山(shan)(shan)與佛(fo)的(de)(de)因(yin)緣最早要追(zhui)溯到晉朝,相(xiang)傳西域(yu)僧(seng)(seng)人慧照(zhao)來到無(wu)錫秀麗的(de)(de)西神山(shan)(shan)麓駐錫傳道(dao),從(cong)此(ci)就有了惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)之(zhi)名(ming)。寺(si)(si)建(jian)于宋景平元年(nian)(nian)(公元423年(nian)(nian)),梁大(da)(da)同(tong)(tong)三年(nian)(nian)(537年(nian)(nian)),建(jian)大(da)(da)同(tong)(tong)殿,易(yi)名(ming)為(wei)法云禪院(yuan)。唐(tang)宋間(jian),又改名(ming)為(wei)昌師院(yuan)、普利院(yuan)、旌忠薦福功德禪院(yuan)等。惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)是(shi)禪宗(zong)道(dao)場,歷(li)史(shi)(shi)上(shang)香火旺盛,高僧(seng)(seng)眾多,唐(tang)宋鼎盛期僧(seng)(seng)舍達數千間(jian)。惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)因(yin)佛(fo)而繁(fan)榮。從(cong)唐(tang)朝會(hui)昌至(zhi)清(qing)朝同(tong)(tong)治(zhi)的(de)(de)千余年(nian)(nian)間(jian),惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)五次(ci)遭劫,五次(ci)重(zhong)建(jian)。清(qing)朝乾隆皇帝曾到惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)禮佛(fo)并留下(xia)大(da)(da)量詩篇。1863年(nian)(nian)李(li)鴻章在(zai)惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)廢墟上(shang)建(jian)昭(zhao)忠祠。惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)由于其悠(you)久的(de)(de)歷(li)史(shi)(shi)和深厚(hou)的(de)(de)文化而歷(li)無(wu)錫十大(da)(da)叢林(lin)之(zhi)首。保存(cun)完整的(de)(de)唐(tang)代聽(ting)松(song)石床、唐(tang)宋經幢、香花(hua)橋、宋代金蓮(lian)橋、明代古(gu)銀杏、清(qing)代御碑等珍貴文物(wu)以及近年(nian)(nian)修復建(jian)造(zao)的(de)(de)大(da)(da)雄寶殿、惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)鐘等展示了佛(fo)教(jiao)文化的(de)(de)獨特魅(mei)力。2004年(nian)(nian)4月26日,具有1500余年(nian)(nian)歷(li)史(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)江(jiang)南名(ming)剎惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)法喜充滿(man),修復開(kai)放并恢復宗(zong)教(jiao)活動,從(cong)此(ci)晨鐘暮鼓、經聲佛(fo)號又回蕩在(zai)錫惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)麓。目前的(de)(de)惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)佛(fo)法僧(seng)(seng)三寶俱足(zu),古(gu)老的(de)(de)叢林(lin)正呈現出勃勃生機。
惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺位于無錫惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)秀嶂街(jie)(jie)(今惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)直(zhi)街(jie)(jie)和(he)橫街(jie)(jie)交接處(chu)),始建于南北朝。它的前身(shen)是(shi)南朝劉宋司徒右長史(shi)湛挺(ting)創立的“歷山(shan)(shan)(shan)草堂(tang)”。劉宋景平元年(423),把歷山(shan)(shan)(shan)草堂(tang)改(gai)(gai)作(zuo)僧(seng)舍(she),稱“華山(shan)(shan)(shan)精舍(she)”,梁朝大同(tong)三年(537),又(you)把“華山(shan)(shan)(shan)精舍(she)”改(gai)(gai)為“慧山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺”。
惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si),位(wei)于惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)秀嶂(zhang)街(今(jin)惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)直街和橫街交接處),始建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)于南北朝(chao)(chao),距今(jin)已有一千五百余年(nian)(nian)。它(ta)的(de)前身(shen)是(shi)南朝(chao)(chao)劉宋(song)司(si)徒右長史湛挺(ting)創立的(de)“歷(li)山(shan)(shan)(shan)草(cao)堂(tang)”。當(dang)時(shi)他歸(gui)隱在(zai)歷(li)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)),與(yu)南朝(chao)(chao)的(de)南平(ping)王(wang)劉爍以詩(shi)章酬和,齊江淹亦(yi)有繼作(zuo),后(hou)人把(ba)他們(men)的(de)詩(shi)作(zuo)列于壁間(jian)(jian)。劉宋(song)景平(ping)元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(423年(nian)(nian)),把(ba)歷(li)山(shan)(shan)(shan)草(cao)堂(tang)改作(zuo)僧舍(she),稱“華山(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍(she)”。