位于(yu)盤門內東(dong)大街11號,1956年被(bei)列為(wei)江(jiang)蘇(su)省文物保(bao)護單位,現由蘇(su)州(zhou)市文物管理委(wei)員會(hui)保(bao)護管理。
開(kai)(kai)元(yuan)寺(si)初名(ming)(ming)通(tong)玄(xuan)寺(si),三國(guo)東(dong)吳(wu)赤烏年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間孫(sun)權為乳母陳氏所建(jian)(jian)。隋開(kai)(kai)皇九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(589年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))吳(wu)縣令(ling)孫(sun)寬廢(fei)寺(si),唐貞觀(guan)二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(628年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)慧重興。開(kai)(kai)元(yuan)二(er)(er)十六(liu)(liu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(738年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))詔令(ling)改(gai)名(ming)(ming)。大(da)順(shun)二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(891年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),孫(sun)儒占(zhan)據蘇州,開(kai)(kai)元(yuan)寺(si)被付之一炬。五代后(hou)唐同(tong)光三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(925年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),吳(wu)越錢氏遷建(jian)(jian)開(kai)(kai)元(yuan)寺(si)于(yu)盤(pan)門內現址(zhi)。宋至明屢經廢(fei)興。清(qing)咸豐十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))又毀于(yu)兵火,同(tong)治十二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1873年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))稍事重修,未復舊觀(guan)。無梁(liang)殿(dian)是(shi)開(kai)(kai)元(yuan)寺(si)現在僅存的一座古建(jian)(jian)筑無梁(liang)殿(dian)即藏經閣,建(jian)(jian)于(yu)明萬歷四十六(liu)(liu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1618年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))。原先供奉(feng)無量壽(shou)佛,又名(ming)(ming)無量殿(dian);又以(yi)純(chun)為磨磚嵌縫縱橫拱券結(jie)構,不用(yong)木(mu)構梁(liang)柱檁椽,故習稱無梁(liang)殿(dian)。
開元寺無(wu)(wu)梁殿(dian)(dian)是(shi)江蘇省現存五座(zuo)無(wu)(wu)梁殿(dian)(dian)中(zhong)建(jian)遲(chi)、制作精的(de)一座(zuo)。殿(dian)(dian)坐北(bei)朝南(nan),兩層(ceng)樓閣(ge)式,面(mian)(mian)闊七間(jian)(jian),寬(kuan)20.9米,進深11.2米,通高約19米。歇山頂及腰檐敷綠(lv)間(jian)(jian)黃琉璃筒瓦,與清水磚(zhuan)(zhuan)外墻面(mian)(mian)相(xiang)映成趣(qu)。正(zheng)面(mian)(mian)上下(xia)各(ge)有半圓磚(zhuan)(zhuan)倚柱(zhu)6根,下(xia)置雕(diao)花(hua)須彌座(zuo),轉角用垂蓮柱(zhu)。正(zheng)面(mian)(mian)正(zheng)中(zhong)開拱(gong)門三個(ge),左右各(ge)置拱(gong)形窗(chuang),在上層(ceng)相(xiang)對位置開拱(gong)形窗(chuang)5個(ge),明(ming)間(jian)(jian)是(shi)明(ming)窗(chuang),其(qi)余是(shi)假窗(chuang)。柱(zhu)間(jian)(jian)有刻南(nan)無(wu)(wu)阿彌陀(tuo)佛的(de)華版(ban)及大小枋(fang)子。明(ming)間(jian)(jian)檐下(xia)是(shi)磚(zhuan)(zhuan)制斜拱(gong),上泵副檐。繞有雕(diao)刻的(de)平座(zuo)欄桿(gan),圖案十(shi)分典雅,而且雕(diao)工精細,宛如一件杰出的(de)工藝(yi)品(pin)。
殿內上(shang)下層各(ge)分(fen)(fen)為(wei)三大間,用縱橫磚砌卷筒(tong)結(jie)構,置扶梯于左(zuo)面側墻內。原先樓上(shang)藏經(jing),樓下供佛。二層明間采(cai)用斗拱承托八(ba)角形的磚制藻(zao)井的穹窿結(jie)構,四壁(bi)鑲嵌明代章藻(zao)手(shou)書(shu)《梵(fan)綱經(jing)》、《華(hua)嚴經(jing)》石刻(ke)。殿頂及腰檐(yan)覆蓋綠、黃二色(se)(se)琉璃瓦(wa)、與青磚墻面組成和(he)諧的色(se)(se)調。正脊飾以琉璃游龍,戧角雕塑四大天王(wang)立像。建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)無(wu)不工細(xi)精(jing)巧,于宏(hong)偉莊(zhuang)重中寓玲瓏華(hua)麗之(zhi)(zhi)美(mei)(mei),堪(kan)稱明代建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)精(jing)品。這座無(wu)梁殿在莊(zhuang)嚴中顯現出玲瓏秀麗之(zhi)(zhi)姿,充分(fen)(fen)反(fan)映(ying)了古老蘇州的建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)藝術(shu)在明代已(yi)達到一(yi)個相當完美(mei)(mei)和(he)諧的境界,故(gu)有“結(jie)構雄杰冠江(jiang)南”之(zhi)(zhi)譽。現為(wei)第七批全國重點文物保護單位。