法華(hua)寺座(zuo)落在(zai)大(da)連市(shi)莊河市(shi)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)山(shan)(shan)(shan)鎮北部(bu)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)山(shan)(shan)(shan)古城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)之(zhi)內,據有關記載,此山(shan)(shan)(shan)開拓肇自(zi)漢唐,距(ju)今(jin)已有一千五百多年歷史。系高句麗(li)第(di)二(er)十六代嬰陽王為防御敵(di)軍。在(zai)仙人指點下興建此城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),此城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)分為前城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、后城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)全長8800米,山(shan)(shan)(shan)上(shang)建點將臺、紫禁城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、撩望臺、座(zuo)纛旗、還有蓋秀英的梳妝(zhuang)臺,遺址尚(shang)在(zai)現已復修。
法華寺原名覺僧(seng)寺,始(shi)建於明(ming)朝萬歷四十二年,據有(you)關碑文記(ji)載,此寺當時數殿連亙(gen),結構精壯、征(zheng)諸(zhu)往昔、香(xiang)火熾盛、寺中神佛(fo)、靈(ling)足(zu)跡多(duo)彰、廟宇周(zhou)(zhou)圍(wei),怪石成形,多(duo)種多(duo)樣,罔似九龍(long),陣守古剎,高山(shan)天(tian)作,梵寺神創,城圍(wei)四周(zhou)(zhou),廟鎮中央,不遠望去,山(shan)嶺嵯峨,道場安詳(xiang),群山(shan)朝拱,佛(fo)殿堂(tang)煌,孤城前仞,佳(jia)木千(qian)嶂,峭石崪巍,仙(xian)跡徜(chang)徉(yang),天(tian)造佳(jia)境,可(ke)謂禮佛(fo)勝(sheng)地,禪(chan)坐(zuo)仙(xian)鄉(xiang),多(duo)少(shao)道人(ren)曾穩居(ju)山(shan)中內(nei)守悠閑,此中妙意,引人(ren)向往,本(ben)寺開山(shan)祖師上通(tong)下(xia)知禪(chan)師系上普(pu)下(xia)靖(jing)之高徒(tu),宿值善根,生有(you)靈(ling)光,幼懷貞敏,神通(tong)異(yi)常(chang)不食人(ren)間煙火,禪(chan)坐(zuo)功深(shen),老虎把門,仙(xian)鶴翱(ao)翔,精通(tong)戒律,研習教典,旱悟真空,覺性(xing)圓明(ming),門下(xia)徒(tu)眾,約百余人(ren),功德圓滿,金身坐(zuo)化,以示后人(ren)。
於清朝末期,因地方土匪掃劫,將寺廟焚燒,廟產土地四百余畝全都歸官。后(hou)于民(min)國初年由(you)朱盛(sheng)真,法名(ming)修真老居士重振道(dao)風,此老人天性樂善好施(shi),慧根(gen)深厚,性好修養,內不染(ran)塵,外(wai)不著相,休如琉(liu)璃,日本人曾(ceng)給拍照,室內衣物皆(jie)現(xian),唯(wei)人無影,現(xian)存肖(xiao)像(xiang),在(zai)土(tu)改前(qian)夕曾(ceng)多次救出被國民(min)黨圍困的八路軍和連長。
由(you)于修真老(lao)(lao)人(ren)(ren)的(de)(de)慈(ci)(ci)、悲、予樂,有(you)求必應的(de)(de)菩薩行(xing)為(wei)(wei),至今令當(dang)地百姓及遠(yuan)(yuan)近(jin)信徒傳為(wei)(wei)佳話懷念不(bu)已,并尊稱其(qi)(qi)為(wei)(wei)朱(zhu)仙(xian)(xian)姑的(de)(de)德號。此老(lao)(lao)人(ren)(ren)生(sheng)(sheng)於一(yi)八(ba)六(liu)(liu)九年(nian)三(san)月十(shi)七日,老(lao)(lao)家(jia)莊河(he)朱(zhu)家(jia)隈(wei)屯,從小就與眾(zhong)不(bu)同(tong)。十(shi)八(ba)歲不(bu)近(jin)人(ren)(ren)間(jian)煙(yan)火(huo),借用吸煙(yan)練吐納功夫(fu),常(chang)坐不(bu)臥,禪(chan)悅(yue)為(wei)(wei)食,因父(fu)母早逝由(you)叔父(fu)作(zuo)主,許配近(jin)村(cun)狄家(jia)為(wei)(wei)妻,結婚之(zhi)日,夫(fu)晚入室見其(qi)(qi)身金光四射,不(bu)敢近(jin)前,知(zhi)(zhi)非凡人(ren)(ren),次日乘車送回(hui)朱(zhu)府叔父(fu)聽此異象,疑為(wei)(wei)妖精,有(you)意(yi)將其(qi)(qi)害死(si),妻兄(xiong)(xiong)嫂不(bu)忍帶著簡單衣物(wu)連夜逃出,一(yi)家(jia)大小無法(fa)生(sheng)(sheng)存,兄(xiong)(xiong)嫂只能以(yi)討飯為(wei)(wei)生(sheng)(sheng)。