六榕花(hua)塔(ta)(ta)位于(yu)六榕寺中央(yang)。平(ping)面呈(cheng)八角形(xing),外(wai)觀9級(ji),內(nei)連(lian)暗層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)共(gong)17層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),高57.6米(mi)。塔(ta)(ta)身除斗拱及(ji)樓(lou)(lou)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)、欄桿用木(mu)制外(wai),其(qi)余大部分用磚砌就,作(zuo)井筒結構,首層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)直徑12米(mi),各層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)砌磚疊澀挑承平(ping)座(zuo)和瓦(wa)檐,并逐層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)向內(nei)收進(jin),塔(ta)(ta)壁(bi)上多(duo)處有(you)“廣(guang)州凈慧寺寶塔(ta)(ta)磚勸(quan)首林主簿(bu)并轉運司(si)監(jian)勸(quan)史(shi)首王”等銘文磚,首層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)的副(fu)階(jie)和各層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)琉璃瓦(wa)檐出檐較淺,則是晚清重(zhong)修時(shi)的式(shi)(shi)樣。二層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)以上的木(mu)欄桿,1980年(nian)修復時(shi)采用仿宋式(shi)(shi)斗子蜀柱(zhu)勾欄式(shi)(shi),樓(lou)(lou)梯作(zuo)穿塔(ta)(ta)壁(bi)繞平(ping)座(zuo)式(shi)(shi)。豎立于(yu)塔(ta)(ta)端中央(yang)的塔(ta)(ta)心柱(zhu)用銅柱(zhu),鑄于(yu)元至正十八年(nian)(1358年(nian)),柱(zhu)身密布1033尊浮(fu)雕(diao)小佛(fo)像(xiang)和云彩繚繞的天宮寶塔(ta)(ta)圖(tu)。千佛(fo)銅柱(zhu)連(lian)同(tong)塔(ta)(ta)頂上的金色(se)火(huo)焰寶珠(zhu)、雙龍珠(zhu)、九霄盤、覆盤和8根鐵鏈等整串構件(jian),重(zhong)逾(yu)5噸。
塔東的天(tian)王(wang)殿,面闊三間(jian)14.72米(mi)(mi)、進深二間(jian)5.1米(mi)(mi),六(liu)架椽屋(wu)分心用三柱(zhu),檐(yan)柱(zhu)外(wai)出兩跳(tiao)插拱(gong)承托挑檐(yan)梁,碌灰筒(tong)素瓦(wa),硬(ying)山(shan)頂(ding),保(bao)存了明代的建筑(zhu)風(feng)格。六(liu)祖(zu)堂,供奉北宋端拱(gong)二年(989年)鑄造的六(liu)祖(zu)銅像,為跏趺(fu)坐,高(gao)1.35米(mi)(mi)、寬1.16米(mi)(mi)、座高(gao)0.71米(mi)(mi),為宋代雕刻(ke)精品。
寺內還有碑記10余(yu)方。“初唐四杰“之一(yi)的王(wang)勃曾在此留下墨寶。
六(liu)榕寺花塔位于六(liu)榕路,寺塔始建(jian)于南朝劉宋年(nian)間(420年(nian)-479年(nian))。
梁大同三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(537年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),詔許曇裕(yu)法(fa)師在此興建(jian)一華麗的木塔(ta)(ta),供奉從(cong)海外迎回的佛舍利(li),賜名寶莊嚴寺(si)舍利(li)塔(ta)(ta)。北(bei)宋初(chu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),焚于火,寺(si)仍存而塔(ta)(ta)已湮滅。宋端拱二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(989年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))重修(xiu)寺(si)院,改稱凈慧寺(si)。紹圣四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1097年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))主簿林修(xiu)與信士王衢歸沙門(men)道琮于舍利(li)塔(ta)(ta)故(gu)址重建(jian)寶塔(ta)(ta),下瘞佛牙(ya)舍利(li),龕藏賢(xian)劫千佛像,故(gu)易名千佛塔(ta)(ta)。元符(fu)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1100年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),著(zhu)名文學家、書法(fa)家蘇東坡來(lai)(lai)寺(si),見塔(ta)(ta)畔植有蒼(cang)翠的榕(rong)樹6株,欣(xin)然手題“六(liu)榕(rong)”寺(si)榜,后(hou)來(lai)(lai)遂(sui)稱六(liu)榕(rong)寺(si)。千佛塔(ta)(ta)于清初(chu)重修(xiu)后(hou),因塔(ta)(ta)身檐壁(bi)色彩斑(ban)斕而有花塔(ta)(ta)之稱。
