觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)庵由正殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、配(pei)(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)閣及倉(cang)庫等(deng)組成,占(zhan)地(di)面(mian)(mian)積1065平(ping)(ping)(ping)方(fang)米。正殿(dian)(dian)(dian)為釋迦(jia)牟(mou)尼(ni)殿(dian)(dian)(dian),座東面(mian)(mian)西(xi)(xi),面(mian)(mian)闊五盈,為硬山式抬粱建筑(zhu)結構,青瓦屋頂,建筑(zhu)面(mian)(mian)積105平(ping)(ping)(ping)方(fang)米。正殿(dian)(dian)(dian)左右各有配(pei)(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)五間,建筑(zhu)面(mian)(mian)積170平(ping)(ping)(ping)方(fang)米。左配(pei)(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)為禪堂、客廳;右配(pei)(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)為生產用房。后五間草房為倉(cang)庫。庵院西(xi)(xi)南(nan)跨院有觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)閣一楹(ying),為單檐歇山式結構,青瓦屋頂,建筑(zhu)面(mian)(mian)積30平(ping)(ping)(ping)方(fang)米。觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)閣內供奉南(nan)海觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)菩薩,菩薩塑(su)像坐南(nan)面(mian)(mian)北(bei),俗稱倒座觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin),亦即倒座廟稱謂(wei)之(zhi)由來(lai)。
傳說(shuo)該廟肇(zhao)建(jian)(jian)(jian)人之一的(de)孫明(ming)(ming)遠(yuan)曾得(de)一夢,夢中見南海觀(guan)音身著白(bai)衣,自南海邊飛馳(chi)而來,面(mian)北座(zuo)南坐于石上。次日,孫明(ming)(ming)遠(yuan)與(yu)他人說(shuo)起(qi),眾人皆說(shuo)其與(yu)佛有緣。孫明(ming)(ming)遠(yuan)遂起(qi)建(jian)(jian)(jian)廟之意(yi)。隨即(ji)開始籌(chou)款(kuan)建(jian)(jian)(jian)廟。殿宇修(xiu)竣后,置南海觀(guan)音塑像與(yu)夢中境況(kuang)一般,故(gu)有此遼(liao)東獨絕的(de)倒(dao)座(zuo)觀(guan)音,成為大(da)孤山(shan)古建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑群的(de)又(you)一奇觀(guan)。觀(guan)音庵對聯(lian)令人叫絕:“問大(da)士何故(gu)倒(dao)座(zuo),嘆世人不(bu)可(ke)回頭。”上下聯(lian)以世人與(yu)觀(guan)音的(de)一問一答(da),充滿意(yi)趣和智慧。
觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)庵(an)原名(ming)觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)廟(miao),當地人也稱(cheng)之為(wei)觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)會、倒座(zuo)廟(miao),始由孫明遠、李倫(lun)二人肇建(jian)(jian)廟(miao)宇(yu),但事(shi)隔久遠,年(nian)(nian)(nian)代不(bu)詳。至清(qing)咸(xian)(xian)豐九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1859年(nian)(nian)(nian))又有周(zhou)長盛(sheng)等重修(xiu),歷時一年(nian)(nian)(nian)修(xiu)竣,時稱(cheng)觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)閣,一九四一年(nian)(nian)(nian)改名(ming)觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)庵(an)。觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)庵(an)右側(ce)立(li)(li)有清(qing)代“重修(xiu)觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)閣碑(bei)記(ji)”石(shi)碑(bei)一座(zuo),立(li)(li)于咸(xian)(xian)豐十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian))八月。碑(bei)文(wen)為(wei)陰(yin)刻楷書,碑(bei)左題(ti)“重修(xiu)觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)閣碑(bei)記(ji)”,碑(bei)文(wen)由山東文(wen)登縣(xian)張雨撰寫,文(wen)中記(ji)載(zai)了大孤山修(xiu)建(jian)(jian)觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)庵(an)的(de)歷史,及(ji)先稱(cheng)觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)廟(miao),后稱(cheng)觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)(yin)閣名(ming)稱(cheng)演(yan)化的(de)過程,文(wen)后附有募化修(xiu)建(jian)(jian)人員周(zhou)長盛(sheng)、孫秉中,住持鄒(zou)空嶢等人的(de)姓名(ming)。浙紹會稽山嚴持中書丹。
初期,觀音庵殿堂(tang)被砸,佛像俱(ju)毀(hui),庵內(nei)六名尼姑被逐。一九六七年至一九八(ba)五年該房(fang)產歸(gui)孤(gu)山(shan)鎮房(fang)產管理所接管,出租給(gei)當地居(ju)民居(ju)住。一九八(ba)五年后,政府(fu)落實宗教政策,該房(fang)產重新劃歸(gui)宗教界。觀音庵重拾香火(huo),并(bing)日漸興盛。