著名的永興寺(si)坐落于(yu)無錫市華清大橋西堍(tu)匝道,始建于(yu)三(san)國(guo)赤烏年間(jian),迄今已有(you)1700余年歷史(shi),是(shi)無錫比(bi)較古老的寺(si)廟之一(yi),是(shi)中國(guo)佛教中觀(guan)音文化展示地之一(yi)。該寺(si)主殿(dian)供(gong)奉的主佛為9.19米(mi)毗盧香樟木(mu)觀(guan)音座像,其高(gao)度在(zai)國(guo)內比(bi)較高(gao),此(ci)外(wai),主殿(dian)內32尊(zun)2米(mi)高(gao)木(mu)雕(diao)觀(guan)音應伸(shen)像、1米(mi)高(gao)五十(shi)三(san)參相53尊(zun)的木(mu)雕(diao)像配上八(ba)十(shi)四相壁畫,成為目前國(guo)內展示觀(guan)音文化比(bi)較全面(mian)的大殿(dian)。
如今,復建中一(yi)期(qi)工程(cheng)完工后(hou)寺(si)內(nei)將(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)有圓(yuan)通寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian),殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)供(gong)奉一(yi)尊(zun)目(mu)前國內(nei)較具代表性、紀(ji)念性和(he)觀(guan)(guan)賞性的9.19米毗盧(lu)觀(guan)(guan)音(yin),殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)兩側將(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)供(gong)奉觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)三十(shi)二(er)應身,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)上空將(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)供(gong)奉觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)五十(shi)三參,主佛(fo)背后(hou)將(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)用(yong)壁畫(hua)方(fang)式(shi)構(gou)畫(hua)出觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)八十(shi)四相,屆時(shi)永興寺(si)的圓(yuan)通寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)將(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)能把觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)文化更好的弘揚和(he)光大(da);其次還(huan)有仿古全木結構(gou)的天王殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、另外走完寺(si)內(nei)單獨的文殊殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、普(pu)賢殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、藥師殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、地藏殿(dian)(dian)(dian)等好比走遍了佛(fo)教四大(da)名(ming)山。念佛(fo)堂(tang)、放生池將(jiang)(jiang)(jiang)隨之開(kai)放。二(er)期(qi)工程(cheng)中藏經樓(lou)。祖堂(tang)、玉佛(fo)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、萬佛(fo)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、寶塔、天樂頤養樓(lou)等正在緊鑼密鼓的籌備中。
屆時寺(si)內南北中軸線上正殿(dian)(dian)(dian)三(san)重,層層疊進,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)堂(tang)屋宇,參差起(qi)伏;亭臺樓(lou)閣,相(xiang)得益彰;楹聯匾額,韻清意遠;天(tian)王殿(dian)(dian)(dian)重檐(yan)翹角,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內中央供奉(feng)玉石彌(mi)勒,兩側則(ze)供奉(feng)為(wei)祈風調雨(yu)(yu)順(shun)、人(ren)口太(tai)平、世(shi)界和諧的四大(da)護法(fa)天(tian)王,楹聯分(fen)伺(si)(si):“法(fa)輪光大(da)地(di),寶筏識(shi)迷津”,門楣(mei)鐫刻(ke)“永(yong)興(xing)寺(si)”乃(nai)2007年(nian)中國(guo)佛(fo)(fo)教協會會長(chang)(chang)一(yi)(yi)誠(cheng)長(chang)(chang)老親(qin)書(shu)。拜韋陀后,普(pu)陀山方丈戒忍大(da)和尚親(qin)書(shu)的“圓(yuan)(yuan)通寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)”四個金字躍入眼簾,藥(yao)師殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、地(di)藏(zang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、文(wen)殊殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、普(pu)賢殿(dian)(dian)(dian)分(fen)伺(si)(si)前側左右。圓(yuan)(yuan)通寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內供奉(feng)著(zhu)法(fa)像(xiang)莊嚴的過去(qu)正法(fa)名如(ru)來(毗盧觀(guan)音(yin))法(fa)像(xiang)采用純天(tian)然香樟木分(fen)三(san)段雕刻(ke),2.19米的須彌(mi)寶座上雕刻(ke)著(zhu)精美(mei)的佛(fo)(fo)教圖(tu)畫,6.19米的法(fa)身端正而(er)慈(ci)祥,法(fa)身后神采各(ge)(ge)異、栩栩如(ru)生(sheng)(sheng)的九(jiu)龍的背(bei)光圓(yuan)(yuan)滿(man)成就了目(mu)前國(guo)內之(zhi)最的9.19米過去(qu)正法(fa)名如(ru)來(毗盧觀(guan)音(yin))法(fa)像(xiang)。