元(yuan)徽(474年(nian)(nian)——476年(nian)(nian))間(jian)(jian),沙(sha)門僧顯,從京師(今(jin)南京)入吳地,在(zai)“華山(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍(she)”休(xiu)息過,這是(shi)最早而有名望的(de)高僧。梁朝(chao)(chao)大同三(san)(san)年(nian)(nian)(537年(nian)(nian)),把(ba)華山(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍(she)改為“慧山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)”。寺(si)(si)僧陳大德(de)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)大同殿,又名“法云禪(chan)院”。唐(tang)朝(chao)(chao)會昌(841年(nian)(nian)——846年(nian)(nian))間(jian)(jian),寺(si)(si)毀(hui),唐(tang)朝(chao)(chao)大中(847年(nian)(nian)——859年(nian)(nian))期間(jian)(jian)重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)。北宋(song)至(zhi)道(995年(nian)(nian)——997年(nian)(nian))間(jian)(jian),賜(si)額(e)“普利(li)院”。北宋(song)靖康元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(1126年(nian)(nian)),賜(si)給(gei)名相李(li)(li)綱作(zuo) “功德(de)院”。宋(song)紹興元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(1131年(nian)(nian)),把(ba)該院賜(si)給(gei)信安郡(jun)王(wang)孟忠(zhong)厚,祀昭慈圣(sheng)憲孟太(tai)后(hou),改額(e)“旌(jing)忠(zhong)薦福寺(si)(si)”,賜(si)銅印一顆,上(shang)鐫“旌(jing)忠(zhong)薦福功德(de)禪(chan)院之印”,元(yuan)朝(chao)(chao)末年(nian)(nian)被毀(hui),明朝(chao)(chao)洪武元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(1368年(nian)(nian))僧普真重(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)。永樂五年(nian)(nian)(1407年(nian)(nian))僧懷祖(zu)又修(xiu)(xiu)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)。正統十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(1445年(nian)(nian))被火燒毀(hui)。巡(xun)撫周忱(chen),知縣(xian)項(xiang)伾重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)。萬歷(li)二(er)十(shi)三(san)(san)年(nian)(nian)(1959年(nian)(nian)),有個唐(tang)裕的(de),挾妓游春,競(jing)放火炮,炮火飛(fei)上(shang)殿脊,殿被焚(fen)毀(hui),次年(nian)(nian)吳申錫(xi)捐千金重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),他的(de)兒子(zi)澄時(shi)又造了(le)禪(chan)堂(tang)和不二(er)法門。康熙于二(er)十(shi)三(san)(san)年(nian)(nian)(1684年(nian)(nian))南巡(xun)時(shi),至(zhi)惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si),在(zai)漪瀾堂(tang)品泉。第(di)二(er)年(nian)(nian),無(wu)錫(xi)人周宏詞(ci)力加修(xiu)(xiu)治(zhi),題(ti)額(e)為“圣(sheng)敬(jing)式臨”。后(hou)來,乾(qian)隆六次到惠山(shan)(shan)(shan),在(zai)秦(qin)園和竹爐(lu)山(shan)(shan)(shan)房休(xiu)息,寫了(le)不少詩(shi)詞(ci),題(ti)了(le)不少匾聯,還特地為“惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)”題(ti)額(e)。清朝(chao)(chao)感(gan)豐(feng)至(zhi)同治(zhi)年(nian)(nian)間(jian)(jian),李(li)(li)鴻章的(de)淮湘(xiang)軍曾與(yu)太(tai)平(ping)軍在(zai)江南一帶激戰(zhan)(zhan),惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)的(de)寺(si)(si)院毀(hui)于戰(zhan)(zhan)火,僅存寺(si)(si)門匾額(e)。后(hou)來,李(li)(li)鴻章在(zai)惠山(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)的(de)廢墟上(shang)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)立了(le)“昭忠(zhong)祠”,辛亥革(ge)命后(hou)改為“忠(zhong)烈(lie)祠”。
由于(yu)惠(hui)山寺坐落在(zai)名(ming)勝之地(di),聲譽(yu)早已隨著天(tian)下第二泉的美(mei)名(ming)而滿天(tian)下。它早在(zai)唐宋之時,就(jiu)(jiu)香火不絕,盛極一時。寺院(yuan)范圍(wei)包括整(zheng)個愚(yu)公谷和寄暢園,僧(seng)舍就(jiu)(jiu)有(you)一千零四十八間之多(duo)。古往今來,多(duo)少騷人墨客(ke),以至帝(di)王將(jiang)相,在(zai)經過京杭大運河時,都(dou)要在(zai)惠(hui)山寺逗留(liu)。
解放后,市人民政府對惠山(shan)寺進(jin)行了全面整修,1954年重(zhong)新設計(ji)改建了“古(gu)(gu)(gu)華(hua)山(shan)門”和(he)二山(shan)門,非常壯嚴古(gu)(gu)(gu)樸。現在惠山(shan)寺還保留著(zhu)古(gu)(gu)(gu)跡和(he)建筑(zhu)物有古(gu)(gu)(gu)華(hua)山(shan)門、唐(tang)宋石經(jing)幢、金(jin)剛殿(dian)、香花橋和(he)日月(yue)池、金(jin)蓮橋和(he)金(jin)蓮池、御碑亭(ting)、聽松石床、古(gu)(gu)(gu)銀杏樹、大同殿(dian)、竹爐山(shan)房和(he)云起樓等(deng)。