明代初期,附近(jin)八個村(cun)莊村(cun)民集(ji)資始(shi)建(jian)真武(wu)廟(miao)(玄武(wu)廟(miao)),廟(miao)舍(she)九(jiu)間(jian),并將雞(ji)爪山改名為(wei)金(jin)寶山。清光緒年間(jian),八村(cun)擴建(jian)真武(wu)廟(miao),規模擴大,建(jian)筑(zhu)宏偉(wei)。廟(miao)舍(she)分(fen)前后兩院,兩院各有一座(zuo)大殿,兩大殿抱廈禪門,雕龍(long)刻鳳(feng),飛檐彩(cai)壁(bi),瑰麗多姿,非常壯觀,后又(you)增建(jian)六(liu)間(jian)高樓,廊坊兩廂,前后廟(miao)舍(she)共計24間(jian),占地30余畝。院內(nei)古木參天,有古碑(bei)四座(zuo),大鐘一口,水井(jing)一眼。常住和尚(shang)十數人,較聞名者如元修(xiu)、元墩、元尊、元貴等(deng)。
清末(mo)民國初年(nian),水患頻(pin)繁(fan),戰(zhan)亂不斷,真武廟年(nian)久失修(xiu),逐漸殘破,至一(yi)九四八年(nian),已成為一(yi)片廢墟,瓦(wa)礫遍地,雜草叢生(sheng)。一(yi)九九二年(nian)春(chun),附近村(cun)民,參(can)照清代(dai)真武廟建設規模(mo)和(he)圖樣,計(ji)劃(hua)重建真武廟。
二00四年冬熱心群眾在軍集村東小橋下發掘出土了《重修玄帝大殿挽廈禪堂碑》,該碑立與清嘉慶二十三年,碑文中記載“惟濮為帝丘舊地,堯陵舜廟唐虞故跡猶存,其以山名者,歷山吉山外有金寶山。”此外碑文還詳細記載了金寶山附近的文物勝跡:“金寶山西望谷林陶唐氏之陵隱隱可見,南望歷山,有虞氏廟在焉,北望吉山,傳為許由之居處”。
金鄉縣真(zhen)(zhen)武(wu)(wu)廟又(you)稱(cheng)五(wu)里(li)堠大(da)(da)廟,坐落在(zai)城(cheng)中(zhong)心(xin)以北(bei)(bei)(bei)五(wu)華(hua)里(li)。南(nan)北(bei)(bei)(bei)長、東(dong)(dong)(dong)西(xi)窄,占地總面積約3500平(ping)方(fang)米(mi)。據記載,真(zhen)(zhen)武(wu)(wu)廟坐北(bei)(bei)(bei)朝(chao)南(nan),三(san)重大(da)(da)院,系(xi)元至元時所建(jian),明主簿方(fang)伯輝(hui)重修,明崇禎年間(jian)民(min)眾(zhong)捐資(zi)又(you)進行了修繕。正門(men)有東(dong)(dong)(dong)西(xi)廂房,中(zhong)有大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、前殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、后(hou)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。其后(hou)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)為(wei)戲樓(lou)式殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),前、中(zhong)、后(hou)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)均為(wei)琉(liu)璃(li)瓦鋪頂,其中(zhong)大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)最為(wei)壯觀,為(wei)二(er)層建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu),主殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)七(qi)間(jian),周邊(bian)圍有走廊,四(si)面飛(fei)檐,琉(liu)璃(li)瓦蓋頂。24根(gen)滾龍(long)柱支(zhi)撐,均為(wei)盤龍(long)透(tou)花雕刻,非常雄(xiong)偉壯觀。廟院大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)中(zhong)供奉(feng)主神像為(wei)玉(yu)皇大(da)(da)帝,為(wei)木質結構,金面座(zuo)(zuo)式,形象自如,目(mu)向(xiang)遠方(fang),神態安然,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)前有四(si)大(da)(da)金剛(四(si)大(da)(da)天(tian)王),站立(li)式,形相逼真(zhen)(zhen),威(wei)(wei)武(wu)(wu)強壯,各手內持有自行神器。大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內東(dong)(dong)(dong)、西(xi)、北(bei)(bei)(bei)墻有二(er)十八(ba)宿諸神,面目(mu)威(wei)(wei)嚴,神態各異,各有神器在(zai)手,有望而生威(wei)(wei)之神武(wu)(wu)。其后(hou)蓼(liao)三(san)楹(ying)為(wei)寢室,中(zhong)間(jian)開闊地有土筑(zhu)(zhu)戲樓(lou)。廟內東(dong)(dong)(dong)南(nan)角有坑(keng)塘(tang)一(yi)處,占地約6畝,廟院內有古槐、古柏及石(shi)碑4座(zuo)(zuo)。廟院前原有一(yi)處廣場,占地約12畝,有東(dong)(dong)(dong)西(xi)向(xiang)大(da)(da)道一(yi)條(tiao),舊(jiu)有廟會(hui),香(xiang)火(huo)十分興(xing)旺(wang)。文革(ge)“破四(si)舊(jiu)”時真(zhen)(zhen)武(wu)(wu)廟被(bei)毀壞(huai),現有廟基、石(shi)碑、碑座(zuo)(zuo)、坑(keng)塘(tang)少部。于2010年恢復重建(jian),按照“修舊(jiu)如舊(jiu)”原則,再現其歷史(shi)原貌。真(zhen)(zhen)武(wu)(wu)廟占地約1.28萬平(ping)方(fang)米(mi),建(jian)筑(zhu)(zhu)群長160米(mi)、寬80米(mi),采用明清風格,主體(ti)呈(cheng)中(zhong)軸對稱(cheng)分布(bu),縱向(xiang)由南(nan)向(xiang)北(bei)(bei)(bei)分布(bu)分別為(wei)山門(men)、真(zhen)(zhen)武(wu)(wu)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、鐘鼓樓(lou)和三(san)清殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。