壽(shou)光城東(dong)(dong)北(bei)隅(yu)、小東(dong)(dong)關村東(dong)(dong),文化街與東(dong)(dong)環路交匯處,有(you)(you)(you)一(yi)株(zhu)千年古槐。此(ci)處也是寧國(guo)寺故址所在地。古寧國(guo)寺,東(dong)(dong)南西(xi)北(bei)四面(mian)溝塹灣塘相連(lian)。西(xi)邊隔水塘與壽(shou)城小 東(dong)(dong)關比鄰。廟(miao)宇寺院在中(zhong)央高地之上。寺廟(miao)山門(men)南向,北(bei)邊正大殿(dian)5間,另(ling)有(you)(you)(you)東(dong)(dong)西(xi)廂(xiang)房。大殿(dian)內有(you)(you)(you)佛像三尊,皆木質(zhi)雕鏤,工(gong)藝板精細。其中(zhong)千手千眼佛,更是別具一(yi)格,臂膀處伸出18只(zhi)手臂,顯示出無窮的(de)法力。
寧(ning)(ning)國(guo)寺創(chuang)始(shi)于(yu)何(he)年,已不可(ke)考(kao)。因與北(bei)(bei)關(guan)村寧(ning)(ning)儀寺齊名,以此而(er)推,可(ke)能創(chuang)始(shi)于(yu)南(nan)北(bei)(bei)朝時(shi)期(qi)。“寧(ning)(ning)國(guo)”有萬國(guo)咸寧(ning)(ning)之意(yi),南(nan)北(bei)(bei)朝時(shi)期(qi)眾國(guo)紛爭,取(qu)寧(ning)(ning)國(guo)寺之名,有平安、安定之愿望。
寧(ning)(ning)國(guo)(guo)寺(si)院(yuan)中(zhong)有(you)(you)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)槐(huai)一株,昔(xi)日為(wei)壽(shou)(shou)(shou)城八景之(zhi)一,“寧(ning)(ning)國(guo)(guo)古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)槐(huai)”也。亦不知植(zhi)于(yu)何年,壽(shou)(shou)(shou)光城民間(jian)有(you)(you)“張(zhang)飛(fei)勒(le)馬望古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)槐(huai)”和“先有(you)(you)老槐(huai)蔭(yin),后(hou)有(you)(you)壽(shou)(shou)(shou)光城”之(zhi)說。古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)槐(huai)勢如盤(pan)龍騰飛(fei),蒼枝(zhi)勁(jing)健。其樹有(you)(you)南北向兩主枝(zhi),北枝(zhi)已枯,南邊一枝(zhi),至(zhi)今春(chun)夏(xia)秋之(zhi)季尚綠意(yi)蔥蘢(long),生(sheng)長不衰(shuai)。過去古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)槐(huai)在寺(si)院(yuan)中(zhong)央,樹冠龐(pang)大,夏(xia)時濃蔭(yin)如傘,庇蔭(yin)寺(si)院(yuan)大半天井。今古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)槐(huai)雖逝昔(xi)日風采,但其生(sheng)命力之(zhi)頑強,令人折服(fu)。我國(guo)(guo)自周代起,國(guo)(guo)槐(huai)就為(wei)“公卿(qing)大夫之(zhi)樹”。因此象首都北京國(guo)(guo)子監(jian)(大學(xue))有(you)(you)久負(fu)盛名(ming)的(de)“吉(ji)祥槐(huai)”。貢(gong)院(yuan)(古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)代考(kao)場)也曾有(you)(you)一株馳(chi)名(ming)京城的(de)“昌槐(huai)”。壽(shou)(shou)(shou)城寧(ning)(ning)國(guo)(guo)寺(si)千(qian)年古(gu)(gu)(gu)(gu)槐(huai),與之(zhi)相(xiang)比,并不遜(xun)色,只是“躲在深閨人未識(shi)”。
歲月(yue)悠悠,時過境遷,如今已是“寺院佛僧皆隱去,唯有(you)古槐尚迎人(ren)”了(le)。為(wei)了(le)保護古樹,1983年春,縣人(ren)民政府撥專款繞(rao)樹修一多角(jiao)圍墻,定(ding)為(wei)縣級(ji)重點保護古樹。