禪林(lin)寺北(bei)倚長(chang)城,西(xi)(xi)(xi)顧京(jing)城,南臨津唐(tang),東通遼沈(shen),屬京(jing)津唐(tang)承秦腹地,西(xi)(xi)(xi)距北(bei)京(jing)158公(gong)(gong)里(li),西(xi)(xi)(xi)南距天津(濱海新區(qu))175公(gong)(gong)里(li),南距唐(tang)山75公(gong)(gong)里(li)(曹妃甸155公(gong)(gong)里(li)),北(bei)距承德175公(gong)(gong)里(li),東南距秦皇島150公(gong)(gong)里(li)。該區(qu)群山環(huan)抱、古樹參天、寺廟莊(zhuang)嚴、長(chang)城巍峨,素(su)已“四(si)古”著稱,聞名遐(xia)邇。
禪林寺(si)是(shi)(shi)(shi)在遵(zun)化市建(jian)立較早的(de)(de)(de)(de)一座(zuo)古寺(si),距(ju)今已有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)1580多(duo)年(nian)(nian)。相傳在東晉的(de)(de)(de)(de)時候,由于封建(jian)王侯(hou)各(ge)(ge)霸一方(fang),征伐(fa)頻繁,把(ba)這(zhe)一帶鬧得烽火連天,餓殍遍地(di),方(fang)圓(yuan)百(bai)里的(de)(de)(de)(de)荒山(shan)中(zhong)沒(mei)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)一戶人(ren)家。就(jiu)在這(zhe)個虎狼經常(chang)出沒(mei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)方(fang),僧人(ren)們卻認為是(shi)(shi)(shi)塊“風(feng)水寶地(di):”,于是(shi)(shi)(shi)大(da)興土(tu)木(mu),修(xiu)建(jian)了(le)這(zhe)座(zuo)寺(si)院,取名(ming)(ming)(ming)“云(yun)昌寺(si)”。當時,高(gao)大(da)的(de)(de)(de)(de)朱紅山(shan)門,面(mian)(mian)朝(chao)東南,迎(ying)同一層正(zheng)(zheng)房(fang),分為3大(da)間(jian)(jian),東、西兩間(jian)(jian)各(ge)(ge)立一尊木(mu)制的(de)(de)(de)(de)“哼(heng)哈二將”,身高(gao)丈(zhang)余(yu),頭(tou)觸房(fang)頂;中(zhong)間(jian)(jian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)通(tong)往正(zheng)(zheng)殿(dian)過道(dao);寺(si)內(nei)亭臺(tai)殿(dian)閣,雕梁(liang)畫(hua)棟;院內(nei)左右各(ge)(ge)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)3間(jian)(jian)對面(mian)(mian)配房(fang),是(shi)(shi)(shi)人(ren)們燒香(xiang)(xiang)許愿的(de)(de)(de)(de)地(di)方(fang)。房(fang)內(nei)墻(qiang)壁繪滿彩色佛像,東配房(fang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)畫(hua)像稱(cheng)為“眼神娘(niang)娘(niang)”,西配房(fang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)畫(hua)像稱(cheng)為“藥王娘(niang)娘(niang)”。配房(fang)北面(mian)(mian)正(zheng)(zheng)中(zhong)是(shi)(shi)(shi)10幾間(jian)(jian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)香(xiang)(xiang)殿(dian),廊下八根筆直的(de)(de)(de)(de)大(da)紅明柱輝煌耀(yao)眼。殿(dian)內(nei)正(zheng)(zheng)中(zhong)香(xiang)(xiang)案(an)上鑲有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)一塊長4尺、寬2尺的(de)(de)(de)(de)的(de)(de)(de)(de)石匾,鐫刻著為修(xiu)廟捐款(kuan)人(ren)的(de)(de)(de)(de)姓(xing)名(ming)(ming)(ming)。兩邊塑有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)8大(da)金鋼、16羅漢。