南陽玄妙觀,中國道教四大名觀之一,奉全真道清凈派,是四大叢林之一,始建于元代至元年間(1264年-1294年),擁有玉皇殿、三清殿、斗姆殿、祖師殿、藥王殿等殿宇。南陽(yang)(yang)北郊(jiao)獨(du)山祖師宮(gong)、方城縣博(bo)望鎮三元宮(gong)和南召縣板(ban)山坪鄉華(hua)陽(yang)(yang)宮(gong),均(jun)為玄妙(miao)觀下院。
玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)妙觀(guan)(guan),原址位于(yu)(yu)建(jian)(jian)設中路人民公園對面,其原名叫做“老(lao)君堂(tang)”,始建(jian)(jian)于(yu)(yu)東(dong)漢(han)時期,后至(zhi)元朝時期,道(dao)教(jiao)大(da)盛,于(yu)(yu)是把“老(lao)君堂(tang)”擴建(jian)(jian),更名為(wei)“玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)妙觀(guan)(guan)”,取名源自老(lao)子《道(dao)德經(jing)》“玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)之又(you)玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan),眾妙之門”這句話。玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)妙觀(guan)(guan)是道(dao)教(jiao)四大(da)名觀(guan)(guan)之一,擁有著雍(yong)正賜匾、同治賜經(jing)、慈禧(xi)題字的輝煌歷史。曾經(jing)的南陽玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)妙觀(guan)(guan),建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)宏偉壯觀(guan)(guan),景色清幽靜雅。清時與北京(jing)白云觀(guan)(guan)、西安八仙庵、山(shan)東(dong)長(chang)青觀(guan)(guan)合稱全國四大(da)觀(guan)(guan),為(wei)南陽“八景”之最,素(su)有“玄(xuan)(xuan)(xuan)妙雅趣”之美譽。
道觀(guan)始建于元代至元年間(1264年-1294年),明唐(tang)藩時(shi)重修。殿宇雄(xiong)偉,庭園(yuan)佳秀,是(shi)豫西南道教中(zhong)心。清代順(shun)治(zhi)、乾(qian)隆、咸豐年間屢有(you)修繕,規模日益擴大,增建樓閣殿堂達310余間;占地面(mian)積150余畝,田(tian)產(chan)達7700多(duo)畝;擁有(you)道眾數百人(ren)。
鼎盛時期的道觀氣勢恢弘,布(bu)局(ju)完整(zheng)(zheng)。座(zuo)北向(xiang)南,以(yi)中(zhong)軸線(xian)建(jian)(jian)筑。自無梁殿(dian)(dian)、“惠浹中(zhong)州”牌樓、山(shan)(shan)(shan)門至四(si)神殿(dian)(dian)、三清(qing)殿(dian)(dian)、玉皇殿(dian)(dian)、祖(zu)(zu)師殿(dian)(dian)、斗姥閣構成(cheng)五進院(yuan)落。左右(you)附設文昌殿(dian)(dian)、關圣殿(dian)(dian)、太公殿(dian)(dian)、呂祖(zu)(zu)殿(dian)(dian)、藏經閣、十方堂等殿(dian)(dian)堂17座(zuo)。庭(ting)院(yuan)肅(su)然嚴(yan)整(zheng)(zheng),殿(dian)(dian)宇巍峨(e)壯觀,形成(cheng)完整(zheng)(zheng)的建(jian)(jian)筑群落。據史料記載:觀之(zhi)(zhi)西北隅為(wei)西北園,俗(su)稱荷花池,是(shi)一座(zuo)古代(dai)園林建(jian)(jian)筑。園前之(zhi)(zhi)五桂(gui)堂,因五株桂(gui)樹而得名。堂后(hou)鑿地(di)為(wei)池,廣褒數畝,復以(yi)周廓(kuo),環以(yi)曲欄,栽荷養魚。聚石為(wei)山(shan)(shan)(shan),上建(jian)(jian)小亭(ting),名曰“浣香(xiang)亭(ting)”。石山(shan)(shan)(shan)西邊有(you)(you)(you)精舍三楹,原名“環翠”,后(hou)改“清(qing)暉”。石山(shan)(shan)(shan)東南,小橋橫跨,再南有(you)(you)(you)石臺(tai)出于水中(zhong),稱“月(yue)臺(tai)”。上建(jian)(jian)有(you)(you)(you)室,額(e)曰“秋香(xiang)畫舫(fang)”。畫舫(fang)之(zhi)(zhi)后(hou),沿階可(ke)登假山(shan)(shan)(shan),上有(you)(you)(you)茅亭(ting),稱“得月(yue)亭(ting)”,可(ke)與“浣香(xiang)亭(ting)”相(xiang)望。每年(nian)夏秋,荷香(xiang)四(si)溢,這里便是(shi)達官顯貴的游覽之(zhi)(zhi)所。
民(min)國時期(qi),大部分殿堂(tang)被(bei)毀,神像被(bei)毀,道士被(bei)遣散,香(xiang)火一(yi)度斷絕(jue)。在(zai)(zai)2000年(nian),南陽市臥(wo)龍區(qu)獨山(shan)另擇(ze)新址(zhi),在(zai)(zai)獨山(shan)風景區(qu)重建玄妙觀,恢復了部分殿堂和神像,新的玄妙觀擁(yong)有(you)玉皇殿、三清殿、斗姆殿、祖(zu)師殿、藥王(wang)殿等殿宇(yu)。