歷史
大覺(jue)寺歷史悠久(jiu),始(shi)建于元代(dai),重(zhong)修于明(ming)萬歷,在明(ming)清鼎盛之際,被益為滇東第一流大剎,其名望可(ke)與昆(kun)明(ming)西山華亭(ting)寺、太(tai)華寺相(xiang)提并論,民國(guo)年(nian)間,系云南(nan)16座名寺之一。
建(jian)寺后,明萬歷年間(jian)(1573-1620年)重修過一(yi)(yi)次。以后又有(you)修葺。民(min)國初年,寺僧如客倡導進行整修;1985年,由省、縣人民(min)政府撥專款重修山(shan)門(men)及大雄寶殿,保存了這一(yi)(yi)極有(you)價值的古建(jian)筑群。
布局特點
該(gai)寺布(bu)局嚴謹,以南北中(zhong)軸線為基線,依(yi)次(ci)排列著(zhu)山(shan)(shan)門殿、天王殿、大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿。中(zhong)軸線兩側(ce)對稱分布(bu)著(zhu)鐘(zhong)樓、鼓樓、東廂(xiang)房、西(xi)廂(xiang)房等建(jian)(jian)筑。建(jian)(jian)筑用材舉架高峻、斗拱制作精細獨(du)特,氣(qi)勢輝宏。其中(zhong)的大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿,高17米,五(wu)開間,重檐歇山(shan)(shan)頂,抬梁式木構(gou)架,有較突出的明(ming)代建(jian)(jian)筑風格。
該寺規模(mo)宏大(da),殿宇巍峨,院(yuan)落(luo)深沉。共有五層(ceng),第(di)一層(ceng)包括山(shan)門(men)(men)和山(shan)門(men)(men)院(yuan)。山(shan)門(men)(men)是(shi)三坊牌樓式,重頂(ding),開有三門(men)(men),金碧(bi)輝煌。
進山門(men)是山門(men)院(yuan),中(zhong)設一月牙形(xing)養生(sheng)池,池上(shang)架青石(shi)小凸橋(qiao),池周和橋(qiao)上(shang)裝有(you)石(shi)質護(hu)(hu)欄,欄桿柱(zhu)雕有(you)各種(zhong)走獸,活潑可愛。第(di)二(er)層是山門(men)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)檐(yan)高懸(xuan)“大(da)覺禪(chan)寺(si)”匾額(e)一方,楹聯是“壯士(shi)衣冠童子面,英雄(xiong)氣(qi)概菩(pu)提心”。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內供(gong)有(you)護(hu)(hu)法神哼哈(ha)二(er)將。第(di)三層是天(tian)(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),包(bao)括天(tian)(tian)王(wang)院(yuan)以(yi)及氣(qi)沖霄漢的千佛(fo)塔。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內居中(zhong),面對山門(men)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)供(gong)奉彌勒佛(fo),墻后塑護(hu)(hu)法神韋馱,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內兩側塑四大(da)天(tian)(tian)王(wang)。第(di)四層是大(da)覺寺(si)的中(zhong)心,包(bao)括大(da)雄(xiong)寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、禪(chan)院(yuan)、鐘鼓樓、東西回廊(lang),禪(chan)房同天(tian)(tian)王(wang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)連成一體,構(gou)成一個 。
十分寬敞的大(da)型佛院。院內古柏(bo)參天,濃蔭蔽(bi)日(ri)。大(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)后面有花(hua)(hua)園和(he)藏(zang)經(jing)樓。園內有假山、桂(gui)花(hua)(hua)樹,每當花(hua)(hua)開(kai),芬芳四溢。全寺(si)(si)各項建筑依(yi)一(yi)條由北而(er)南的中軸線排(pai)開(kai),布局嚴謹,整齊(qi)莊重。每當廟會,鼓樂(le)陣陣,香(xiang)煙裊(niao)裊(niao)。人們稱頌為“佛殿(dian)穹隆,長廊(lang)漫回”、“佛塔高聳,一(yi)塵不染”。在(zai)明、清(qing)兩代(dai)香(xiang)火(huo)鼎盛時期,寺(si)(si)僧眾(zhong)多,是滇(dian)東第一(yi)大(da)剎(cha)。民國初年,乃(nai)云南十六(liu)座名寺(si)(si)之一(yi)。
