在(zai)寧(ning)夏(xia)(xia)回族自治區銀(yin)川市(shi)興慶區的承天(tian)(tian)寺內(nei),始建于(yu)西(xi)夏(xia)(xia)垂圣(sheng)元(yuan)年(nian)(1050年(nian))。據(ju)載,西(xi)夏(xia)(xia)開國皇(huang)帝李(li)元(yuan)昊死后,其(qi)子(zi)年(nian)幼登(deng)位(wei),皇(huang)太后為保其(qi)子(zi)“圣(sheng)壽無(wu)疆(jiang)”,祈(qi)望李(li)家天(tian)(tian)下和(he)西(xi)夏(xia)(xia)江山“延永”堅(jian)固。建造了承天(tian)(tian)寺和(he)佛塔(ta)。
承(cheng)(cheng)天(tian)寺(si)坐西(xi)朝東,由前(qian)(qian)后(hou)兩進院(yuan)(yuan)落(luo)組成(cheng)。殿(dian)(dian)屋廊宇,規(gui)模宏大;前(qian)(qian)院(yuan)(yuan)是五佛(fo)(fo)殿(dian)(dian)和承(cheng)(cheng)天(tian)寺(si)塔;后(hou)院(yuan)(yuan)有(you)韋馱殿(dian)(dian)和臥(wo)佛(fo)(fo)殿(dian)(dian)。古(gu)時(shi),承(cheng)(cheng)天(tian)寺(si)時(shi)有(you)“東土名(ming)流”、“西(xi)天(tian)達士(shi)”往來,香(xiang)火(huo)鼎(ding)盛,游人(ren)不絕。它與武威的護國(guo)寺(si)、張(zhang)掖(ye)的臥(wo)佛(fo)(fo)寺(si)一樣(yang),都是西(xi)夏(xia)的佛(fo)(fo)教。2006年(nian)05月25日,承(cheng)(cheng)天(tian)寺(si)塔作為清代(dai)古(gu)建(jian)筑,被國(guo)務院(yuan)(yuan)批準列入第六批全(quan)國(guo)文(wen)物保護單(dan)位名(ming)單(dan)。
塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)室呈方形(xing)空(kong)間,室內(nei)(nei)各層(ceng)(ceng)為木板樓層(ceng)(ceng)結(jie)構(gou),有(you)木梯(ti)盤旋(xuan)而上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)身(shen)(shen)一至二層(ceng)(ceng)各面(mian)(mian)設券門(men)窗(chuang)式壁龕,三、五、七、九層(ceng)(ceng)設南(nan)北券門(men)式明(ming)窗(chuang),塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)身(shen)(shen)各層(ceng)(ceng)收分較(jiao)大(da),每(mei)層(ceng)(ceng)之間的塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)檐(yan)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)下各挑(tiao)出(chu)三層(ceng)(ceng)棱(leng)牙(ya)磚。各層(ceng)(ceng)檐(yan)角石榴(liu)狀的鐵(tie)柄上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)掛有(you)鐵(tie)鈴,微風(feng)(feng)吹過,丁當作響。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)身(shen)(shen)十(shi)(shi)一層(ceng)(ceng)以(yi)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)挑(tiao)出(chu)五層(ceng)(ceng)棱(leng)角牙(ya)磚,上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)建八(ba)面(mian)(mian)攢尖(jian)頂(ding)剎座(zuo),其上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)立(li)桃形(xing)綠色琉璃(li)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)剎。四、六、八(ba)、十(shi)(shi)層(ceng)(ceng)設東西(xi)向(xiang)多門(men)式明(ming)窗(chuang),十(shi)(shi)一層(ceng)(ceng)設四明(ming)四暗圓窗(chuang)。整座(zuo)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)造型挺拔(ba),呈角錐(zhui)形(xing)風(feng)(feng)格,古(gu)(gu)樸簡潔。?塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)身(shen)(shen)11層(ceng)(ceng)。內(nei)(nei)呈方形(xing)空(kong)間,1~3層(ceng)(ceng)不(bu)設窗(chuang)洞(dong);4~10層(ceng)(ceng),每(mei)層(ceng)(ceng)交替設置拱形(xing)窗(chuang)洞(dong),偶數(shu)層(ceng)(ceng)為東西(xi)向(xiang),奇數(shu)層(ceng)(ceng)為南(nan)北向(xiang),頂(ding)層(ceng)(ceng)四面(mian)(mian)開大(da)型圓窗(chuang),十(shi)(shi)分敞亮。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)內(nei)(nei)有(you)木梯(ti)可盤旋(xuan)而上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang),登頂(ding)層(ceng)(ceng),憑窗(chuang)眺望,古(gu)(gu)城風(feng)(feng)光和(he)塞上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)景色盡收眼底。遇上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)秋高氣爽,還可以(yi)在天地(di)連(lian)接處(chu)看到一線黃河(he)。
