玄(xuan)奘(zhuang)(zhuang)寺(si)又名唐(tang)(tang)(tang)(tang)僧(seng)寺(si),位于(yu)偃師(shi)緱(gou)氏(shi)鎮唐(tang)(tang)(tang)(tang)僧(seng)寺(si)村北,緊傍207國道,玄(xuan)奘(zhuang)(zhuang)寺(si)始建(jian)于(yu)北魏,原名靈巖(yan)寺(si),隋大業年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(公元605-618年(nian)(nian)(nian))幼年(nian)(nian)(nian)的玄(xuan)奘(zhuang)(zhuang)曾(ceng)多次到該(gai)寺(si)聆聽(ting)佛法,玄(xuan)奘(zhuang)(zhuang)取經返回后(hou)曾(ceng)回寺(si)看望僧(seng)眾,被(bei)譽為大德、大善之人,為了(le)弘揚他堅(jian)毅卓(zhuo)絕的精神,又改名為“興(xing)善寺(si)",唐(tang)(tang)(tang)(tang)太宗曾(ceng)賜地(di)40頃敕(chi)令(ling)重修,武(wu)周圣歷二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(公元699年(nian)(nian)(nian))武(wu)則天自神都洛陽出發,登封(feng)中(zhong)岳,路過該(gai)寺(si),也(ye)曾(ceng)賜金重修,并(bing)(bing)賜地(di)百(bai)頃。后(hou)人為表示對(dui)玄(xuan)奘(zhuang)(zhuang)法師(shi)的懷念(nian),又改名為唐(tang)(tang)(tang)(tang)僧(seng)寺(si)。1996年(nian)(nian)(nian)中(zhong)國佛教協會會長(chang)趙樸(pu)初老(lao)居士拜謁(ye)唐(tang)(tang)(tang)(tang)僧(seng)寺(si),提議更名為“玄(xuan)奘(zhuang)(zhuang)寺(si)"并(bing)(bing)親題“玄(xuan)奘(zhuang)(zhuang)寺(si)"匾額。
在我國,提起《西游(you)記》里(li)的唐僧,真是無人不知(zhi),無人不曉(xiao)。唐僧的原型就是唐朝(chao)的玄奘。唐僧,唐玄奘,姓陳(chen)名祎,洛(luo)陽(yang)偃師(shi)人,出生于河南省(sheng)偃師(shi)市緱氏鎮北約1公里(li)處的陳(chen)河村。
他(ta)13歲時(shi)(shi)跟隨二哥到(dao)(dao)洛陽(yang)(yang)(yang)凈土寺(si)(si)(si)(si)出(chu)(chu)家(jia)(jia)(jia),貞(zhen)觀(guan)初隨商人(ren)(ren)往(wang)游(you)西(xi)(xi)(xi)域(yu)(yu)十(shi)七年(nian)(nian)(nian),撰《西(xi)(xi)(xi)域(yu)(yu)記(ji)》十(shi)二卷。貞(zhen)觀(guan)十(shi)九(jiu)年(nian)(nian)(nian),歸至京(jing)師(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi),為(wei)(wei)(wei)中(zhong)國(guo)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)教傳播(bo)作(zuo)出(chu)(chu)了(le)(le)巨大(da)(da)貢獻(xian)(xian)。貞(zhen)觀(guan)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)627年(nian)(nian)(nian)),他(ta)遠游(you)印(yin)度(du),精心(xin)鉆研(yan)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)教經(jing)(jing)典。17年(nian)(nian)(nian)后(hou)(hou),他(ta)回(hui)到(dao)(dao)了(le)(le)長安,在弘(hong)福寺(si)(si)(si)(si)、大(da)(da)慈恩寺(si)(si)(si)(si)等(deng)地(di)(di)著(zhu)書譯經(jing)(jing)。主要(yao)著(zhu)作(zuo)有(you)《大(da)(da)唐(tang)(tang)西(xi)(xi)(xi)域(yu)(yu)記(ji)》、《會宗論》、《制惡見論》等(deng),翻(fan)譯印(yin)度(du)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)經(jing)(jing)75部,共1335卷,為(wei)(wei)(wei)中(zhong)印(yin)兩國(guo)的(de)文化交流做出(chu)(chu)了(le)(le)巨大(da)(da)的(de)貢獻(xian)(xian)。玄(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)一(yi)(yi)生影響巨大(da)(da),在佛(fo)(fo)(fo)學界有(you)千古(gu)一(yi)(yi)人(ren)(ren)之(zhi)譽(yu),為(wei)(wei)(wei)世人(ren)(ren)所敬仰。唐(tang)(tang)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)(seng)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)位(wei)于(yu)(yu)(yu)洛陽(yang)(yang)(yang)東南(nan)40公(gong)(gong)里處207國(guo)道北(bei)(bei)側(ce),偃師(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)市緱(gou)氏鎮東南(nan)約兩公(gong)(gong)里的(de)唐(tang)(tang)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)(seng)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)村北(bei)(bei),北(bei)(bei)距玄(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)故里約4公(gong)(gong)里,玄(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)大(da)(da)師(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)病(bing)故后(hou)(hou),有(you)說葬于(yu)(yu)(yu)緱(gou)氏鎮東南(nan)3.5公(gong)(gong)里處的(de)白鹿原。在這里,玄(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)9歲時(shi)(shi)常隨家(jia)(jia)(jia)人(ren)(ren)到(dao)(dao)靈(ling)巖(yan)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)中(zhong)聽(ting)經(jing)(jing),后(hou)(hou)被收為(wei)(wei)(wei)俗家(jia)(jia)(jia)弟子(zi)。