著名的(de)永興寺(si)坐(zuo)落于無錫(xi)(xi)市華清大橋(qiao)西堍匝道(dao),始(shi)建于三國(guo)赤烏年間(jian),迄今已(yi)有(you)1700余年歷史,是無錫(xi)(xi)比(bi)較(jiao)古老的(de)寺(si)廟之一,是中國(guo)佛(fo)教中觀音(yin)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)展示地(di)之一。該寺(si)主殿(dian)供奉的(de)主佛(fo)為9.19米(mi)(mi)毗盧香樟木(mu)觀音(yin)座像,其(qi)高(gao)度在(zai)國(guo)內(nei)比(bi)較(jiao)高(gao),此外,主殿(dian)內(nei)32尊2米(mi)(mi)高(gao)木(mu)雕觀音(yin)應伸像、1米(mi)(mi)高(gao)五十(shi)三參相53尊的(de)木(mu)雕像配上八十(shi)四相壁(bi)畫,成為目前國(guo)內(nei)展示觀音(yin)文(wen)(wen)化(hua)比(bi)較(jiao)全(quan)面的(de)大殿(dian)。
如(ru)今,復建中一期(qi)工(gong)程完(wan)(wan)工(gong)后寺內將(jiang)(jiang)有圓(yuan)通(tong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian),殿(dian)(dian)內供奉一尊目前國(guo)內較(jiao)具代表性(xing)、紀念性(xing)和(he)觀賞性(xing)的(de)(de)(de)9.19米毗盧觀音(yin),殿(dian)(dian)內兩側(ce)將(jiang)(jiang)供奉觀音(yin)菩薩三(san)十二應身,殿(dian)(dian)內上空將(jiang)(jiang)供奉觀音(yin)菩薩五十三(san)參(can),主佛背后將(jiang)(jiang)用壁畫方式構畫出觀音(yin)菩薩八十四相,屆時永興寺的(de)(de)(de)圓(yuan)通(tong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)將(jiang)(jiang)能把觀音(yin)文(wen)化更好的(de)(de)(de)弘揚和(he)光大(da);其次還有仿古(gu)全木結構的(de)(de)(de)天(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)、另外走(zou)完(wan)(wan)寺內單獨的(de)(de)(de)文(wen)殊殿(dian)(dian)、普賢殿(dian)(dian)、藥師殿(dian)(dian)、地藏殿(dian)(dian)等(deng)好比走(zou)遍了佛教(jiao)四大(da)名山。念佛堂、放生池將(jiang)(jiang)隨(sui)之(zhi)開放。二期(qi)工(gong)程中藏經(jing)樓。祖堂、玉佛殿(dian)(dian)、萬(wan)佛殿(dian)(dian)、寶(bao)塔(ta)、天(tian)樂頤養樓等(deng)正在緊(jin)鑼密鼓的(de)(de)(de)籌備中。
屆時(shi)寺(si)內(nei)南北中(zhong)(zhong)軸線上正(zheng)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)三(san)(san)重,層層疊(die)進,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)堂(tang)屋宇,參差起伏;亭臺樓(lou)(lou)閣,相(xiang)得益彰;楹聯匾額,韻清意(yi)遠;天王殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)重檐翹(qiao)角,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)中(zhong)(zhong)央(yang)供奉玉石(shi)彌勒,兩側則供奉為祈風調雨(yu)(yu)順(shun)、人(ren)口太(tai)平(ping)、世界和諧的(de)(de)四大(da)護法(fa)(fa)(fa)天王,楹聯分伺:“法(fa)(fa)(fa)輪光(guang)大(da)地(di),寶(bao)筏識迷津(jin)”,門楣鐫(juan)刻“永興寺(si)”乃(nai)2007年中(zhong)(zhong)國佛(fo)(fo)教協會會長一誠長老(lao)親書。