大(da)(da)覺寺(si)不(bu)僅(jin)規模宏大(da)(da),而(er)且以(yi)獨(du)(du)特(te)的建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)技巧(qiao)和獨(du)(du)具匠心的雕塑(su)藝術馳名于世(shi)。大(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶(bao)(bao)殿(dian)(dian)和鐘樓(lou)、鼓樓(lou)是(shi)(shi)全寺(si)精(jing)華。其設計之奇巧(qiao),是(shi)(shi)元、是(shi)(shi)建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)的典型代表(biao),不(bu)少中外建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)師都來此考(kao)察過。大(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶(bao)(bao)殿(dian)(dian)建(jian)(jian)在五層石(shi)基(ji)的平(ping)臺上(shang),基(ji)前三(san)(san)級石(shi)坎(kan)。殿(dian)(dian)宇是(shi)(shi)中國(guo)傳統(tong)的二(er)重檐歇(xie)山式頭(tou)拱抬梁疊木結構。殿(dian)(dian)前設走廊(lang)(lang),廊(lang)(lang)前沿殿(dian)(dian)基(ji)以(yi)青(qing)石(shi)欄桿為屏(ping),其上(shang)雕有千姿百態的走獸、花卉和人物,栩(xu)栩(xu)如(ru)生。殿(dian)(dian)面為琉璃瓦(wa),殿(dian)(dian)頂(ding)飛檐翹角,殿(dian)(dian)脊置蹲獸和鴟首,中間豎二(er)米多高的寶(bao)(bao)鼎(ding),兩端呈龍頭(tou)形,猶如(ru)二(er)龍搶(qiang)寶(bao)(bao)。寶(bao)(bao)鼎(ding)置在須彌(mi)座上(shang),上(shang)裝(zhuang)一(yi)巨盤,其大(da)(da)如(ru)盆(pen),盆(pen)中盛三(san)(san)個(ge)大(da)(da)小不(bu)等(deng)的陶(tao)制(zhi)球狀物,層層相疊,宛如(ru)一(yi)個(ge)三(san)(san)臺葫蘆。
葫蘆嘴上(shang)(shang)立一(yi)標桿,上(shang)(shang)托一(yi)圓形(xing)物,節(jie)節(jie)組合(he),相當別致。大殿門(men)窗上(shang)(shang)雕刻著各式圖案,或為二龍搶寶、猛虎下(xia)(xia)山(shan)、鹿(lu)鳴深(shen)谷、逸馬狂奔,或為錦雞呈祥、雙鶩比翼、鳳吐流丹(dan)、寒雀登(deng)梅、布 早春、松鶴延年等,精雕細鏤,巧奪天(tian)工(gong)。殿宇屋架(jia)(jia)結構銜接有條不紊,二十(shi)(shi)六(liu)根(gen)(gen)柱(zhu)子分內外兩(liang)排(pai)(pai)而立,里(li)(li)排(pai)(pai)十(shi)(shi)根(gen)(gen)托起橫(heng)(heng)梁,用以支撐上(shang)(shang)層殿頂;外排(pai)(pai)十(shi)(shi)六(liu)根(gen)(gen)五米高的短(duan)柱(zhu),用橫(heng)(heng)木(mu)和(he)里(li)(li)排(pai)(pai)十(shi)(shi)根(gen)(gen)大柱(zhu)相穿(chuan)接,構成大殿屋架(jia)(jia),木(mu)木(mu)相交(jiao)錯(cuo),處處相銜接,組成下(xia)(xia)重檐。它的斗(dou)拱(gong)(gong)技(ji)術(shu)更令人叫絕,在(zai)里(li)(li)排(pai)(pai)和(he)外排(pai)(pai)柱(zhu)頭橫(heng)(heng)梁上(shang)(shang),架(jia)(jia)六(liu)十(shi)(shi)套(tao)斗(dou)拱(gong)(gong),每(mei)套(tao)高二米,計分四(si)(si)臺相套(tao)。第(di)一(yi)臺是一(yi)大斗(dou),第(di)二臺四(si)(si)小斗(dou),第(di)三(san)臺套(tao)八升(sheng),第(di)四(si)(si)臺套(tao)十(shi)(shi)二合(he)。在(zai)斗(dou)、升(sheng)、合(he)之間用“凹(ao)”形(xing)和(he)“凸”形(xing)的十(shi)(shi)字橫(heng)(heng)木(mu)凸凹(ao)相標接。
建筑
寺內千佛塔(ta)(ta)(ta),據本(ben)縣縣志記載,原名(ming)金雞塔(ta)(ta)(ta),始建于元(yuan)代,以后(hou)歷代都曾修(xiu)葺(qi)。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)身為(wei)磚(zhuan)砌(qi),呈六角形,共7層(ceng)(ceng),高(gao)18米。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)基以上塔(ta)(ta)(ta)身逐層(ceng)(ceng)收縮(suo),并(bing)密布窗格樣(yang)的佛龕(kan)1691個,每(mei)個龕(kan)內供奉(feng)陶制佛像1尊,故又(you)名(ming)千佛塔(ta)(ta)(ta)。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)頂覆銅鍋(guo)1口(kou), 塔(ta)(ta)(ta)尖置石雕葫蘆1具,并(bing)立有鐵鑄金雞2只。
千佛塔的建造,寄托著古(gu)代人民的良好愿望(wang)。這其中,有一個傳說,從前,這個縣由(you)于(yu)南(nan)盤江(jiang)貫(guan)穿全境,陰雨季(ji)節,波濤洶(xiong)涌(yong),江(jiang)水(shui)肆虐, 破圩決堤(di),泛濫成(cheng)災。當時(shi),傳說系(xi)鰲(ao)(ao)魚興風作浪(lang)所致,于(yu)是建佛塔以鎮之。又恐單經塔鎮守失誤,特(te)于(yu)塔頂置金雞(ji)監視,如(ru)鰲(ao)(ao)魚蠢動,金雞(ji)即啄其眼(yan),使鰲(ao)(ao)魚永(yong)不翻身,則(ze)水(shui)患自(zi)息。
大(da)覺曉鐘,傳(chuan)說其音清脆悠揚,綿綿可傳(chuan)30余里,被列為陸(lu)良昔日“三(san)山四(si)水八大(da)景之(zhi)一”。
1983年,大覺寺(si)和千佛(fo)塔被云南(nan)省人民政府公布為云南(nan)省重點文(wen)物保護單位。