1987年建的大雄(xiong)寶(bao)殿內(nei)的釋迦牟(mou)尼、阿彌陀佛(fo)(fo)和藥師佛(fo)(fo)(每尊高(gao)6米、重10噸)及觀音殿內(nei)的觀音像(高(gao)4米,重約5噸),均系康熙二(er)年(1663年)鑄(zhu)造,原安放在(zai)大佛(fo)(fo)寺,是省內(nei)現(xian)存(cun)較大的古代黃銅鑄(zhu)像。“文化大革命”中被拆下,20世(shi)紀(ji)80年代起供奉于(yu)六(liu)榕寺。
初期寺(si)門南向,占地廣袤(mao)。明洪武六(liu)(liu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1373年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))割寺(si)之半為永豐(feng)倉,僅(jin)存(cun)塔及觀(guan)音殿(dian)。兩年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)后僧人于塔東重(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)覺皇殿(dian),改門東向。洪武二十八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1395年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))凈慧寺(si)一度歸并(bing)于西(xi)禪寺(si),以后明正統(tong)、嘉靖、萬歷、天啟及清乾隆、咸豐(feng)、同治年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間均有重(zhong)(zhong)修。如今(jin)六(liu)(liu)榕寺(si)占地7000多平方米,殿(dian)堂(tang)房舍多為清代以來重(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)、新建(jian)。民國初年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)補種榕樹,并(bing)建(jian)補榕亭以紀(ji)念蘇東坡。1980年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)重(zhong)(zhong)修花塔、六(liu)(liu)祖堂(tang)等處,擴寬(kuan)塔院,1983年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)、1987年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)先后重(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)大(da)雄(xiong)寶殿(dian)和觀(guan)音殿(dian)。1993年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)又建(jian)藏經閣。
1989年6月廣(guang)東省(sheng)政(zheng)府公布(bu)為省(sheng)級文(wen)物(wu)保護單位(wei)。
2006年被公布(bu)為國家級文物保護單(dan)位。
六榕(rong)寺(si)位于六榕(rong)路(lu),是廣州(zhou)市的一座歷史(shi)悠久、佛(fo)(fo)教文物薈萃(cui)、中(zhong)外聞名的名勝古(gu)剎。南朝(chao)梁大同三(san)年(nian)(公元 537年(nian))曇裕法(fa)師奉梁武帝(di)命,在(zai)此(ci)創建寶(bao)(bao)莊嚴寺(si)和(he)舍利(li)塔(ta),距今已有(you)1450多年(nian)歷史(shi)。北宋初寺(si)塔(ta)毀于火(huo)災。北宋端拱二(er)年(nian)(公元 989年(nian))重(zhong)修該寺(si)時,僧人(ren)崇奉禪宗(zong)六祖,以修“凈業(ye)”,改稱(cheng)凈慧寺(si)。北宋紹圣(sheng)四年(nian)(公元1097年(nian))重(zhong)建寶(bao)(bao)塔(ta),內供賢(xian)劫(jie)千佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang),易名千佛(fo)(fo)塔(ta)。因塔(ta)身斑斕,故后人(ren)稱(cheng)之為花塔(ta)。元符(fu)三(san)年(nian)(公元1100年(nian))著名文學(xue)家(jia)(jia)、書法(fa)家(jia)(jia)蘇東坡來寺(si)游覽,見環植榕(rong)樹六株(zhu),欣然(ran)題書“六榕(rong)”二(er)字(zi),后人(ren)遂稱(cheng)為六榕(rong)寺(si)。