拜(bai)韋陀后(hou),普(pu)陀山(shan)方(fang)(fang)丈(zhang)戒忍大(da)和尚親書的(de)(de)“圓通(tong)(tong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)”四個金(jin)字躍入眼(yan)(yan)簾,藥師殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、地(di)藏殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、文殊殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、普(pu)賢殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)分伺前(qian)側左右。圓通(tong)(tong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)供奉著法(fa)(fa)(fa)像莊(zhuang)(zhuang)嚴的(de)(de)過(guo)去(qu)正(zheng)法(fa)(fa)(fa)名如(ru)來(lai)(毗盧觀音)法(fa)(fa)(fa)像采用(yong)純天然香樟木分三(san)(san)段雕刻,2.19米(mi)的(de)(de)須彌寶(bao)座(zuo)上雕刻著精(jing)美(mei)的(de)(de)佛(fo)(fo)教圖畫,6.19米(mi)的(de)(de)法(fa)(fa)(fa)身(shen)端正(zheng)而(er)慈祥,法(fa)(fa)(fa)身(shen)后(hou)神(shen)采各(ge)異、栩(xu)栩(xu)如(ru)生(sheng)的(de)(de)九龍的(de)(de)背(bei)光(guang)圓滿成(cheng)就了(le)目前(qian)國內(nei)之(zhi)最的(de)(de)9.19米(mi)過(guo)去(qu)正(zheng)法(fa)(fa)(fa)名如(ru)來(lai)(毗盧觀音)法(fa)(fa)(fa)像。分伺左右的(de)(de)三(san)(san)十(shi)(shi)二應身(shen)運(yun)用(yong)傳統采繪藝術,形態各(ge)異。抬頭仰望圓通(tong)(tong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)上方(fang)(fang),空中(zhong)(zhong)閣樓(lou)(lou)中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)五十(shi)(shi)三(san)(san)參等(deng)法(fa)(fa)(fa)像更(geng)讓你有如(ru)親臨佛(fo)(fo)國之(zhi)感。拜(bai)完(wan)大(da)佛(fo)(fo)到放生(sheng)池,放生(sheng)池上碧(bi)池映(ying)陰,過(guo)石(shi)徑曲橋既是藏經樓(lou)(lou),其乃(nai)三(san)(san)層閣樓(lou)(lou),穿過(guo)回廊(lang)登寶(bao)塔(ta),憑塔(ta)近觀,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)堂(tang)、寶(bao)塔(ta)、樓(lou)(lou)閣之(zhi)間,游(you)廊(lang)操(cao)手,往來(lai)勾連(lian),環環相(xiang)扣,天瀑雨(yu)(yu)而(er)履(lv)無濕(shi),日酷烈而(er)體(ti)怫曬焉。放眼(yan)(yan)遠眺(tiao),有無錫繁(fan)華的(de)(de)商貿易太(tai)湖廣場為中(zhong)(zhong)心的(de)(de)美(mei)麗(li)無錫圖畫盡收眼(yan)(yan)底,無錫較大(da)的(de)(de)醫療中(zhong)(zhong)心隔河相(xiang)望。屆時(shi)再看(kan)永興寺(si),離火車站、高速(su)公(gong)路出口以及無錫機場也均(jun)僅需要一刻鐘路程。是繁(fan)華都市中(zhong)(zhong)一座(zuo)體(ti)現莊(zhuang)(zhuang)嚴、寧靜的(de)(de)精(jing)湛(zhan)建筑(zhu)生(sheng)態仿古精(jing)美(mei)建筑(zhu)生(sheng)態群(qun);也是坐落(luo)在大(da)運(yun)河畔一座(zuo)凈化(hua)人(ren)心、凸現和諧的(de)(de)一方(fang)(fang)清凈佛(fo)(fo)地(di),她(ta)還將積淀底蘊二千多年的(de)(de)佛(fo)(fo)教文化(hua),展新時(shi)代南長魅力,反映(ying)無錫繁(fan)榮富強,祖國昌(chang)盛太(tai)平(ping)。
