(zhong)疊檐,兩(liang)(liang)層(ceng),上下(xia)(xia)各(ge)五(wu)間(jian)。下(xia)(xia)層(ceng)三間(jian)為(wei)主殿(dian)(dian)(dian)堂,內塑(su)木質圣觀(guan)音菩薩坐(zuo)姿(zi)像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),結跏(jia)(jia)趺(fu)坐(zuo),手(shou)持甘露瓶(ping),神(shen)態慈祥。與觀(guan)音殿(dian)(dian)(dian)相(xiang)(xiang)對應的(de)是(shi)地(di)藏(zang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian),該殿(dian)(dian)(dian)上下(xia)(xia)兩(liang)(liang)層(ceng),雙(shuang)檐式建筑,下(xia)(xia)層(ceng)中間(jian)主殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內塑(su)地(di)藏(zang)菩薩像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang),頭帶毗盧冠,身披(pi)袈(jia)裟,結跏(jia)(jia)趺(fu)坐(zuo),雙(shuang)手(shou)持寶珠,法像(xiang)(xiang)(xiang)莊(zhuang)嚴。鐘、鼓(gu)兩(liang)(liang)樓位于(yu)天王殿(dian)(dian)(dian)后(hou)兩(liang)(liang)側。
小九(jiu)華(hua)(hua)寺(si)(si),據(ju)傳(chuan)是地藏(zang)王(wang)菩薩不(bu)斷在這(zhe)里顯(xian)示圣(sheng)跡(ji),錫井(jing)涌(yong)泉,頻(pin)頻(pin)靈驗。位于大(da)(da)雄寶殿后的“地藏(zang)泉井(jing)”為(wei)寺(si)(si)內一寶。井(jing)口為(wei)六邊(bian)形,井(jing)深10余(yu)米(mi)。明萬歷(li)年(nian)間,小九(jiu)華(hua)(hua)寺(si)(si)大(da)(da)規模擴建,并興建地藏(zang)閣(ge)。地藏(zang)王(wang)菩薩在空中(zhong)顯(xian)靈,用(yong)杖杵地,突涌(yong)泉水,其水甘甜,被后人稱(cheng)為(wei)“地藏(zang)泉井(jing)”。在井(jing)的東(dong)邊(bian),有(you)一棵(ke)樹(shu)高(gao)丈余(yu),莖如碗口,枝葉(xie)茂盛的桂花(hua)樹(shu),這(zhe)就是當年(nian)太虛(xu)大(da)(da)師到小九(jiu)華(hua)(hua)寺(si)(si)出(chu)家(jia)時親手栽(zai)下(xia)的。這(zhe)棵(ke)樹(shu),自太虛(xu)大(da)(da)師栽(zai)植(zhi)后,一直(zhi)默默生長,數年(nian)后,花(hua)開(kai)芬芳。每逢八月,信眾和游客來到小九(jiu)華(hua)(hua)寺(si)(si)院,就會聞(wen)到滿院的桂花(hua)香。為(wei)紀念太虛(xu)大(da)(da)師在此(ci)出(chu)家(jia)植(zhi)樹(shu),現寺(si)(si)院已將此(ci)樹(shu)圍欄(lan),以供(gong)觀賞。
小(xiao)九華(hua)(hua)寺又名(ming)九華(hua)(hua)禪院,原名(ming)東(dong)岳廟。
小(xiao)(xiao)九華寺(si)建于明(ming)萬歷四(si)十(shi)四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1685年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))里人(ren)吳(wu)國(guo)(guo)忠偕僧通運募建后殿,奉(feng)祀幽冥教主(即地(di)藏王菩薩(sa),故俗稱地(di)藏殿),并鑄爐于庭中。康熙四(si)十(shi)三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1704年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))國(guo)(guo)忠子昌運偕僧朗涵募建大士殿。乾(qian)(qian)隆四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1738年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))建關帝殿、劉公祠。乾(qian)(qian)隆五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1740年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))監院僧蘊山(shan)建山(shan)門(men)、客堂(tang)、齋(zhai)堂(tang)、廚(chu)房等。乾(qian)(qian)隆十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)被毀。光(guang)緒(xu)四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1878年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))游方(fang)僧永緣(yuan)、蓮(lian)(lian)堂(tang)重(zhong)建山(shan)門(men)五間,光(guang)緒(xu)八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1882年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧蓮(lian)(lian)覺(jue)蓮(lian)(lian)常建東(dong)客堂(tang)三間。光(guang)緒(xu)九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1883年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))建西客三間。光(guang)緒(xu)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1884年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))筑東(dong)圍墻,建方(fang)丈(zhang)室(shi)三間,光(guang)緒(xu)十(shi)一(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1885年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))建觀音殿五間。史(shi)料中的平望小(xiao)(xiao)九華寺(si)規模(mo)尚可(ke),廟內(nei)香(xiang)火(huo)特盛,每年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)農歷七(qi)月(yue)一(yi)日(ri)至十(shi)月(yue)一(yi)日(ri),遠近(jin)香(xiang)客畢(bi)集(ji)、游人(ren)紛至沓來,香(xiang)市盛極一(yi)時社會影響極大,在周(zhou)邊地(di)區(qu)形成(cheng)一(yi)定(ding)轟動效益,名揚國(guo)(guo)內(nei),流傳東(dong)南亞,文人(ren)墨客游蹤不絕,留下甚多吟詠(yong)絕句及書畫墨寶。
清朝(chao)道光(guang)年間《平望志(zhi)》上(shang)記載(zai):明(ming)萬歷年四十年(1616)建,是為了紀(ji)念地(di)藏菩薩。當時(shi)規模宏大(da)(da),設有大(da)(da)士殿、藥師(shi)殿、劉工祠及山門、客(ke)房(fang)、齋堂、廚房(fang),一應(ying)俱全,飛檐翹角,殿宇重重,頂膜禮拜的人(ren)蜂擁于此,是當時(shi)江南的一座名剎。
歲(sui)月悠悠、滄(cang)桑巨(ju)變,名寺(si)古剎(cha),經受歷史風(feng)云。1949年(nian)改(gai)為平望糧(liang)管所,1970年(nian)改(gai)建(jian)面(mian)粉廠,原(yuan)先(xian)廟宇建(jian)筑改(gai)作(zuo)它用,面(mian)目(mu)全非。所幸至今寺(si)中(zhong)遺址上尚存一(yi)棵桂花樹、一(yi)棵黃楊樹和一(yi)口(kou)古井,作(zuo)為物證(zheng),留下了歷史的回憶。