各(ge)(ge)個佛像造型勻稱(cheng),姿勢各(ge)(ge)異,栩栩如(ru)生,較引人(ren)注目(mu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)是(shi)(shi)(shi)東北角的(de)(de)(de)(de)彌(mi)勒佛像,它大(da)腹便便,笑容可掬。香(xiang)(xiang)殿(dian)配有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)鐘鼓二樓,西側(ce)郊門,另(ling)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)一跨(kua)院。院內(nei)各(ge)(ge)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)3間(jian)(jian)相向(xiang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)正(zheng)(zheng)房(fang),北面(mian)(mian)3間(jian)(jian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)兩位老(lao)方(fang)丈(zhang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)寢室,南面(mian)(mian)3間(jian)(jian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)小(xiao)禪師(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)住處,西面(mian)(mian)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)四間(jian)(jian)朝(chao)東的(de)(de)(de)(de)配房(fang),除(chu)去一間(jian)(jian)廚房(fang)外,其余(yu)3間(jian)(jian)盛滿了(le)大(da)小(xiao)有(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)(you)別、形態各(ge)(ge)異的(de)(de)(de)(de)銅制佛像。后來,幾經修(xiu)葺,遼代(dai)乾統年(nian)(nian)間(jian)(jian)(1101年(nian)(nian))復修(xiu)后,更名(ming)(ming)(ming)“禪林寺(si)”。
山(shan)有(you)五(wu)峰(feng)(feng),中峰(feng)(feng)撐出云表(biao),其它四峰(feng)(feng)側(ce)立(li)。 這(zhe)座屹立(li)于燕(yan)山(shan)叢中的(de)(de)名(ming)山(shan),東(dong)與名(ming)勝(sheng)舍身臺(tai)眺望(wang),西(xi)和邊關(guan)古隘羅文峪遙對(dui),南(nan)(nan)臨(lin)沙河,北靠長(chang)城。五(wu)座并峙的(de)(de)峰(feng)(feng)巒自(zi)北向南(nan)(nan)延伸(shen)十數里,禪(chan)林寺(si)便建于中峰(feng)(feng)下(xia)端。著名(ming)的(de)(de)“五(wu)峰(feng)(feng)拱翠”一景,便來于此(ci)。“周圍(wei)古松夾徑,林木陰翳,云影煙光,紅紫萬狀(zhuang),映帶寺(si)之(zhi)左(zuo)右”,形(xing)(xing)成了東(dong)、西(xi)“四峰(feng)(feng)側(ce)立(li),如拱如傴,儼(yan)然左(zuo)右夾輔之(zhi)象,真奇(qi)觀哉(zai)。境(jing)內諸山(shan)應(ying)以茲為(wei)(wei)冠(guan)(guan)”,故于清代列為(wei)(wei)一大(da)名(ming)勝(sheng)(見《遵(zun)化州志》)。“五(wu)峰(feng)(feng)拱翠”之(zhi)景,并非騷人(ren)墨(mo)客(ke)夸大(da)渲染,事實上(shang)確實引人(ren)入勝(sheng)。滿山(shan)上(shang)下(xia)怪石(shi)嶙峋,結(jie)構(gou)復雜,形(xing)(xing)態各異。翠柏青松漫坡遍(bian)壑,形(xing)(xing)狀(zhuang)更為(wei)(wei)奇(qi)特,有(you)的(de)(de)橫生(sheng)于崖額,圓(yuan)圓(yuan)的(de)(de)樹冠(guan)(guan),似一頂華(hua)蓋撐在半空,有(you)的(de)(de)樹干(gan)彎(wan)而直立(li)向上(shang),形(xing)(xing)如世外仙人(ren)騰(teng)躍空中,有(you)的(de)(de)矗于亂(luan)壁、峰(feng)(feng)頂、怪石(shi)之(zhi)上(shang),迎霜傲雪,挺(ting)拔(ba)峭立(li),千百(bai)年來吸(xi)引著無數的(de)(de)游客(ke)。