“南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)朝四百八十寺(si)(si),多少樓臺(tai)煙(yan)雨中(zhong)”。據資料記載,永(yong)興(xing)寺(si)(si)始建(jian)(jian)于(yu)三(san)國(guo)東吳赤烏年(nian)(nian)間(jian)(公元238年(nian)(nian)-250年(nian)(nian))。吳地的(de)(de)佛(fo)教(jiao)(jiao)一(yi)(yi)(yi)度(du)呈現繁榮景色(se)。相傳其時,吳王孫權經常(chang)迎請(qing)大德高僧開(kai)壇講(jiang)法。其母(mu)吳國(guo)太(tai)(tai)為求天下太(tai)(tai)平永(yong)興(xing)在江南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)一(yi)(yi)(yi)帶建(jian)(jian)七寺(si)(si)八塔(ta),永(yong)興(xing)寺(si)(si)即(ji)其中(zhong)之一(yi)(yi)(yi)。其建(jian)(jian)寺(si)(si)期(qi)間(jian),適巧寺(si)(si)旁一(yi)(yi)(yi)小溪(xi)(xi),溪(xi)(xi)水甚是(shi)清徹透底,吳國(guo)太(tai)(tai)見之歡喜,故在溪(xi)(xi)上(shang)架太(tai)(tai)平橋(qiao),現太(tai)(tai)平橋(qiao)原(yuan)石(shi)復建(jian)(jian)在新(xin)(xin)寺(si)(si)放(fang)生(sheng)池上(shang)。明(ming)代萬歷(li)年(nian)(nian)間(jian),釋順(shun)泉(quan)和(he)尚于(yu)太(tai)(tai)平橋(qiao)畔(pan)修舊寺(si)(si),續(xu)其真(zhen)脈,傳承至(zhi)1953年(nian)(nian),其名(ming)(ming)為“永(yong)興(xing)禪院(yuan)”。文(wen)革(ge)期(qi)間(jian)古寺(si)(si)被(bei)用作小學和(he)倉庫。原(yuan)中(zhong)國(guo)佛(fo)教(jiao)(jiao)協會(hui)會(hui)長(chang)(chang)趙樸初先生(sheng)曾親(qin)筆題書寺(si)(si)名(ming)(ming)。1995年(nian)(nian)無(wu)錫市宗(zong)教(jiao)(jiao)局批準(zhun)重建(jian)(jian)、正式恢復對外開(kai)放(fang)。1997年(nian)(nian),時任中(zhong)佛(fo)協副會(hui)長(chang)(chang)、江蘇佛(fo)協會(hui)長(chang)(chang)茗山長(chang)(chang)老親(qin)書“永(yong)興(xing)寺(si)(si)”。雖(sui)然古寺(si)(si)數度(du)興(xing)衰,卻仍綿延至(zhi)今,信(xin)徒不(bu)斷,香火不(bu)滅。 欣逢盛世,政治清明(ming),社會(hui)進步,物阜民(min)豐,民(min)安國(guo)泰。2007年(nian)(nian)因無(wu)錫市重點(dian)道橋(qiao)工程建(jian)(jian)設需要,永(yong)興(xing)寺(si)(si)易地復建(jian)(jian)。此舉得到了市、區委主要領導以及揚(yang)名(ming)(ming)街道負責人等的(de)(de)關(guan)心和(he)支持(chi)。古剎(cha)復建(jian)(jian),利樂有情,充分(fen)落實了黨的(de)(de)宗(zong)教(jiao)(jiao)政策,弘(hong)揚(yang)中(zhong)華民(min)族(zu)的(de)(de)優秀傳統佛(fo)文(wen)化(hua),與(yu)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)長(chang)(chang)“清名(ming)(ming)上(shang)河圖”同(tong)步挖掘和(he)豐富南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)長(chang)(chang)的(de)(de)深厚文(wen)化(hua)底蘊,也為構建(jian)(jian)“文(wen)化(hua)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)長(chang)(chang),魅力南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)長(chang)(chang),和(he)諧南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)長(chang)(chang)”繼續(xu)增添新(xin)(xin)的(de)(de)亮點(dian)奠定了良好基礎(chu)。