分(fen)伺(si)(si)左右的三(san)十二應(ying)身運用傳統(tong)采繪藝術,形(xing)態各(ge)(ge)異。抬頭仰望(wang)圓(yuan)(yuan)通寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)上方,空中閣樓(lou)中的五(wu)十三(san)參等法(fa)像(xiang)更讓你(ni)有如(ru)親(qin)臨佛(fo)(fo)國(guo)之(zhi)感。拜完大(da)佛(fo)(fo)到放生(sheng)(sheng)池(chi),放生(sheng)(sheng)池(chi)上碧池(chi)映陰,過石徑(jing)曲橋(qiao)既是(shi)藏(zang)經樓(lou),其乃(nai)三(san)層閣樓(lou),穿過回廊登寶塔,憑塔近(jin)觀(guan),殿(dian)(dian)(dian)堂(tang)、寶塔、樓(lou)閣之(zhi)間,游廊操手,往來勾連,環(huan)環(huan)相(xiang)扣,天(tian)瀑(pu)雨(yu)(yu)而(er)履無(wu)濕(shi),日酷烈而(er)體(ti)怫曬焉。放眼遠眺(tiao),有無(wu)錫(xi)繁(fan)華的商貿易(yi)太(tai)湖廣場為(wei)中心(xin)的美(mei)麗無(wu)錫(xi)圖(tu)畫盡收(shou)眼底,無(wu)錫(xi)較大(da)的醫療(liao)中心(xin)隔河相(xiang)望(wang)。屆時再(zai)看永(yong)興(xing)寺(si),離火車站(zhan)、高(gao)速公路出口以及無(wu)錫(xi)機場也均僅需(xu)要一(yi)(yi)刻(ke)鐘路程。是(shi)繁(fan)華都市中一(yi)(yi)座體(ti)現莊嚴、寧靜的精湛建(jian)筑(zhu)生(sheng)(sheng)態仿古(gu)精美(mei)建(jian)筑(zhu)生(sheng)(sheng)態群;也是(shi)坐落在大(da)運河畔一(yi)(yi)座凈(jing)化(hua)人(ren)心(xin)、凸(tu)現和諧的一(yi)(yi)方清凈(jing)佛(fo)(fo)地(di),她還將(jiang)積淀底蘊(yun)二千多年(nian)的佛(fo)(fo)教文(wen)化(hua),展新時代南長(chang)(chang)魅力,反映無(wu)錫(xi)繁(fan)榮富強,祖國(guo)昌盛太(tai)平。
“南(nan)(nan)(nan)朝四百八十寺(si)(si)(si),多少樓臺煙雨中”。據資(zi)料記載(zai),永興(xing)寺(si)(si)(si)始(shi)建(jian)(jian)(jian)于(yu)三國東吳(wu)赤烏年(nian)(nian)間(jian)(jian)(公元238年(nian)(nian)-250年(nian)(nian))。吳(wu)地的(de)(de)佛(fo)教(jiao)一(yi)度呈現(xian)繁榮景色。相傳(chuan)(chuan)其時,吳(wu)王孫權經(jing)常迎請大德高(gao)僧開(kai)(kai)壇講(jiang)法。其母吳(wu)國太(tai)為(wei)(wei)求天下太(tai)平永興(xing)在(zai)(zai)江(jiang)南(nan)(nan)(nan)一(yi)帶建(jian)(jian)(jian)七寺(si)(si)(si)八塔,永興(xing)寺(si)(si)(si)即其中之一(yi)。其建(jian)(jian)(jian)寺(si)(si)(si)期間(jian)(jian),適(shi)巧寺(si)(si)(si)旁一(yi)小(xiao)溪(xi)(xi),溪(xi)(xi)水(shui)甚是清徹透(tou)底(di),吳(wu)國太(tai)見之歡(huan)喜,故在(zai)(zai)溪(xi)(xi)上架太(tai)平橋(qiao),現(xian)太(tai)平橋(qiao)原石復建(jian)(jian)(jian)在(zai)(zai)新寺(si)(si)(si)放生(sheng)池上。明(ming)代(dai)萬歷年(nian)(nian)間(jian)(jian),釋順泉和(he)(he)尚于(yu)太(tai)平橋(qiao)畔修舊(jiu)寺(si)(si)(si),續其真脈(mo),傳(chuan)(chuan)承至1953年(nian)(nian),其名為(wei)(wei)“永興(xing)禪院”。文革期間(jian)(jian)古寺(si)(si)(si)被用作小(xiao)學和(he)(he)倉庫。原中國佛(fo)教(jiao)協會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)長趙樸(pu)初先生(sheng)曾(ceng)親筆(bi)題書寺(si)(si)(si)名。1995年(nian)(nian)無(wu)錫市宗教(jiao)局批(pi)準(zhun)重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)(jian)、正式(shi)恢復對(dui)外開(kai)(kai)放。1997年(nian)(nian),時任(ren)中佛(fo)協副會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)長、江(jiang)蘇(su)佛(fo)協會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)長茗山長老親書“永興(xing)寺(si)(si)(si)”。雖(sui)然古寺(si)(si)(si)數度興(xing)衰,卻仍綿延(yan)至今,信徒(tu)不斷,香火不滅。 欣逢盛世,政(zheng)治清明(ming),社會(hui)(hui)(hui)(hui)進步(bu)(bu),物阜民豐(feng),民安國泰。2007年(nian)(nian)因無(wu)錫市重(zhong)點(dian)道橋(qiao)工(gong)程建(jian)(jian)(jian)設需要,永興(xing)寺(si)(si)(si)易地復建(jian)(jian)(jian)。此舉(ju)得到了(le)市、區委主要領(ling)導以(yi)及揚名街道負責人等的(de)(de)關心和(he)(he)支(zhi)持。古剎復建(jian)(jian)(jian),利樂(le)有情,充分落實了(le)黨(dang)的(de)(de)宗教(jiao)政(zheng)策(ce),弘揚中華民族的(de)(de)優(you)秀傳(chuan)(chuan)統佛(fo)文化(hua)(hua),與南(nan)(nan)(nan)長“清名上河(he)圖(tu)”同(tong)步(bu)(bu)挖掘和(he)(he)豐(feng)富南(nan)(nan)(nan)長的(de)(de)深厚文化(hua)(hua)底(di)蘊,也(ye)為(wei)(wei)構建(jian)(jian)(jian)“文化(hua)(hua)南(nan)(nan)(nan)長,魅力南(nan)(nan)(nan)長,和(he)(he)諧南(nan)(nan)(nan)長”繼(ji)續增添新的(de)(de)亮點(dian)奠定了(le)良好基礎。