華麗壯觀(guan)的(de)花塔雄矗寺院(yuan)中央,塔高五十(shi)七米,八角形,外觀(guan)九(jiu)層,內分十(shi)七層。塔東為山門、彌(mi)勒殿和天王殿、韋(wei)馱殿。南側建碑廊,保存古碑十(shi)余方(fang),記述寺和塔的(de)歷(li)史沿革,并有蘇東坡(po)畫像和六(liu)榕二字的(de)古石(shi)刻。
一九八三(san)(san)年(nian)(nian),在塔之西重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)(jian)大(da)(da)雄寶(bao)殿,莊嚴華(hua)麗(li),高(gao)(gao)(gao)十(shi)四米(mi),面(mian)積(ji)(ji)三(san)(san)百平方米(mi),供(gong)(gong)(gong)奉清康(kang)熙二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(1663年(nian)(nian))以(yi)黃(huang)銅(tong)(tong)精鑄的(de)(de)三(san)(san)尊(zun)大(da)(da)佛(fo)像(中釋(shi)迦佛(fo)、左(zuo)阿彌佛(fo)、右彌勒佛(fo))各(ge)高(gao)(gao)(gao)六(liu)米(mi)、重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)十(shi)噸(dun),儀態慈祥,是(shi)廣(guang)(guang)東(dong)省現(xian)(xian)存最大(da)(da)的(de)(de)古(gu)代銅(tong)(tong)像。在大(da)(da)殿南(nan)側(ce),重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)(jian)了說(shuo)法堂(tang)。榕(rong)蔭園內(nei)有六(liu)祖(zu)(zu)(zu)堂(tang),供(gong)(gong)(gong)奉中國禪宗第六(liu)代祖(zu)(zu)(zu)師的(de)(de)銅(tong)(tong)像(高(gao)(gao)(gao)一米(mi)八、重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)一噸(dun))。六(liu)祖(zu)(zu)(zu)俗(su)姓盧,號惠能大(da)(da)師,廣(guang)(guang)東(dong)新(xin)興縣(xian)人,是(shi)唐代杰出的(de)(de)高(gao)(gao)(gao)僧(seng),隨五祖(zu)(zu)(zu)弘忍學(xue)法,很得弘忍賞識,后(hou)衣缽而(er)歸,創南(nan)宗學(xue)派。其像于(yu)北宗端拱二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)以(yi)紫銅(tong)(tong)精工鑄造,閉目坐禪的(de)(de)神態,栩(xu)栩(xu)如生(sheng)。六(liu)祖(zu)(zu)(zu)堂(tang)榕(rong)蔭蒼(cang)翠,菩提婆娑,別致的(de)(de)補榕(rong)亭和(he)蘇東(dong)坡書的(de)(de)“證道歌(ge)”碑(bei)刻,掩映于(yu)綠蔭業中,重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)刻唐代王(wang)勃作“寶(bao)莊嚴寺舍(she)利塔”碑(bei)記。一九八五年(nian)(nian)秋,泰國教育部(bu)贈送(song)釋(shi)迦佛(fo)銅(tong)(tong)像一尊(zun),高(gao)(gao)(gao)二(er)(er)米(mi)六(liu),重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)一噸(dun),供(gong)(gong)(gong)奉在支誼(yi)佛(fo)堂(tang)。一九八七年(nian)(nian)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)(jian)的(de)(de)觀音殿,高(gao)(gao)(gao)十(shi)三(san)(san)米(mi),面(mian)積(ji)(ji)二(er)(er)百三(san)(san)十(shi)三(san)(san)平方米(mi),供(gong)(gong)(gong)奉清康(kang)熙二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)鑄的(de)(de)觀音菩薩(sa)銅(tong)(tong)像,高(gao)(gao)(gao)四米(mi),重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)五噸(dun)。同年(nian)(nian)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)(jian)的(de)(de)僧(seng)舍(she)(齋堂(tang))、功德堂(tang)、藏(zang)經閣等工程,亦已竣(jun)工。使六(liu)榕(rong)古(gu)剎重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)現(xian)(xian)新(xin)姿,以(yi)迎接海內(nei)外的(de)(de)佛(fo)教弟子和(he)各(ge)方賓客(ke)、廣(guang)(guang)大(da)(da)游人前(qian)來瞻拜、參(can)觀。