重(zhong)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)寺始建于梁武帝天監二年(公元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)503年),與寒(han)山寺、靈(ling)巖寺及(ji)保圣寺同時代,后(hou)在文革中全(quan)部燒毀。歷(li)史上(shang)(shang)重(zhong)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)寺作為禪宗(zong)的(de)(de)佛(fo)教場(chang)所,香火極盛,而諸多著名的(de)(de)唐(tang)代詩人均有(you)作品贊其(qi)景致。如今,新重(zhong)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)寺氣勢恢宏,表現出水(shui)天佛(fo)國的(de)(de)江東(dong)較大(da)(da)觀(guan)音道場(chang)特色(se),雄偉的(de)(de)大(da)(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian),飛檐翹(qiao)角的(de)(de)觀(guan)音閣(ge),加上(shang)(shang)寺院層層推(tui)進的(de)(de)主體建筑和堪稱海內巨制的(de)(de)觀(guan)音像、銅(tong)腔(qiang)皮革鼓、海島觀(guan)音壁以及(ji)能發(fa)出唐(tang)朝第(di)一律第(di)一聲的(de)(de)銅(tong)鐘等(deng),再現了當年重(zhong)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)寺的(de)(de)風采,是(shi)人們旅游、參拜(bai)、休(xiu)閑地絕佳之地,也(ye)填(tian)補(bu)了古城(cheng)蘇(su)州(zhou)東(dong)面沒有(you)寺廟的(de)(de)空白。
觀音閣坐(zuo)落于一座(zuo)人(ren)工填湖而成的(de)(de)小島上。整(zheng)個島從空中俯瞰如同(tong)一朵盛開的(de)(de)蓮(lian)花(hua),而觀音大士就端立于蓮(lian)心之中。觀音閣高46米,造(zao)型古(gu)樸莊嚴(yan),乃是(shi)全國較(jiao)高的(de)(de)水(shui)上觀音閣。這是(shi)重元寺(si)的(de)(de)第二最。在島周圍設有現代光電造(zao)霧系統,開啟的(de)(de)時(shi)候(hou),煙霧繚繞(rao),營造(zao)出一個唯美的(de)(de)觀音蓮(lian)花(hua)界。
大雄寶殿(dian)是(shi)寺院(yuan)里重(zhong)要的(de)建(jian)(jian)筑,是(shi)佛寺的(de)正殿(dian),大多為重(zhong)檐歇(xie)山式(shi)建(jian)(jian)筑。它供奉(feng)的(de)主體是(shi)本師釋迦牟尼佛像。大雄是(shi)稱(cheng)贊(zan)佛祖威德高尚的(de)意思。重(zhong)元寺的(de)大雄寶殿(dian)脊高36米,建(jian)(jian)筑面(mian)積2100平方米。采(cai)用(yong)的(de)式(shi)三重(zhong)檐的(de)建(jian)(jian)筑風(feng)格(ge),為目前國內體量較大的(de)大雄寶殿(dian),此乃第八最。在(zai)大殿(dian)的(de)兩側各有兩個(ge)(ge)石碑,碑文底座也(ye)就是(shi)兩個(ge)(ge)赑屃,長相(xiang)鱉形龜貌,力氣大,好負重(zhong)。兩側同時各有一石雕施食臺,也(ye)稱(cheng)蓮花祭臺,供大殿(dian)做法事時祭惡鬼之(zhi)用(yong)。
普賢菩薩殿
重(zhong)元寺(si)廣場的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)西邊(bian)是(shi)大(da)行(xing)(xing)普(pu)賢(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)菩(pu)(pu)薩殿。普(pu)賢(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)菩(pu)(pu)薩是(shi)釋迦牟尼(ni)佛的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)右脅侍,與(yu)文殊菩(pu)(pu)薩,地藏王菩(pu)(pu)薩,觀音菩(pu)(pu)薩并稱(cheng)佛教四大(da)菩(pu)(pu)薩,其道(dao)場在四川峨眉(mei)山。