斗(dou)方山(shan)(shan)風景區位(wei)于大(da)(da)別山(shan)(shan)南麓,浠英羅(luo)三縣交界處,亦(yi)稱斗(dou)方禪林,建(jian)(jian)(jian)在斗(dou)方山(shan)(shan)上(shang),最初由后(hou)唐同光元年(nian)(923)無著禪師建(jian)(jian)(jian)造(zao),北宋(song)時佛印(yin)禪師駐錫傳經,元遭(zao)兵(bing)毀。明洪武重(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)(jian)(jian),規模宏(hong)大(da)(da),僧弟子數百人(ren)云(yun)集山(shan)(shan)上(shang),盛極一時。建(jian)(jian)(jian)國初,寺(si)廟僅(jin)存(cun)上(shang)斗(dou)方三重(zhong)(zhong)殿(dian)堂(tang),上(shang)殿(dian)梁、柱(zhu)皆石(shi)(shi)結構,石(shi)(shi)柱(zhu)八根,高(gao)4.6米,柱(zhu)圍2.2米,建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑牢固,造(zao)型壯(zhuang)觀,工(gong)程巨大(da)(da)。殿(dian)前有(you)月(yue)臺式(shi)場(chang)地(di),場(chang)前有(you)石(shi)(shi)質臺階。中殿(dian)和(he)下殿(dian)為(wei)青磚結構,亦(yi)有(you)石(shi)(shi)柱(zhu)八根,殿(dian)內有(you)石(shi)(shi)質佛龕。近(jin)年(nian)來,香港(gang)印(yin)靜法師會(hui)同香港(gang)佛門弟子捐資(zi)千萬元修復斗(dou)方寺(si),中國佛教(jiao)協會(hui)咨議(yi)委員(yuan)會(hui)副主席、當今禪宗大(da)(da)德高(gao)僧本煥大(da)(da)法師任(ren)斗(dou)方寺(si)方丈。重(zhong)(zhong)修后(hou)的斗(dou)方寺(si)于1998年(nian)11月(yue)16日正式(shi)對游人(ren)開放(fang)。斗(dou)方山(shan)(shan)多石(shi)(shi)洞怪石(shi)(shi),相傳八卦洞右(you)側的石(shi)(shi)樓,是(shi)乾隆進士范思皇(huang)讀(du)書和(he)倡"三教(jiao)"(道(dao)、佛、儒)之(zhi)所(suo)。斗(dou)方山(shan)(shan)是(shi)佛教(jiao)圣地(di),也是(shi)觀光游覽的好(hao)去處。
斗(dou)方山(shan)因(yin)山(shan)形(xing)斗(dou)方而得名,不僅(jin)是(shi)一座(zuo)歷(li)史(shi)悠久(jiu)的佛教(jiao)名山(shan)且諸峰羅列,氣勢(shi)雄偉,山(shan)中四千畝林木(mu)郁郁蔥蔥,花草斗(dou)艷(yan),四季春色,風光秀麗,氣候宜人(ren)。山(shan)南(nan)側(ce)(ce),奇石(shi)林立(li)(li),千姿百態(tai),因(yin)形(xing)狀(zhuang)物, 如生(sheng),更(geng)有(you)洞府(fu)遍布,歷(li)來為(wei)游人(ren)所神往。山(shan)東(dong)側(ce)(ce)的“舍利寶(bao)塔”建(jian)于北宋時期,紅沙石(shi)質,單(dan)件(jian)各幅,行如立(li)(li)鼓,小(xiao)巧玲瓏(long),被(bei)載(zai)入(ru)《中國寶(bao)塔名勝(sheng)大(da)辭典》。斗(dou)方寺古(gu)殿(dian)為(wei)一色的花崗石(shi)建(jian)筑(zhu),石(shi)梁、石(shi)竹(zhu)、石(shi)墩、石(shi)架、石(shi)墻(qiang)貫(guan)斗(dou),上刻(ke)蟠龍花紋,工精形(xing)肖(xiao),勢(shi)態(tai)宏偉壯觀,富有(you)濃厚的傳奇色彩(cai),是(shi)省級(ji)重點保護單(dan)位。山(shan)中還有(you)摹巖刻(ke)字十多處,歷(li)代文人(ren)騷客(ke)留(liu)下的詩(shi)文上百篇,傳奇故事數(shu)百個,潛(qian)在著豐富的旅游資源(yuan)。