即千年(nian)(nian)(nian)銀(yin)杏(xing)(xing)(xing)樹(shu)(shu)。在禪林古(gu)寺(si)周圍長著(zhu)的(de)(de)十(shi)三株(一(yi)雄十(shi)二雌)蔽天(tian)(tian)遮日的(de)(de)古(gu)銀(yin)杏(xing)(xing)(xing)樹(shu)(shu),植(zhi)于(yu)秦代,樹(shu)(shu)齡2000年(nian)(nian)(nian)以(yi)上。至今仍枝繁葉茂,果實累(lei)累(lei)。雄樹(shu)(shu)較為高(gao)(gao)大,被(bei)稱(cheng)為“龍(long)種”,而其中一(yi)株雌樹(shu)(shu)滋生(sheng)三代細(xi)樹(shu)(shu),稱(cheng)為“四世同堂”。樹(shu)(shu)心已腐朽(xiu),又在洞腹中生(sheng)出(chu)一(yi)株粗(cu)大的(de)(de)銀(yin)杏(xing)(xing)(xing),母(mu)子合一(yi)共(gong)擎蒼天(tian)(tian),給人(ren)以(yi)神秘莫測之感。寺(si)廟碑文曾記載:“先有禪林后有邊(邊,指長城(cheng)),銀(yin)杏(xing)(xing)(xing)還在禪林前”。足以(yi)證(zheng)明這(zhe)十(shi)三株銀(yin)杏(xing)(xing)(xing)歷盡蒼桑已兩千多(duo)年(nian)(nian)(nian)。清代遵化州進(jin)士史樸到(dao)禪林寺(si)巡視時亦留下贊頌詩(shi)句:“五峰(feng)高(gao)(gao)峙瑞(rui)去深,秦寺(si)云昌歷宋(song)金。代出(chu)名僧存梵塔,名殊常寺(si)號禪林。巖(yan)稱(cheng)虎嘯馴何跡,石(shi)出(chu)雞鳴叩有音。古(gu)柏高(gao)(gao)枝銀(yin)杏(xing)(xing)(xing)實,幾(ji)千年(nian)(nian)(nian)物到(dao)而今。”
原名(ming)云昌寺(si)(si),禪林(lin)(lin)寺(si)(si)始建年代(dai)不詳,在(zai)遼代(dai)重修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu)時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi),得到一塊古碑(bei),考證(zheng)早(zao)在(zai)北(bei)朝后(hou)秦時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)就(jiu)有僧人在(zai)此居住。而在(zai)后(hou)秦時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi),禪林(lin)(lin)寺(si)(si)(當時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)名(ming)叫云昌寺(si)(si))也(ye)是重修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu),則此寺(si)(si)的始建年代(dai)當早(zao)于南北(bei)朝。禪林(lin)(lin)寺(si)(si)在(zai)遼、金、元(yuan),以及清朝時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi),都有重修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu)碑(bei)記。經東晉(jin)重修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu)、遼統復修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu),更名(ming)為(wei)禪林(lin)(lin)寺(si)(si),距今在(zai)1700年以上(shang)。禪林(lin)(lin)寺(si)(si)坐落于五(wu)峰(feng)山中峰(feng),寺(si)(si)的匾(bian)額上(shang)大字(zi)寫(xie)著“五(wu)峰(feng)禪林(lin)(lin)”依從(cong)山名(ming)而得。《五(wu)峰(feng)山志(zhi)》給它(ta)起(qi)名(ming)“五(wu)峰(feng)禪林(lin)(lin)”,匾(bian)額寫(xie)上(shang)了它(ta)的名(ming)字(zi)。當地人省略去(qu)五(wu)峰(feng)稱其(qi)為(wei)“禪林(lin)(lin)寺(si)(si)”。該寺(si)(si)毀于抗日戰(zhan)爭時(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)期(qi),2000年重修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu),頗具規模。