斗(dou)方(fang)(fang)(fang)山(shan)風景(jing)區位于大別山(shan)南麓,浠英(ying)羅三(san)縣交界處,亦稱斗(dou)方(fang)(fang)(fang)禪林,建(jian)(jian)在斗(dou)方(fang)(fang)(fang)山(shan)上(shang)(shang),最初由后唐(tang)同光元年(nian)(nian)(923)無著禪師(shi)建(jian)(jian)造,北宋時(shi)佛(fo)印(yin)禪師(shi)駐錫傳經,元遭兵毀。明洪武重建(jian)(jian),規(gui)模宏大,僧弟子數百人云(yun)集山(shan)上(shang)(shang),盛極一(yi)時(shi)。建(jian)(jian)國初,寺廟(miao)僅存上(shang)(shang)斗(dou)方(fang)(fang)(fang)三(san)重殿(dian)(dian)堂(tang),上(shang)(shang)殿(dian)(dian)梁、柱皆石(shi)(shi)(shi)結構(gou),石(shi)(shi)(shi)柱八(ba)(ba)根,高4.6米,柱圍2.2米,建(jian)(jian)筑牢(lao)固,造型壯觀(guan),工程巨大。殿(dian)(dian)前有(you)(you)月臺(tai)式(shi)場(chang)地,場(chang)前有(you)(you)石(shi)(shi)(shi)質(zhi)臺(tai)階(jie)。中殿(dian)(dian)和(he)下殿(dian)(dian)為(wei)青(qing)磚結構(gou),亦有(you)(you)石(shi)(shi)(shi)柱八(ba)(ba)根,殿(dian)(dian)內有(you)(you)石(shi)(shi)(shi)質(zhi)佛(fo)龕。近年(nian)(nian)來,香(xiang)港印(yin)靜法師(shi)會(hui)同香(xiang)港佛(fo)門弟子捐資千(qian)萬(wan)元修復(fu)斗(dou)方(fang)(fang)(fang)寺,中國佛(fo)教協會(hui)咨(zi)議委(wei)員會(hui)副主席、當今禪宗大德高僧本(ben)煥大法師(shi)任(ren)斗(dou)方(fang)(fang)(fang)寺方(fang)(fang)(fang)丈。重修后的斗(dou)方(fang)(fang)(fang)寺于1998年(nian)(nian)11月16日(ri)正式(shi)對游人開放。斗(dou)方(fang)(fang)(fang)山(shan)多石(shi)(shi)(shi)洞怪石(shi)(shi)(shi),相(xiang)傳八(ba)(ba)卦洞右側的石(shi)(shi)(shi)樓,是(shi)乾隆(long)進士范思皇讀書和(he)倡"三(san)教"(道、佛(fo)、儒)之所。斗(dou)方(fang)(fang)(fang)山(shan)是(shi)佛(fo)教圣地,也是(shi)觀(guan)光游覽的好去處。
斗方山(shan)因山(shan)形斗方而得名,不僅是(shi)一座歷(li)(li)史悠久的(de)(de)佛教(jiao)名山(shan)且(qie)諸峰(feng)羅列,氣勢(shi)雄偉,山(shan)中四(si)千畝林(lin)木郁郁蔥蔥,花草斗艷,四(si)季春色(se)(se),風光秀麗(li),氣候(hou)宜人(ren)(ren)。山(shan)南(nan)側,奇石(shi)林(lin)立(li),千姿(zi)百態,因形狀物, 如(ru)生,更有(you)洞府遍(bian)布,歷(li)(li)來為(wei)游(you)人(ren)(ren)所(suo)神往。山(shan)東(dong)側的(de)(de)“舍利(li)寶(bao)塔(ta)”建于北宋時(shi)期,紅沙石(shi)質(zhi),單件各(ge)幅,行如(ru)立(li)鼓,小(xiao)巧(qiao)玲瓏,被載入《中國寶(bao)塔(ta)名勝大辭典(dian)》。斗方寺古殿為(wei)一色(se)(se)的(de)(de)花崗石(shi)建筑(zhu),石(shi)梁、石(shi)竹、石(shi)墩、石(shi)架、石(shi)墻貫斗,上刻(ke)蟠龍(long)花紋,工精形肖,勢(shi)態宏偉壯觀(guan),富(fu)有(you)濃厚的(de)(de)傳奇色(se)(se)彩,是(shi)省級重點保護單位。山(shan)中還(huan)有(you)摹(mo)巖刻(ke)字十多處,歷(li)(li)代文(wen)(wen)人(ren)(ren)騷客留下的(de)(de)詩(shi)文(wen)(wen)上百篇,傳奇故(gu)事數百個,潛(qian)在著豐(feng)富(fu)的(de)(de)旅游(you)資源(yuan)。