承(cheng)天寺塔是(shi)(shi)寧(ning)夏(xia)(xia)(xia)惟一有(you)文獻(xian)記載(zai)(zai)始建年代的古塔。據(ju)明代《弘治寧(ning)夏(xia)(xia)(xia)新志》記載(zai)(zai):“承(cheng)天寺塔在(zai)承(cheng)天寺內(nei),偽夏(xia)(xia)(xia)(西(xi)(xi)夏(xia)(xia)(xia))所建,一十三(san)級(ji),有(you)殘碑可考。”《夏(xia)(xia)(xia)國(guo)皇(huang)太(tai)后(hou)新建承(cheng)天寺瘞佛(fo)(fo)頂骨舍利(li)碑》載(zai)(zai):西(xi)(xi)夏(xia)(xia)(xia)建國(guo)皇(huang)帝李元昊死后(hou),皇(huang)太(tai)后(hou)沒(mei)藏氏為了“幼登宸極”的小皇(huang)帝李諒祚,保“圣壽以無疆,俾(bi)宗(zong)祧而延永”,于(yu)西(xi)(xi)夏(xia)(xia)(xia)毅宗(zong)諒祚天祐(you)垂圣元年(1050年)“役兵數萬”,歷(li)時五六年修(xiu)建了承(cheng)天寺和承(cheng)天寺塔。并將西(xi)(xi)域(yu)僧(seng)人(ren)(ren)進獻(xian)的佛(fo)(fo)骨,以金(jin)棺銀槨貯埋于(yu)塔基下。西(xi)(xi)夏(xia)(xia)(xia)福圣承(cheng)道三(san)年(1055年),又(you)將宋(song)朝所賜的《大藏經(jing)(jing)》置(zhi)于(yu)寺內(nei)。塔寺建成后(hou),延請(qing)回鶻高(gao)僧(seng)登座講經(jing)(jing),皇(huang)太(tai)后(hou)與皇(huang)帝經(jing)(jing)常即席聆聽。寺內(nei)香火旺盛,僧(seng)人(ren)(ren)不絕,與當(dang)時涼州護國(guo)寺、甘(gan)州臥(wo)佛(fo)(fo)寺齊(qi)名(ming),是(shi)(shi)西(xi)(xi)夏(xia)(xia)(xia)的佛(fo)(fo)教之一。與靈武(wu)鎮河塔互稱為“姊妹塔”。
承天寺塔(ta)(ta)在(zai)元明(ming)時期,曾(ceng)遭兵火和地震的(de)(de)危(wei)害,明(ming)初時僅“一塔(ta)(ta)獨存”。后來,朱(zhu)元璋第(di)十(shi)(shi)六(liu)個兒子(zi)明(ming)慶靖王(wang)朱(zhu)栴,重(zhong)修了寺院,增建了殿(dian)宇(yu),承天寺以“梵剎鐘聲”名噪塞上,成為明(ming)代寧夏八景之一。清乾隆(long)三年(nian)(nian)十(shi)(shi)一月二十(shi)(shi)四日(ri)(1739年(nian)(nian)1月3日(ri))大地震,塔(ta)(ta)、寺全部震毀。現在(zai)看(kan)到的(de)(de)承天寺塔(ta)(ta),為嘉慶二十(shi)(shi)五(wu)年(nian)(nian)(1820年(nian)(nian))重(zhong)修,保留了原西夏佛塔(ta)(ta)的(de)(de)基本形制。
如(ru)今,承天寺(si)塔已得(de)到人(ren)民(min)政(zheng)府的(de)很(hen)好保(bao)護,并被定為寧夏回族自治區文(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu)保(bao)護單位。寺(si)院內修建(jian)了博物(wu)(wu)(wu)館,增建(jian)了古建(jian)筑展(zhan)室,收(shou)藏了許多寧夏歷(li)史(shi)、民(min)族、軍事等方面珍貴的(de)文(wen)物(wu)(wu)(wu),成為人(ren)們(men)觀賞和游樂(le)的(de)重要活動(dong)場所。
承(cheng)天(tian)寺塔現在是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)西夏博物館所在地,街道(dao)(dao)周圍有(you)(you)很多小飯館,有(you)(you)幾(ji)道(dao)(dao)菜(cai)(cai)很出名的(de),算是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)銀川的(de)特(te)色菜(cai)(cai),一般稍微(wei)大(da)一點的(de)館子都有(you)(you)。其(qi)一燴(hui)(hui)羊(yang)雜碎:燴(hui)(hui)羊(yang)雜碎,風味(wei)(wei)獨(du)特(te)。其(qi)制作(zuo)方法是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi):用羊(yang)的(de)內臟、頭蹄肉(rou)(rou),經仔(zi)細(xi)沖洗后,入(ru)開水鍋煮(zhu)熟后撈出,切成(cheng)絲。以(yi)原湯(tang)下入(ru)切好(hao)的(de)雜碎絲,加蔥、姜、蒜末、紅辣油、味(wei)(wei)精、香菜(cai)(cai),即成(cheng)燴(hui)(hui)羊(yang)雜碎。那紅色的(de)便是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)辣椒油,綠色的(de)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)青蔥香菜(cai)(cai)末,油色下面是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)乳白色的(de)鮮湯(tang),喝一口(kou)(kou)鮮湯(tang)吃一口(kou)(kou)雜碎,不(bu)(bu)膻不(bu)(bu)膩,味(wei)(wei)道(dao)(dao)香醇濃郁。 其(qi)二手抓羊(yang)肉(rou)(rou):以(yi)國(guo)強和老毛,不(bu)(bu)過(guo)味(wei)(wei)道(dao)(dao)都過(guo)得去(qu),當然好(hao)的(de)要去(qu)吳忠吃。其(qi)三是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)糖醋黃(huang)河鯉魚,其(qi)四是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)清蒸羊(yang)羔肉(rou)(rou)。這幾(ji)道(dao)(dao)大(da)吃小吃都很有(you)(you)特(te)色。