為(wei)(wei)(wei)紀(ji)念(nian)玄(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang),靈(ling)巖(yan)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)改稱(cheng)“唐(tang)(tang)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)(seng)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)”,寺(si)(si)(si)(si)的(de)西(xi)(xi)(xi)北(bei)(bei)墻外即為(wei)(wei)(wei)唐(tang)(tang)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)(seng)墓(mu)。“西(xi)(xi)(xi)天取經(jing)(jing)”成(cheng)(cheng)名(ming)(ming)后(hou)(hou),人(ren)(ren)們為(wei)(wei)(wei)了(le)(le)弘(hong)揚他(ta)大(da)(da)善大(da)(da)德的(de)精神,改名(ming)(ming)為(wei)(wei)(wei)“興善寺(si)(si)(si)(si)”。唐(tang)(tang)太(tai)宗曾賜給(gei)該(gai)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)土地(di)(di)40頃,并勒(le)令(ling)對其進行重修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu)。公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)699年(nian)(nian)(nian),武則天從神都(dou)洛陽(yang)(yang)(yang)出(chu)(chu)發(fa),幸(xing)登封中(zhong)岳(yue)時(shi)(shi),路(lu)過該(gai)寺(si)(si)(si)(si),也曾賜金重修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu)該(gai)寺(si)(si)(si)(si),并賜地(di)(di)百頃。明萬(wan)歷(li)(li)年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian),又(you)改名(ming)(ming)為(wei)(wei)(wei)唐(tang)(tang)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)(seng)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)。至今(jin),在院(yuan)內上(shang)殿內還保存(cun)有(you)古(gu)碑(bei)多(duo)方(fang)(fang),記(ji)載著(zhu)歷(li)(li)代修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu)葺唐(tang)(tang)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)(seng)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)的(de)情況。有(you):明萬(wan)歷(li)(li)丙辰(chen)(公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)1616年(nian)(nian)(nian))重修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu)唐(tang)(tang)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)(seng)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)碑(bei);清(qing)康(kang)熙四十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)1707年(nian)(nian)(nian))建火(huo)(huo)神廟(miao)碑(bei);清(qing)同(tong)治十(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)1874年(nian)(nian)(nian))唐(tang)(tang)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)(seng)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)上(shang)殿又(you)重修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu)碑(bei);清(qing)光緒三(san)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)1904年(nian)(nian)(nian))修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu)繕唐(tang)(tang)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)(seng)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)碑(bei);重修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu)唐(tang)(tang)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)(seng)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)伽藍殿碑(bei);修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu)唐(tang)(tang)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)(seng)神位(wei)碑(bei)等(deng)。唐(tang)(tang)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)(seng)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)隨著(zhu)時(shi)(shi)代風兩唐(tang)(tang)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)(seng)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)原來的(de)規模是(shi)相當(dang)宏大(da)(da)的(de),殿宇壯(zhuang)觀(guan)、香火(huo)(huo)旺盛。清(qing)朝末年(nian)(nian)(nian)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)內尚(shang)保存(cun)有(you)建筑幾(ji)十(shi)間(jian),建有(you)天王、大(da)(da)雄(xiong)、白衣、伽藍等(deng)殿堂,殿堂兩側(ce)還有(you)鐘鼓樓(lou)(lou)、藏經(jing)(jing)閣等(deng)。寺(si)(si)(si)(si)內后(hou)(hou)院(yuan)有(you)古(gu)柏(bo)100多(duo)株.