普(pu)賢(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)行(xing)(xing)愿(yuan)(yuan)是(shi)堅持不(bu)懈,實(shi)(shi)事(shi)求是(shi),代表(biao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)是(shi)實(shi)(shi)踐的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)精神。正如匾額所題之“行(xing)(xing)愿(yuan)(yuan)無窮”。殿中所塑(su)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)普(pu)賢(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)菩(pu)(pu)薩像頭戴寶(bao)冠(guan),身披法衣,手持如意棒(bang)。普(pu)賢(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)座(zuo)騎(qi)是(shi)一(yi)頭長有六牙的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)白象(xiang)。象(xiang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)特征是(shi)力大(da)而穩重(zhong),所以(yi)通常用來(lai)形容普(pu)賢(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)菩(pu)(pu)薩的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)修行(xing)(xing)勇猛而剛健,不(bu)急不(bu)躁,徐徐疾進;象(xiang)是(shi)白色,表(biao)示心地清凈;象(xiang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)六牙表(biao)菩(pu)(pu)薩以(yi)六度(du)含攝萬(wan)行(xing)(xing),牙尖破障(zhang),不(bu)畏一(yi)切障(zhang)礙。象(xiang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)四足表(biao)示四如意,即四種(zhong)禪定。普(pu)賢(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)殿兩壁的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)木雕表(biao)現的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)是(shi)普(pu)賢(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)(xian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)行(xing)(xing)愿(yuan)(yuan)。
文殊殿
廣(guang)場的(de)東(dong)邊是(shi)大(da)(da)(da)(da)智(zhi)文(wen)(wen)殊(shu)(shu)(shu)菩薩(sa)(sa)殿(dian)。文(wen)(wen)殊(shu)(shu)(shu)殿(dian)的(de)匾額是(shi)前任中(zhong)國(guo)佛(fo)教協會會長一(yi)(yi)誠長老所題寫。文(wen)(wen)殊(shu)(shu)(shu)菩薩(sa)(sa)是(shi)四(si)大(da)(da)(da)(da)菩薩(sa)(sa)之(zhi)一(yi)(yi),在大(da)(da)(da)(da)乘(cheng)佛(fo)教中(zhong),為(wei)眾菩薩(sa)(sa)之(zhi)首,釋迦(jia)牟尼佛(fo)的(de)左脅侍。其道(dao)場在山(shan)西五臺山(shan)。文(wen)(wen)殊(shu)(shu)(shu)菩薩(sa)(sa)智(zhi)慧(hui),辯才第一(yi)(yi),與(yu)匾額所題智(zhi)妙(miao)廣(guang)大(da)(da)(da)(da)相契(qi)合。廣(guang)大(da)(da)(da)(da)信眾向文(wen)(wen)殊(shu)(shu)(shu)菩薩(sa)(sa)祈求(qiu)增長智(zhi)慧(hui),常常有家長帶著即將考試的(de)孩童,或是(shi)剛剛出生的(de)嬰兒(er)來到文(wen)(wen)殊(shu)(shu)(shu)殿(dian),祈求(qiu)學業有成。在文(wen)(wen)殊(shu)(shu)(shu)殿(dian)立點燈供奉,智(zhi)慧(hui)福德(de),不(bu)可(ke)限量。