山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)與佛(fo)的(de)(de)因緣最(zui)早要追溯(su)到(dao)(dao)晉朝(chao),相傳西(xi)域僧人慧(hui)照來到(dao)(dao)無(wu)錫(xi)秀麗(li)的(de)(de)西(xi)神山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)麓(lu)駐錫(xi)傳道(dao),從(cong)(cong)此就有了惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)之名(ming)(ming)。寺(si)(si)建于宋景平元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(公元423年(nian)(nian)(nian)),梁(liang)大(da)同(tong)(tong)三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(537年(nian)(nian)(nian)),建大(da)同(tong)(tong)殿,易名(ming)(ming)為法(fa)(fa)云禪院。唐(tang)宋間,又(you)改名(ming)(ming)為昌(chang)師院、普利院、旌忠(zhong)薦(jian)福(fu)功(gong)德禪院等。惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)是(shi)禪宗道(dao)場(chang),歷史上香火旺盛(sheng),高僧眾多(duo),唐(tang)宋鼎盛(sheng)期僧舍達數千(qian)間。惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)因佛(fo)而繁(fan)榮。從(cong)(cong)唐(tang)朝(chao)會昌(chang)至(zhi)清(qing)朝(chao)同(tong)(tong)治(zhi)的(de)(de)千(qian)余年(nian)(nian)(nian)間,惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)五次遭劫,五次重(zhong)建。清(qing)朝(chao)乾隆皇(huang)帝曾到(dao)(dao)惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)禮佛(fo)并留(liu)下(xia)大(da)量詩(shi)篇。1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)李鴻章在惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)廢(fei)墟上建昭忠(zhong)祠。惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)由(you)于其悠久的(de)(de)歷史和深厚的(de)(de)文(wen)化而歷無(wu)錫(xi)十大(da)叢林(lin)(lin)之首。保存(cun)完整的(de)(de)唐(tang)代聽松(song)石床、唐(tang)宋經幢、香花(hua)橋、宋代金蓮橋、明代古銀杏、清(qing)代御碑等珍(zhen)貴文(wen)物(wu)以(yi)及近(jin)年(nian)(nian)(nian)修復建造的(de)(de)大(da)雄寶(bao)殿、惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)鐘(zhong)等展示了佛(fo)教(jiao)文(wen)化的(de)(de)獨(du)特魅力。2004年(nian)(nian)(nian)4月26日(ri),具有1500余年(nian)(nian)(nian)歷史的(de)(de)江南名(ming)(ming)剎(cha)惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)法(fa)(fa)喜(xi)充滿,修復開(kai)放并恢(hui)復宗教(jiao)活動,從(cong)(cong)此晨(chen)鐘(zhong)暮鼓、經聲佛(fo)號又(you)回(hui)蕩(dang)在錫(xi)惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)麓(lu)。目前的(de)(de)惠(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)佛(fo)法(fa)(fa)僧三寶(bao)俱足,古老(lao)的(de)(de)叢林(lin)(lin)正(zheng)呈現出勃勃生(sheng)機(ji)。
惠(hui)(hui)山寺位于無錫惠(hui)(hui)山秀嶂街(今(jin)惠(hui)(hui)山直街和橫街交接處(chu)),始建于南北(bei)朝(chao)。它的前身是(shi)南朝(chao)劉(liu)(liu)宋司徒右長史(shi)湛挺創立的“歷(li)山草(cao)堂”。劉(liu)(liu)宋景(jing)平元年(423),把歷(li)山草(cao)堂改作僧舍(she),稱(cheng)“華山精(jing)舍(she)”,梁朝(chao)大同三(san)年(537),又(you)把“華山精(jing)舍(she)”改為“慧山寺”。
惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si),位于(yu)惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)秀嶂街(今惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)直(zhi)街和橫(heng)街交接處),始(shi)建(jian)(jian)于(yu)南(nan)北朝,距(ju)今已有一(yi)千五(wu)百(bai)余年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)。它(ta)的(de)前身(shen)是南(nan)朝劉(liu)宋(song)司徒右長史湛挺創立的(de)“歷(li)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)草堂(tang)”。當(dang)時(shi)他歸隱(yin)在歷(li)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)),與(yu)南(nan)朝的(de)南(nan)平王劉(liu)爍(shuo)以詩章(zhang)酬和,齊(qi)江淹亦有繼作,后(hou)(hou)人把(ba)他們的(de)詩作列于(yu)壁間(jian)。劉(liu)宋(song)景平元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(423年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),把(ba)歷(li)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)草堂(tang)改(gai)(gai)(gai)作僧(seng)舍,稱“華山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍”。元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)徽(474年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——476年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))間(jian),沙門僧(seng)顯,從京師(今南(nan)京)入吳(wu)地,在“華山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍”休息過,這(zhe)是最早而有名(ming)望的(de)高僧(seng)。