后有(you)城(cheng)(cheng)山(shan)當(dang)地紳(shen)士華大爺(ye)意(yi)想(xiang)恢復城(cheng)(cheng)山(shan)廟宇,夜夢仙(xian)(xian)人(ren)(ren)指(zhi)點,告知(zhi)(zhi)該處有(you)一(yi)仙(xian)(xian)姑可興建此寺(si)(si)于一(yi)九二(er)一(yi)年(nian)隨請之(zhi)入山(shan)大興土(tu)木,仙(xian)(xian)姑不(bu)臨現場競(jing)對(dui)建筑工程了如指(zhi)掌,并兼修城(cheng)(cheng)山(shan)五老(lao)(lao)宮、普(pu)蘭店白云(yun)山(shan)白云(yun)觀、三(san)處廟宇歷(li)經九年(nian)時(shi)(shi)間(jian)全部峻工。當(dang)時(shi)(shi),此山(shan)的(de)(de)水草皆有(you)靈氣(qi),人(ren)(ren)食之(zhi)后皆可除(chu)病,遠(yuan)(yuan)近(jin)遐邇,逐漸寺(si)(si)院香火(huo)頂盛,本(ben)寺(si)(si)以(yi)天臺法(fa)華為(wei)(wei)宗(zong)隨改名(ming)為(wei)(wei)法(fa)華寺(si)(si),當(dang)時(shi)(shi)僧俗(su)道眾(zhong)多達幾百人(ren)(ren)以(yi)上,修學方法(fa)是吐納練氣(qi),靜坐禪(chan)觀,其(qi)(qi)宗(zong)旨是,平等慈(ci)(ci)悲,圓滿自(zi)我,不(bu)擇上下,接(jie)引眾(zhong)生(sheng)(sheng),繞益有(you)情,行(xing)菩薩道。于一(yi)九五○年(nian)三(san)月十(shi)七日預知(zhi)(zhi)時(shi)(shi)至(生(sheng)(sheng)日和(he)故日是同(tong)一(yi)天),無病坐化(hua),享(xiang)年(nian)八(ba)十(shi)二(er)歲,一(yi)九六(liu)(liu)八(ba)年(nian)此寺(si)(si)毀于文革。
于九(jiu)(jiu)四年(nian)落實宗教政策(ce)后由當地(di)政府(fu)出(chu)頭,將(jiang)廟宇重(zhong)新(xin)恢復,請來原(yuan)大(da)連(lian)市佛教協(xie)會名譽會長上脫下凡老(lao)和(he)尚(shang)任持,主要殿(dian)(dian)(dian)堂(tang)有大(da)雄寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、準提殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、彌(mi)勒殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、功德堂(tang)、護法殿(dian)(dian)(dian)等(deng)。老(lao)和(he)尚(shang)于九(jiu)(jiu)六(liu)(liu)年(nian)退居大(da)連(lian)。經(jing)政府(fu)聘請宗教界領導(dao)同(tong)意又(you)轉交常愿法師俗名朱清艷系老(lao)仙姑第(di)四代嫡孫,生(sheng)於一九(jiu)(jiu)六(liu)(liu)三年(nian),自幼(you)皈(gui)依三寶,一九(jiu)(jiu)九(jiu)(jiu)六(liu)(liu)年(nian)于普蘭(lan)店(dian)清原(yuan)寺依上修(xiu)(xiu)下真老(lao)和(he)尚(shang)剃度,童貞出(chu)家(jia),刻苦耐勞,一九(jiu)(jiu)八(ba)八(ba)年(nian)受具足戒、多處參學(xue)、好(hao)修(xiu)(xiu)禪凈(jing),常住(zhu)僧(seng)眾、勤(qin)奮好(hao)學(xue)、農(nong)禪并(bing)重(zhong)、持戒念佛,道場(chang)以“覺悟人生(sheng)、奉(feng)獻人生(sheng)”為宗旨,學(xue)修(xiu)(xiu)并(bing)進(jin),培養僧(seng)才,并(bing)增修(xiu)(xiu)念佛堂(tang)、圓通寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、客堂(tang)、往生(sheng)堂(tang)、齋堂(tang)、僧(seng)寮百(bai)余間,現正籌建(jian)(jian)法堂(tang),會寺總占(zhan)地(di)面(mian)積約二萬(wan)六(liu)(liu)千一百(bai)平方(fang)米(mi),建(jian)(jian)筑面(mian)積三千九(jiu)(jiu)百(bai)平方(fang)米(mi)。