文(wen)(wen)殊(shu)(shu)(shu)菩薩(sa)(sa)的(de)造像(xiang)頂戴五髻(ji),表(biao)示(shi)(shi)佛(fo)教五智(zhi);呈童子(zi)(zi)形,則表(biao)示(shi)(shi)純潔健(jian)行(xing);左手(shou)執(zhi)般(ban)若(ruo)經(jing)卷,表(biao)示(shi)(shi)清(qing)凈智(zhi)慧(hui);右手(shou)執(zhi)金剛寶劍,表(biao)示(shi)(shi)大(da)(da)(da)(da)智(zhi)慧(hui)能斷一(yi)(yi)切魔障;乘(cheng)獅子(zi)(zi),表(biao)勇猛威嚴,為(wei)法中(zhong)之(zhi)王。殿(dian)內兩壁刻有精美的(de)木雕(diao),內容(rong)分別是(shi)“末世護法”、“演說般(ban)若(ruo)”、“十地圓覺(jue)”、“維摩(mo)論道(dao)”,表(biao)現(xian)了文(wen)(wen)殊(shu)(shu)(shu)菩薩(sa)(sa)的(de)智(zhi)慧(hui)和(he)慈悲。文(wen)(wen)殊(shu)(shu)(shu)殿(dian)與(yu)普賢(xian)殿(dian)脊高25米,面積800平方(fang)米,均為(wei)國(guo)內較(jiao)大(da)(da)(da)(da)的(de)配殿(dian)。
地藏殿
重元寺(si)地(di)(di)藏(zang)王殿(dian)和(he)虛(xu)空藏(zang)殿(dian)。兩殿(dian)脊高(gao)(gao)24米(mi),建筑面積910平方米(mi),與文殊殿(dian)、普賢殿(dian)均為(wei)國內較大(da)的配殿(dian)。位于西(xi)側的是大(da)愿地(di)(di)藏(zang)王殿(dian),殿(dian)內供奉的是地(di)(di)藏(zang)菩(pu)薩,安徽九華(hua)山是其(qi)顯(xian)靈(ling)說法的道場。此像為(wei)青(qing)銅打(da)造。像高(gao)(gao)5米(mi),結痂趺坐(zuo)(zuo),手(shou)中持摩尼(ni)珠。其(qi)坐(zuo)(zuo)騎(qi)為(wei)諦聽(ting)。各(ge)位在西(xi)游(you)記真假美猴王的故事中,就見(jian)過這位諦聽(ting)。地(di)(di)藏(zang)菩(pu)薩掌管地(di)(di)域幽冥眾生,他(ta)曾經在佛(fo)前立(li)誓“地(di)(di)獄(yu)不(bu)空,誓不(bu)成佛(fo)”,故至今仍然呈菩(pu)薩身。
虛空藏殿
虛(xu)(xu)(xu)空(kong)(kong)藏(zang)殿,脊高24米,面積(ji)900平方米,供奉虛(xu)(xu)(xu)空(kong)(kong)藏(zang)菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)。虛(xu)(xu)(xu)空(kong)(kong)藏(zang)掌管(guan)福(fu)德(de)、智(zhi)(zhi)慧二藏(zang),猶如虛(xu)(xu)(xu)空(kong)(kong),因此(ci)而得名。佛經上稱虛(xu)(xu)(xu)空(kong)(kong)藏(zang)“為諸眾(zhong)生(sheng)成就大道,長(chang)化眾(zhong)生(sheng)無作休息”,表明了虛(xu)(xu)(xu)空(kong)(kong)藏(zang)菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)為普度眾(zhong)生(sheng),不知(zhi)疲倦,日以繼夜。若人欲求(qiu)福(fu)求(qiu)智(zhi)(zhi),當皈依(yi)虛(xu)(xu)(xu)空(kong)(kong)藏(zang)菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)。殿中(zhong)所塑虛(xu)(xu)(xu)空(kong)(kong)藏(zang)菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)像高5米,為青銅鑄造。虛(xu)(xu)(xu)空(kong)(kong)藏(zang)殿刻漆(qi)壁畫描繪的(de)是虛(xu)(xu)(xu)空(kong)(kong)藏(zang)菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)出香集世界,布(bu)施(shi)六(liu)道,無照不遍,無求(qiu)不聞,福(fu)德(de)無量的(de)慈悲法相(xiang)。壁畫線條流暢,造型生(sheng)動、色澤均(jun)勻、富麗堂皇。文殊普賢殿,地藏(zang)殿、虛(xu)(xu)(xu)空(kong)(kong)藏(zang)殿,都是全國較大的(de)配殿,此(ci)乃(nai)第七最(zui)。
公(gong)交150路南線(xian)在重(zhong)元寺(si)西或唯(wei)亭陽澄圣(sheng)境下車即(ji)到。
婁江快速路(lu)—陽澄環路(lu),或蘇州北站高架路(lu)—中環北線—陽澄環路(lu)