介紹
明(ming)代(dai)永(yong)樂十(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(公元(yuan)1418年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),寺(si)僧(seng)無用(yong)自(zi)應天溧水(今江蘇溧陽縣)來,與(yu)蒙(meng)化土官左(zuo)氏、蒙(meng)化大(da)族(zu)善(shan)信(xin)等(deng)共同籌資,先期建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)大(da)雄寶殿(dian)(太陽宮)。隨之(zhi)(zhi),劈展后(hou)地,共建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)三進四(si)院的佛教寺(si)廟建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)群(qun)。明(ming)正(zheng)統(tong)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1437年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))開始塑(su)像,明(ming)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)化元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1465年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))土知(zhi)府左(zuo)氏再建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)雙塔于二(er)門外,諸(zhu)善(shan)信(xin)增建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)殿(dian)宇五座(zuo),明(ming)代(dai)萬歷二(er)十(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1599年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至三十(shi)四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1625年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),僧(seng)綱司(si)住持性定再次募修(xiu)各殿(dian),又新建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)后(hou)殿(dian)、兩廡(wu)及(ji)更衣廳并塑(su)羅漢,至此(ci),等(deng)覺寺(si)為(wei)規(gui)模(mo)最大(da)時(shi)。《等(deng)覺寺(si)碑記》載:“……功既就,各塑(su)諸(zhu)尊金像,昭示法眼(yan),于是,棟(dong)宇巍峨,后(hou)前(qian)掩映,寶像森(sen)嚴,金碧交輝……”從中可(ke)以看到,當(dang)初(chu)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)時(shi)的等(deng)覺寺(si),無論是建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)規(gui)模(mo)還是香(xiang)火之(zhi)(zhi)盛都(dou)是空(kong)前(qian)的。清(qing)代(dai)咸豐(feng)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間兵焚,部分(fen)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)被毀,僅余太陽宮、雙塔等(deng)處。清(qing)光緒年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間,于太陽宮之(zhi)(zhi)左(zuo)建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)祿位祠(ci),祀(si)云(yun)貴總督林則徐(xu)。在太陽宮之(zhi)(zhi)右改建(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)昭忠祠(ci),祀(si)咸同年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間清(qing)軍陣亡、殉難諸(zhu)人。
太陽宮(gong)建(jian)(jian)于(yu)明永樂十六年(1418年),為(wei)(wei)面(mian)寬五間的(de)(de)單檐(yan)歇(xie)山(shan)式(shi)建(jian)(jian)筑,正面(mian)及(ji)左右檐(yan)下(xia)(xia)皆設重昂五踩(cai)斗拱,后檐(yan)以垂柱(zhu)花板作裝飾,整個建(jian)(jian)筑古樸雄渾。雙(shuang)(shuang)塔(ta)(ta)建(jian)(jian)于(yu)明代成(cheng)化元年(1465年),為(wei)(wei)九(jiu)級方形密檐(yan)式(shi)實心磚塔(ta)(ta)。其(qi)大(da)小結構相同(tong)。塔(ta)(ta)身(shen)最下(xia)(xia)層(ceng)為(wei)(wei)石砌臺(tai)座,上置磚造須彌座臺(tai)基(ji)二層(ceng),上建(jian)(jian)塔(ta)(ta)身(shen)。雙(shuang)(shuang)塔(ta)(ta)的(de)(de)第一(yi)級東西南(nan)北各(ge)設佛(fo)龕一(yi)個,內置大(da)理(li)石佛(fo)像(xiang)各(ge)一(yi)尊,其(qi)中(zhong),在西塔(ta)(ta)南(nan)面(mian)鑲嵌明成(cheng)化元年《新造等(deng)覺寺(si)雙(shuang)(shuang)寶塔(ta)(ta)記》一(yi)通。
縱觀等(deng)覺寺,其(qi)建(jian)(jian)筑的確非(fei)凡。尤(you)其(qi)是(shi)等(deng)覺寺集塔、寺為一(yi)體的佛(fo)教建(jian)(jian)筑,建(jian)(jian)在城池內實屬少見。兼之等(deng)覺寺建(jian)(jian)筑布局型制嚴(yan)謹,充分顯示了古代匠(jiang)師的高超技藝,是(shi)研(yan)究明代早期木構建(jian)(jian)筑的重要實物(wu)例證(zheng),文(wen)物(wu)價值極高。