歷史沿革
天壽寺(si)又名(ming)開化(hua)寺(si),位于安徽省廣(guang)德市桃州鎮內(nei)東(dong)大街北側,創建于唐代天佑(you)年(nian)間(905-907年(nian)),由法(fa)苑禪師籌(chou)建,原名(ming)通天寺(si)(宋(song)太祖趙光義(yi)親題(ti)賜名(ming))。
天壽(shou)寺(si)塔(ta)初建五層。宋(song)元符二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1099年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))塔(ta)為火焚。宋(song)建中靖(jing)國(1101年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))時改(gai)為開化寺(si),明萬(wan)歷三(san)十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1602年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))知州何鳳起募(mu)民募(mu)捐(juan)修(xiu)(xiu)塔(ta)達五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)后改(gai)為天壽(shou)寺(si)。元符三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)至崇(chong)寧(ning)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1105年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))重修(xiu)(xiu)建成七(qi)級浮屠,體(ti)形(xing)高大,屬江南樓(lou)閣式建筑(zhu),磚木結(jie)構,挑(tiao)檐竄角,角懸風鈴(ling),高31.34米。明萬(wan)歷35年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1607年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))和(he)清康熙七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1668年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))又兩次(ci)修(xiu)(xiu)葺。
光(guang)緒26年(nian)(nian)(1900年(nian)(nian))毀于火(huo),僅存磚砌(qi)塔體。1983年(nian)(nian)10月,發現一(yi)“地宮(gong)”。“地宮(gong)”為磚砌(qi)直口坑,深110厘米,正方形邊長32厘米。宮(gong)內有(you)石碑一(yi)塊,刻記塔之淵源(yuan)。1986年(nian)(nian)重修。復修后的大圣寶塔基本(ben)保持了原(yuan)來特點(dian),七(qi)級六面,六角飛檐(yan),鐵(tie)鏈(lian)式塔頂(ding),總計高42.8米,塔基面積46平方米。嘉靖年(nian)(nian)間在寺內設“僧(seng)正司”,是當(dang)時蘇浙皖一(yi)帶頗(po)有(you)名(ming)聲的古剎,暮(mu)鼓(gu)城鐘,香火(huo)旺盛(sheng),信(xin)奉佛教,供奉佛祖釋迦牟尼及觀世(shi)音菩(pu)薩。
這獨具中國風(feng)格(ge)的(de)相傳用(yong)“堆土法”建(jian)成的(de)新建(jian)筑——古塔古剎,早已(yi)成為(wei)佛(fo)教的(de)象征、供(gong)奉“舍(she)利”和“押風(feng)水”的(de)寶地(di),可惜毀(hui)于日本侵華戰爭中,菩(pu)薩不(bu)能自保,寺(si)也蕩然無存,大殿、經房及僧(seng)居(ju)均被焚毀(hui)殆盡(jin),只剩(sheng)一座磚塔矗立在天壽(shou)寺(si)的(de)舊址上,成為(wei)滄桑興衰的(de)歷史見證。
建筑規模
天壽寺塔(ta)七級(ji)六(liu)面(mian)(mian),磚(zhuan)木結構,六(liu)角飛檐,角懸(xuan)銅鈴(ling)。塔(ta)基(ji)46平方米(mi)(mi),底層(ceng)墻厚1.5米(mi)(mi),外周長26.4米(mi)(mi),整個塔(ta)基(ji)以青(qing)磚(zhuan)鋪成(cheng)。在底層(ceng)中心(xin)線距兩(liang)壁(bi)下65厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)處建方形直口式(shi),口邊為82厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)、深(shen)110厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)的磚(zhuan)砌地(di)(di)宮一(yi)座。修復前塔(ta)體(ti)高31.34米(mi)(mi),地(di)(di)面(mian)(mian)以下夯土(tu)層(ceng)深(shen)1·14米(mi)(mi)。第(di)一(yi)層(ceng)與上下兩(liang)段合成(cheng),各層(ceng)每面(mian)(mian)二中央開設壺(hu)門(men)(men),二至(zhi)七層(ceng)壺(hu)門(men)(men)兩(liang)側設假(jia)直欞窗。底層(ceng)正(zheng)東(dong)(dong)、東(dong)(dong)南(nan)、東(dong)(dong)北(bei)三門(men)(men)相通,供人出入(ru),正(zheng)西、西南(nan)、西北(bei)三門(men)(men)沿內壁(bi)封(feng)閉。一(yi)至(zhi)五層(ceng)門(men)(men)道(dao)頂(ding)部為八角藻井,六(liu)層(ceng)七層(ceng)為拱頂(ding),塔(ta)身二至(zhi)五層(ceng)外廊逐層(ceng)內收5-7厘(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi),六(liu)七兩(liang)層(ceng)同高,直徑相同。二至(zhi)五層(ceng)額(e)凹入(ru),六(liu)層(ceng)額(e)凸出,并在兩(liang)端之角各施插拱一(yi)道(dao)。
塔(ta)(ta)外(wai)各(ge)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)轉角均(jun)設(she)扇形倚柱(zhu),一(yi)至五層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)遞(di)收(shou)5厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),六層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)七層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)稍內收(shou),每一(yi)柱(zhu)頭上施磚(zhuan)制平行方澀、混線、菱角牙子兩重(zhong)。各(ge)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)角柱(zhu)都(dou)設(she)角鋪作,每面設(she)補(bu)(bu)間鋪2朵,一(yi)挑(tiao)出檐。各(ge)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)腰(yao)檐的(de)補(bu)(bu)間鋪作及(ji)角鋪作的(de)磚(zhuan)制斗拱,其(qi)櫨斗、散斗均(jun)作平盤式樣,櫨斗寬30厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),散斗寬17厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),高(gao)均(jun)8厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)。泥道拱長71厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)、高(gao)15厘(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)。原(yuan)塔(ta)(ta)頂、塔(ta)(ta)剎早毀。修復后寶塔(ta)(ta)基本保持(chi)原(yuan)來的(de)特點,總高(gao)39.97米(mi)(mi)(mi),其(qi)中塔(ta)(ta)身(shen)30.l米(mi)(mi)(mi),塔(ta)(ta)頂4.5米(mi)(mi)(mi),塔(ta)(ta)剎5.72米(mi)(mi)(mi),屋面斜坡25度,各(ge)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)飛檐出挑(tiao)l.3米(mi)(mi)(mi),戧角起翹和做(zuo)法具有北方古建風(feng)格(ge),并(bing)新設(she)計了(le)龍吻,各(ge)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)屋面安(an)沿人(ren)一(yi)周,計800余只(zhi),每個戰角懸掛一(yi)只(zhi)銅鈴,計42只(zhi)。塔(ta)(ta)內逐層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)按順時針方向安(an)置了(le)古式扶手板梯,每層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)樓面均(jun)用方磚(zhuan)鋪砌,而且還隱藏安(an)裝了(le)防雷設(she)備。