蘇州定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)寺(si)(si)(si)位于古(gu)城蘇州鳳凰街定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)寺(si)(si)(si)巷(xiang)(xiang),環境(jing)幽(you)靜,自(zi)古(gu)以(yi)(yi)來(lai)名(ming)人薈萃,有著(zhu)(zhu)深厚的(de)(de)文化底蘊,大(da)雄寶殿前(qian)兩棵古(gu)老的(de)(de)銀杏樹(shu)默記(ji)著(zhu)(zhu)定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)寺(si)(si)(si)的(de)(de)蒼(cang)桑變遷。世紀(ji)之交,定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)寺(si)(si)(si)又翻(fan)開了新(xin)的(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)(yi)頁,在(zai)政府和佛教(jiao)界各方人士的(de)(de)大(da)力支(zhi)持下,以(yi)(yi)嶄(zhan)新(xin)的(de)(de)面貌展現(xian)于世人面前(qian)。今天的(de)(de)定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)寺(si)(si)(si),西依鳳凰街,車水馬(ma)龍(long),一(yi)(yi)(yi)派現(xian)代(dai)氣息(xi)(xi);東(dong)鄰蘇公弄,曲徑幽(you)深,唐(tang)宋(song)古(gu)韻猶(you)存。山門(men)前(qian)的(de)(de)定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)寺(si)(si)(si)巷(xiang)(xiang),巷(xiang)(xiang)因(yin)寺(si)(si)(si)而得名(ming)。巷(xiang)(xiang)內的(de)(de)人們(men)每日伴著(zhu)(zhu)定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)寺(si)(si)(si)的(de)(de)晨(chen)鐘暮鼓,作息(xi)(xi)起居,雖身處鬧市,卻是難得的(de)(de)怡然恬靜。在(zai)這方水土(tu),定(ding)(ding)慧(hui)(hui)(hui)寺(si)(si)(si)猶(you)如一(yi)(yi)(yi)位禪僧,帶著(zhu)(zhu)唐(tang)宋(song)遺(yi)風(feng),向我(wo)(wo)們(men)走來(lai),走進我(wo)(wo)們(men)的(de)(de)生活和心靈,帶給(gei)我(wo)(wo)們(men)平和與安詳。
定慧寺現存清代山門、天王殿、大殿等建筑,坐北朝南。大殿為單檐歇山造,面闊三間19米,進深18米,高約12米。四周檐柱均為抹角石柱,檐下布列象鼻昂楓拱十字牌科。梁架扁作,結構完整。殿前古銀杏兩株并峙,樹齡200余年,夏日濃蔭如幄。1991年冬,大殿曾進行修繕。
走(zou)近定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)(si),便可(ke)深深感(gan)觸到(dao)姑(gu)蘇(su)(su)歷(li)史脈搏的跳動;品味定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)(si),方可(ke)知蘇(su)(su)州(zhou)不愧是(shi)一(yi)(yi)座歷(li)史文化名(ming)城。元(yuan)朝時(shi)期(qi),定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)禪院(yuan)再(zai)次(ci)被毀(hui)壞,明洪(hong)武年間(jian)(1368-1398)重(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu),明正(zheng)統時(shi)(1436-1449),蘇(su)(su)州(zhou)郡守況鐘重(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)了大(da)殿(dian),并改定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)禪院(yuan)?quot;定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)禪寺(si)(si)"。清康熙年間(jian)(1662-1722),里人唐堯仁出(chu)資重(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)了大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)、觀音殿(dian)及(ji)彌勒殿(dian)。道(dao)光(guang)元(yuan)年(1821)里人胡珽再(zai)次(ci)重(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)。然(ran)到(dao)了咸豐時(shi)期(qi),內憂不止,外(wai)患頻仍,定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)禪寺(si)(si)再(zai)一(yi)(yi)次(ci)毀(hui)于戰火(huo)。同(tong)治三年(1864),本修(xiu)(xiu)法師募(mu)資重(zhong)建,民國十(shi)五年(1926)僧靈馨募(mu)資重(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu),定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)(si)才得以遺存至今。但(dan)后經戰亂,定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)(si)又(you)遭劫難,大(da)部份建筑毀(hui)于一(yi)(yi)旦,僅(jin)存山門、天王殿(dian)和(he)大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian),且(qie)均已殘破不堪。1958年定(ding)慧(hui)(hui)寺(si)(si)被蘇(su)(su)州(zhou)市(shi)第七塑(su)料廠(chang)占用為(wei)廠(chang)房至今,唐宋遺風已蕩(dang)然(ran)無存,古寺(si)(si)建筑也(ye)受到(dao)不同(tong)程度(du)的破壞。
唐咸(xian)通間(jian)為盛楚所創般若院(yuan)子(zi)院(yuan),五代(dai)吳越錢氏時(shi)仍屬(shu)羅(luo)漢院(yuan),北宋雍熙間(jian)稱西方(fang)院(yuan),大(da)(da)中(zhong)祥符間(jian)賜(si)額(e)定慧禪寺(si),才與壽寧(ning)萬歲禪院(yuan)(雙塔寺(si))分(fen)為兩寺(si)。元末毀于兵火(huo)。明洪(hong)武(wu)中(zhong)僧(seng)澤藏山、景新、惠澤,永樂中(zhong)僧(seng)凈因,先后重建(jian)。宣(xuan)德九年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1434年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))得知府況鐘捐助,正統二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1437年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))重建(jian)大(da)(da)雄寶殿。清康熙初漸形傾圮,十(shi)(shi)一年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1672年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)大(da)(da)休駐錫,里(li)人唐堯仁捐資重建(jian)觀音殿,重修大(da)(da)殿、彌勒殿。道(dao)光間(jian)殿宇失修,十(shi)(shi)六(liu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1836年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))邑(yi)人顧(gu)沅等集資修葺。咸(xian)豐十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))至同治二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1863年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),因戰爭被毀。同治三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)僧(seng)本修師徒(tu)相繼募修地藏、天王各(ge)殿。1926年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)僧(seng)靈馨(xin)募修。