位于盤門內東大街(jie)11號,1956年被列為江蘇(su)省文物(wu)(wu)保護單位,現由(you)蘇(su)州市文物(wu)(wu)管理委員會(hui)保護管理。
開(kai)元寺(si)(si)(si)初名通玄寺(si)(si)(si),三國(guo)東(dong)吳赤烏(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間孫權為乳(ru)母陳氏所建(jian)。隋(sui)開(kai)皇九(jiu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(589年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))吳縣令孫寬廢寺(si)(si)(si),唐貞觀二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(628年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧(seng)慧(hui)重興(xing)。開(kai)元二(er)十(shi)(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(738年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))詔令改名。大順二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(891年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),孫儒占據蘇州,開(kai)元寺(si)(si)(si)被(bei)付之一炬。五代后唐同(tong)光三年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(925年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),吳越錢氏遷建(jian)開(kai)元寺(si)(si)(si)于(yu)(yu)盤門內現址。宋至明屢經廢興(xing)。清咸豐十(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))又(you)毀(hui)于(yu)(yu)兵火,同(tong)治十(shi)(shi)二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1873年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))稍事重修(xiu),未(wei)復舊觀。無(wu)梁(liang)殿是開(kai)元寺(si)(si)(si)現在僅存(cun)的一座古建(jian)筑無(wu)梁(liang)殿即藏經閣,建(jian)于(yu)(yu)明萬歷(li)四(si)十(shi)(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1618年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))。原先供奉(feng)無(wu)量壽(shou)佛(fo),又(you)名無(wu)量殿;又(you)以純為磨磚嵌縫縱橫拱券結(jie)構(gou),不(bu)用木構(gou)梁(liang)柱檁(lin)椽(chuan),故習稱(cheng)無(wu)梁(liang)殿。
開(kai)元寺(si)無梁(liang)(liang)殿(dian)是(shi)江蘇省現存五座(zuo)無梁(liang)(liang)殿(dian)中建遲、制作(zuo)精(jing)的一座(zuo)。殿(dian)坐(zuo)北朝南(nan),兩(liang)層(ceng)樓閣式,面(mian)闊七間,寬20.9米,進(jin)深11.2米,通(tong)高約19米。歇山頂及(ji)腰檐敷(fu)綠間黃琉璃筒瓦,與(yu)清水磚(zhuan)外墻面(mian)相映成趣(qu)。正(zheng)面(mian)上下(xia)各有(you)(you)半圓(yuan)磚(zhuan)倚柱6根,下(xia)置雕(diao)花須彌(mi)座(zuo),轉(zhuan)角用垂蓮(lian)柱。正(zheng)面(mian)正(zheng)中開(kai)拱(gong)(gong)門三個,左(zuo)右各置拱(gong)(gong)形窗,在上層(ceng)相對位置開(kai)拱(gong)(gong)形窗5個,明(ming)間是(shi)明(ming)窗,其余是(shi)假窗。柱間有(you)(you)刻南(nan)無阿彌(mi)陀佛的華版(ban)及(ji)大小枋子。明(ming)間檐下(xia)是(shi)磚(zhuan)制斜拱(gong)(gong),上泵副檐。繞(rao)有(you)(you)雕(diao)刻的平(ping)座(zuo)欄桿,圖(tu)案十分典雅,而且雕(diao)工精(jing)細,宛如一件(jian)杰(jie)出(chu)的工藝品。
殿(dian)內(nei)上(shang)下層各分為(wei)三大間(jian),用(yong)縱橫(heng)磚砌卷(juan)筒結構(gou),置扶梯于左面側墻內(nei)。原(yuan)先樓上(shang)藏經,樓下供佛。二(er)層明間(jian)采(cai)用(yong)斗拱(gong)承托八角(jiao)形的(de)磚制(zhi)藻井的(de)穹(qiong)窿結構(gou),四壁鑲嵌明代章藻手(shou)書《梵綱經》、《華嚴(yan)經》石刻。殿(dian)頂及腰檐(yan)覆蓋綠(lv)、黃二(er)色琉(liu)璃瓦、與青磚墻面組成和諧的(de)色調。正脊(ji)飾以(yi)琉(liu)璃游龍,戧角(jiao)雕塑四大天王立(li)像。建(jian)筑(zhu)無(wu)不工細(xi)精(jing)巧,于宏偉莊重(zhong)中寓玲瓏(long)華麗(li)(li)之美,堪(kan)稱明代建(jian)筑(zhu)精(jing)品。這座無(wu)梁殿(dian)在(zai)莊嚴(yan)中顯現出玲瓏(long)秀麗(li)(li)之姿,充分反映了古(gu)老蘇州的(de)建(jian)筑(zhu)藝術(shu)在(zai)明代已達到一(yi)個相當完美和諧的(de)境(jing)界,故有(you)“結構(gou)雄(xiong)杰冠江南”之譽。現為(wei)第七批(pi)全國重(zhong)點文物保(bao)護單位。