梁朝大同三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(537年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),把(ba)華山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)精(jing)舍改(gai)(gai)(gai)為(wei)“慧山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)”。寺(si)(si)僧(seng)陳大德(de)建(jian)(jian)大同殿(dian),又名(ming)“法(fa)云禪院(yuan)”。唐朝會昌(chang)(841年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——846年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))間(jian),寺(si)(si)毀(hui),唐朝大中(847年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——859年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))期間(jian)重建(jian)(jian)。北宋(song)至道(995年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)——997年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))間(jian),賜額(e)(e)“普利院(yuan)”。北宋(song)靖康元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1126年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),賜給名(ming)相李(li)綱作 “功(gong)德(de)院(yuan)”。宋(song)紹興元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1131年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),把(ba)該院(yuan)賜給信安(an)郡(jun)王孟(meng)忠(zhong)厚(hou),祀昭(zhao)(zhao)慈(ci)圣憲孟(meng)太后(hou)(hou),改(gai)(gai)(gai)額(e)(e)“旌忠(zhong)薦福寺(si)(si)”,賜銅印一(yi)顆,上(shang)鐫(juan)“旌忠(zhong)薦福功(gong)德(de)禪院(yuan)之(zhi)印”,元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)朝末(mo)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)被(bei)毀(hui),明朝洪武(wu)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1368年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)普真重修。永樂五(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1407年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)懷祖又修建(jian)(jian)。正(zheng)統(tong)十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1445年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))被(bei)火(huo)(huo)燒毀(hui)。巡撫周忱(chen),知縣項(xiang)伾重建(jian)(jian)。萬歷(li)二十三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1959年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),有個唐裕的(de),挾(xie)妓游春,競(jing)放(fang)火(huo)(huo)炮(pao),炮(pao)火(huo)(huo)飛上(shang)殿(dian)脊,殿(dian)被(bei)焚毀(hui),次年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)吳(wu)申錫捐(juan)千金重建(jian)(jian),他的(de)兒子澄(cheng)時(shi)又造(zao)了禪堂(tang)和不二法(fa)門。康熙于(yu)二十三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1684年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))南(nan)巡時(shi),至惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si),在漪瀾(lan)堂(tang)品泉。第二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),無錫人周宏詞力加修治(zhi),題(ti)額(e)(e)為(wei)“圣敬式臨”。后(hou)(hou)來,乾隆六次到惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan),在秦園和竹爐山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)房休息,寫了不少詩詞,題(ti)了不少匾聯(lian),還特地為(wei)“惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)”題(ti)額(e)(e)。清朝感豐至同治(zhi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian),李(li)鴻章(zhang)的(de)淮湘軍(jun)曾與(yu)太平軍(jun)在江南(nan)一(yi)帶激戰(zhan),惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)的(de)寺(si)(si)院(yuan)毀(hui)于(yu)戰(zhan)火(huo)(huo),僅存寺(si)(si)門匾額(e)(e)。后(hou)(hou)來,李(li)鴻章(zhang)在惠(hui)(hui)山(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)(shan)寺(si)(si)的(de)廢(fei)墟上(shang)建(jian)(jian)立了“昭(zhao)(zhao)忠(zhong)祠”,辛亥革命后(hou)(hou)改(gai)(gai)(gai)為(wei)“忠(zhong)烈祠”。
由于惠山寺坐落在名勝之地,聲譽早(zao)已(yi)隨著天下第二泉的美名而(er)滿天下。它早(zao)在唐宋(song)之時,就香火不絕(jue),盛極一(yi)時。寺院范圍包括整個愚公谷和寄暢園,僧舍就有(you)一(yi)千零四十(shi)八間之多。古往今來,多少騷人(ren)墨客,以(yi)至帝王將相,在經過(guo)京杭大運河(he)時,都要在惠山寺逗留。
解放后,市人(ren)民政府對惠山寺進行了(le)(le)全面(mian)整修(xiu),1954年重新設計改建了(le)(le)“古華(hua)(hua)山門(men)”和二山門(men),非常壯嚴古樸。現在惠山寺還保留著古跡和建筑物有古華(hua)(hua)山門(men)、唐宋石(shi)經幢、金(jin)剛(gang)殿、香花橋和日月池(chi)、金(jin)蓮橋和金(jin)蓮池(chi)、御碑亭、聽(ting)松石(shi)床、古銀杏樹、大(da)同(tong)殿、竹爐(lu)山房和云起樓等。