觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)庵由正殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、配殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)閣及倉庫等組成,占地面(mian)積(ji)1065平(ping)方(fang)(fang)米(mi)。正殿(dian)(dian)(dian)為釋(shi)迦牟尼殿(dian)(dian)(dian),座東面(mian)西,面(mian)闊五盈(ying),為硬(ying)山式抬粱建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)結構(gou),青瓦屋頂(ding),建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)面(mian)積(ji)105平(ping)方(fang)(fang)米(mi)。正殿(dian)(dian)(dian)左(zuo)右(you)各有(you)配殿(dian)(dian)(dian)五間,建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)面(mian)積(ji)170平(ping)方(fang)(fang)米(mi)。左(zuo)配殿(dian)(dian)(dian)為禪堂、客廳;右(you)配殿(dian)(dian)(dian)為生產用房。后五間草房為倉庫。庵院西南跨院有(you)觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)閣一楹,為單檐歇山式結構(gou),青瓦屋頂(ding),建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)面(mian)積(ji)30平(ping)方(fang)(fang)米(mi)。觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)閣內(nei)供(gong)奉南海(hai)觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin)菩(pu)(pu)薩,菩(pu)(pu)薩塑(su)像坐南面(mian)北(bei),俗(su)稱(cheng)倒(dao)座觀(guan)(guan)音(yin)(yin),亦即倒(dao)座廟稱(cheng)謂之由來。
傳(chuan)說該廟(miao)肇(zhao)建人(ren)(ren)之一(yi)的(de)孫明遠曾得一(yi)夢(meng),夢(meng)中見南(nan)(nan)海觀(guan)音身著白(bai)衣,自南(nan)(nan)海邊飛(fei)馳而來,面(mian)北座南(nan)(nan)坐于石上(shang)。次日,孫明遠與他(ta)人(ren)(ren)說起,眾人(ren)(ren)皆說其(qi)與佛有緣。孫明遠遂起建廟(miao)之意。隨(sui)即開始籌款建廟(miao)。殿宇修竣(jun)后,置南(nan)(nan)海觀(guan)音塑像與夢(meng)中境(jing)況一(yi)般,故有此(ci)遼東獨絕的(de)倒(dao)座觀(guan)音,成為大(da)孤山(shan)古(gu)建筑群(qun)的(de)又一(yi)奇觀(guan)。觀(guan)音庵對聯令(ling)人(ren)(ren)叫絕:“問大(da)士何故倒(dao)座,嘆世人(ren)(ren)不可(ke)回頭(tou)。”上(shang)下聯以世人(ren)(ren)與觀(guan)音的(de)一(yi)問一(yi)答,充滿意趣和智慧。
觀(guan)音(yin)庵(an)(an)原名觀(guan)音(yin)廟(miao)(miao),當地(di)人也(ye)稱(cheng)之(zhi)為(wei)觀(guan)音(yin)會、倒座廟(miao)(miao),始(shi)由孫明遠(yuan)、李倫二人肇建(jian)廟(miao)(miao)宇,但(dan)事隔久遠(yuan),年(nian)(nian)代不詳。至清(qing)咸豐(feng)(feng)九(jiu)年(nian)(nian)(1859年(nian)(nian))又有周(zhou)長盛等重修(xiu),歷時一(yi)年(nian)(nian)修(xiu)竣,時稱(cheng)觀(guan)音(yin)閣(ge),一(yi)九(jiu)四一(yi)年(nian)(nian)改(gai)名觀(guan)音(yin)庵(an)(an)。觀(guan)音(yin)庵(an)(an)右側(ce)立有清(qing)代“重修(xiu)觀(guan)音(yin)閣(ge)碑(bei)記”石碑(bei)一(yi)座,立于咸豐(feng)(feng)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian))八月。碑(bei)文為(wei)陰刻(ke)楷書(shu),碑(bei)左(zuo)題“重修(xiu)觀(guan)音(yin)閣(ge)碑(bei)記”,碑(bei)文由山(shan)東文登(deng)縣張雨撰寫,文中記載了大(da)孤山(shan)修(xiu)建(jian)觀(guan)音(yin)庵(an)(an)的(de)歷史,及先稱(cheng)觀(guan)音(yin)廟(miao)(miao),后(hou)稱(cheng)觀(guan)音(yin)閣(ge)名稱(cheng)演化的(de)過程(cheng),文后(hou)附(fu)有募化修(xiu)建(jian)人員周(zhou)長盛、孫秉中,住(zhu)持鄒空(kong)嶢等人的(de)姓(xing)名。浙紹會稽山(shan)嚴持中書(shu)丹。
初期,觀音庵殿堂被砸,佛像俱毀(hui),庵內六名尼姑(gu)被逐。一九六七年(nian)(nian)至一九八五(wu)年(nian)(nian)該房產(chan)(chan)歸孤(gu)山鎮房產(chan)(chan)管(guan)(guan)理所接管(guan)(guan),出(chu)租給當地(di)居民居住(zhu)。一九八五(wu)年(nian)(nian)后,政府落實宗教政策,該房產(chan)(chan)重(zhong)新劃歸宗教界。觀音庵重(zhong)拾香火,并(bing)日(ri)漸興盛。