據(ju)滄縣志(zhi)記載:“水月寺原在城外西南角(jiao),觀燈橋以西,后周廣順(shun)年(nian)公元953年(nian)始(shi)建。明宣德(de)十(shi)(shi)年(nian)僧人澤(ze)安移建于城北(bei)鹽場東(dong)側(ce)。明正統(tong)十(shi)(shi)七(qi)年(nian)僧人澤(ze)一(yi)重(zhong)修(xiu),清(qing)乾隆五(wu)十(shi)(shi)四年(nian),州(zhou)人宋成(cheng)文、董(dong)寶(bao)仁等(deng)繼而重(zhong)修(xiu),光(guang)緒二十(shi)(shi)一(yi)年(nian)駐防(fang)樂軍梅東(dong)益等(deng)又重(zhong)修(xiu)……可謂(wei)吾邑之冠。”
據說,因清同(tong)治年間運河(he)發大水,在鹽場附近決口,洪水從寺(si)廟越過,故(gu)以諧(xie)音(yin)更名為水月(yue)寺(si)。當(dang)時(shi)僅是(shi)一小廟,香火不盛,寺(si)內(nei)方丈性然,為重修并(bing)擴(kuo)大廟宇,曾(ceng)斷手化緣以表誠心。
經(jing)過(guo)五(wu)、六年時間,他在(zai)市(shi)內各商家鋪戶和(he)周圍(wei)各鄉村(cun)大(da)戶人家,化得一筆(bi)巨資,同時得到駐(zhu)防滄州的統領(ling)導范(fan)天(tian)貴(gui)及梅東益(yi)等(deng)的大(da)力支(zhi)持,開始(shi)重(zhong)修(xiu)擴建。其(qi)規模更加壯觀,氣勢更加宏偉。整(zheng)個水月寺有(you)山(shan)門(前殿)、次殿、大(da)殿、后殿為三進院(yuan)落,均有(you)東西配殿。還有(you)東西兩個跨院(yuan)、山(shan)門門匾(bian)水月寺三個唐(tang)隸大(da)字(zi),為駐(zhu)滄統領(ling)范(fan)天(tian)貴(gui)手書,他本一介(jie)武夫,為附庸(yong)風雅,他從(cong)重(zhong)修(xiu)廟(miao)宇之日起(qi),便悉(xi)心習書練字(zi),等(deng)三年后,寺廟(miao)竣工,水月寺三字(zi)也(ye)揮筆(bi)練就(jiu)。
前(qian)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)(nei)兩(liang)側有(you)泥(ni)塑的(de)頭抵屋頂的(de)身軀魁偉、橫眉怒目、叱咤(zha)風云的(de)哼哈二(er)將(jiang),高(gao)約兩(liang)丈,十(shi)分(fen)威嚴。次殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)當中有(you)相背而塑前(qian)后(hou)可(ke)(ke)觀的(de)兩(liang)尊大(da)(da)佛(fo),一(yi)(yi)是(shi)(shi)“大(da)(da)肚能容(rong),容(rong)天(tian)下難容(rong)之事(shi),慈顏(yan)常(chang)笑(xiao),笑(xiao)世間(jian)可(ke)(ke)笑(xiao)之人”的(de)彌(mi)勒佛(fo),再是(shi)(shi)著盔披(pi)甲,手(shou)執紫金降魔杵(chu)的(de)韋陀(即護法神(shen)、類鬧天(tian)宮中的(de)二(er)郎神(shen)楊戩)。兩(liang)側還(huan)有(you)四(si)大(da)(da)天(tian)王坐(zuo)象高(gao)約一(yi)(yi)丈五(wu)尺(chi)(chi)。有(you)的(de)伏(fu)虎、有(you)的(de)玩蛇(she)、有(you)的(de)弄劍、有(you)的(de)彈(dan)琵琶(pa)。可(ke)(ke)謂(wei)威風凜凜、氣勢逼人。此殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)可(ke)(ke)穿堂而過(guo)直通大(da)(da)雄寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。此殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)高(gao)達十(shi)二(er)丈八尺(chi)(chi),登上七步(bu)臺階(jie)可(ke)(ke)見殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)前(qian)平(ping)臺正中有(you)高(gao)約五(wu)丈的(de)千(qian)斤大(da)(da)鼎。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)(nei)正中有(you)三(san)尊赤金鍍(du)身的(de)大(da)(da)佛(fo),為南海(hai)觀音(yin)、西天(tian)如(ru)(ru)來(lai)、釋迦牟尼(ni)之坐(zuo)象。高(gao)約一(yi)(yi)丈六(liu)尺(chi)(chi),面(mian)前(qian)三(san)張供桌有(you)香(xiang)爐(lu)、蠟千(qian)、佛(fo)罄之類,大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)兩(liang)側有(you)降龍、伏(fu)虎、長眉、長臂、醉、睡等十(shi)八羅(luo)漢(han),如(ru)(ru)真(zhen)人大(da)(da)小,栩(xu)栩(xu)如(ru)(ru)生。東西北三(san)面(mian)墻壁(bi)有(you)立(li)體懸空泥(ni)塑和壁(bi)畫,據說(shuo)是(shi)(shi)由兩(liang)位著名(ming)民(min)間(jian)藝人,一(yi)(yi)是(shi)(shi)滄縣(xian)杜林(lin)劉環(huan)師傅(fu),一(yi)(yi)是(shi)(shi)青縣(xian)西程(cheng)村馬黑師傅(fu),各自(zi)承包(bao)打對作(zuo),竟相獻藝,雕塑彩繪而成(cheng)。其內(nei)(nei)容(rong)是(shi)(shi)反(fan)映西天(tian)如(ru)(ru)來(lai)佛(fo),從誕生、成(cheng)長出家,并率幾百(bai)名(ming)弟子傳經的(de)過(guo)程(cheng)。但見煙(yan)云縹(piao)渺、海(hai)島仙山(shan)、奇峰古洞,流云飛瀑,宛若神(shen)話仙境(jing)。東西兩(liang)側還(huan)有(you)香(xiang)齡溫席(xi)、王祥(xiang)臥(wo)魚、丁香(xiang)割肉等24孝(xiao)民(min)間(jian)傳說(shuo)故事(shi)。并配有(you)花卉翎(ling)毛、山(shan)水人物等多種(zhong)裝飾圖案,可(ke)(ke)謂(wei)是(shi)(shi)妙手(shou)奇塑,巧奪天(tian)工(gong),技藝精湛,令人嘆為觀止。后(hou)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)(nei)有(you)一(yi)(yi)精致銅塑千(qian)手(shou)千(qian)眼佛(fo),造型奇特,精藝絕倫。