古(gu)碑(bei)100余方(fang)(fang)。寺(si)(si)(si)(si)北(bei)(bei)墻外有(you)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)(seng)人(ren)(ren)墓(mu)地(di)(di),范圍(wei)達50余畝。傳說靈(ling)巖(yan)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)內有(you)古(gu)松(song)一(yi)(yi)棵(ke),在玄(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)赴西(xi)(xi)(xi)天取經(jing)(jing)之(zhi)前(qian),曾用手摸(mo)著(zhu)松(song)枝說:我(wo)去(qu)西(xi)(xi)(xi)方(fang)(fang)取經(jing)(jing),你可以向(xiang)西(xi)(xi)(xi)長;如我(wo)要(yao)回(hui)來了(le)(le),你便向(xiang)東長,以便使我(wo)弟子(zi)知道。等(deng)玄(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)西(xi)(xi)(xi)行后(hou)(hou),松(song)枝每年(nian)(nian)(nian)向(xiang)西(xi)(xi)(xi),長了(le)(le)幾(ji)丈(zhang);有(you)一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)松(song)枝突然回(hui)向(xiang)東方(fang)(fang),門人(ren)(ren)弟子(zi)都(dou)說,大(da)(da)師(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)要(yao)回(hui)來了(le)(le)。于(yu)(yu)(yu)是(shi)一(yi)(yi)同(tong)迎接,大(da)(da)師(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)果(guo)然返回(hui)了(le)(le)。后(hou)(hou)人(ren)(ren)遂稱(cheng)此松(song)為(wei)(wei)(wei)“摸(mo)頭松(song)”。但現在院(yuan)內只剩殿堂兩座:天王殿和(he)玄(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)殿。天王殿又(you)稱(cheng)“下(xia)殿”,中(zhong)間(jian)供奉彌勒(le)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)塑像(xiang),兩側(ce)分塑四大(da)(da)天王。玄(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)殿又(you)稱(cheng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)“上(shang)殿”,正中(zhong)供奉玄(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)大(da)(da)師(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)塑像(xiang)。 唐(tang)(tang)僧(seng)(seng)(seng)(seng)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)幾(ji)經(jing)(jing)枯榮。到(dao)(dao)了(le)(le)近代,已(yi)是(shi)殿頹碑(bei)殘,墓(mu)塔破(po)敗,海(hai)(hai)法(fa)(fa)(fa)老和(he)尚(shang)(海(hai)(hai)法(fa)(fa)(fa)老和(he)尚(shang)俗家(jia)(jia)(jia)姓朱,出(chu)(chu)家(jia)(jia)(jia)後法(fa)(fa)(fa)名(ming)(ming)海(hai)(hai)河,號(hao)性空,河南(nan)省(sheng)信(xin)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)縣人(ren)(ren),西(xi)(xi)(xi)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)一(yi)(yi)九(jiu)二一(yi)(yi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)~民國(guo)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)辛酉歲十(shi)二月(yue)初八(ba)日,出(chu)(chu)生于(yu)(yu)(yu)信(xin)陽(yang)(yang)(yang)吳店鄉(xiang)的(de)昌灣村)睹之(zhi),扼(e)腕(wan)嘆惜,惻然心(xin)傷。他(ta)深知玄(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)大(da)(da)師(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)在歷(li)(li)史上(shang)的(de)地(di)(di)位(wei),也深知玄(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)的(de)歷(li)(li)史價值,乃(nai)發(fa)愿予以重修(xiu)(xiu)(xiu)。他(ta)募(mu)資收回(hui)玄(xuan)(xuan)奘(zhuang)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)舊址,并另行徵購了(le)(le)數十(shi)畝土地(di)(di),同(tong)時(shi)(shi)新建了(le)(le)山(shan)斗、圍(wei)墻、及鐘、鼓二樓(lou)(lou)。在施工期間(jian),委其弟子(zi)印(yin)定(ding)(ding)、印(yin)觀(guan)尼(ni)師(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)為(wei)(wei)(wei)該(gai)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)住持。不幸(xing)工程尚(shang)未全部完成(cheng)(cheng),一(yi)(yi)九(jiu)九(jiu)七年(nian)(nian)(nian)計劃重建大(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶殿之(zhi)時(shi)(shi),海(hai)(hai)法(fa)(fa)(fa)老和(he)尚(shang)示寂,給(gei)該(gai)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)建設造成(cheng)(cheng)極(ji)大(da)(da)的(de)困難(nan)(nan)。幸(xing)而印(yin)定(ding)(ding)、印(yin)觀(guan)眾尼(ni)師(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)繼(ji)師(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)遺志(zhi),克服萬(wan)難(nan)(nan),繼(ji)續(xu)興建未了(le)(le)工程。