榕(rong)石(shi)永福寺,位于惠城(cheng)北郊半(ban)公(gong)里處(chu)榕(rong)山,毗鄰惠來縣革命(ming)烈士紀念碑、榕(rong)石(shi)百果園。古(gu)稱“榕(rong)石(shi)庵,”創建(jian)于明萬歷八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1580)。崇禎十七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1644)和(he)清康熙九年(nian)(nian)(nian)、乾(qian)隆(long)五(wu)十五(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)、光緒二十二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1896)修建(jian),1989年(nian)(nian)(nian)至1999年(nian)(nian)(nian)重建(jian)一新(xin),規(gui)模宏(hong)(hong)大(da),并改稱“榕(rong)石(shi)永福寺”。1987年(nian)(nian)(nian)被列為縣重點文(wen)物保護單(dan)位,1988年(nian)(nian)(nian)登記開放為佛(fo)教活動(dong)場所,是惠來名勝之一。 周圍樹木茂盛,環境幽(you)靜,是一處(chu)歷史悠久的文(wen)化古(gu)跡。現有大(da)雄寶殿、東西閣、功德祠、祖(zu)師廟(miao)等,規(gui)模宏(hong)(hong)偉(wei),遠勝舊寺,數十身(shen)貼金佛(fo)像,神態儼然;綠瓦朱扉,金碧(bi)輝煌(huang)。2009年(nian)(nian)(nian)12月16日,永福寺重修擴建(jian)奠(dian)基(ji)慶典隆(long)重舉行,重修擴建(jian)工程正式啟動(dong)。
榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)石(shi)(shi)勝(sheng)跡(ji),位于惠(hui)來(lai)(lai)縣惠(hui)城(cheng)(cheng)鎮北面(mian)入(ru)口處榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)山(shan)上。毗鄰惠(hui)來(lai)(lai)縣革命烈(lie)士紀(ji)念碑、榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)石(shi)(shi)百果園(yuan)等。周圍(wei)(wei)樹(shu)木茂盛,環境幽靜(jing),是一(yi)處歷史悠久的文化古跡(ji)。 惠(hui)來(lai)(lai)縣城(cheng)(cheng)北郊的榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)山(shan),古時山(shan)上廣植榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)樹(shu),故稱(cheng)榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)山(shan)。榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)山(shan)原有(you)榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)石(shi)(shi)庵。古庵周圍(wei)(wei)榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)樹(shu)抱石(shi)(shi)而生,榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)則虬枝勁干(gan),石(shi)(shi)則苔痕斑駁,木石(shi)(shi)結緣,草木茂盛,綠樹(shu)成(cheng)蔭,蔚為奇觀。據《惠(hui)來(lai)(lai)縣志》載:“榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)石(shi)(shi)山(shan),在(zai)縣城(cheng)(cheng)北郊外一(yi)里許,古榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)一(yi)株(zhu),高跨石(shi)(shi)上,中(zhong)祀九子(zi)母,邑人在(zai)此祈嗣”。 僧人向筆(bi)者介紹:相傳明代年間,巨石(shi)(shi)后面(mian)有(you)一(yi)小祠,緊靠巨石(shi)(shi),奉祀九子(zi)母神(shen),巨石(shi)(shi)縫中(zhong)夾長著一(yi)株(zhu)古榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)樹(shu)。
后來(lai)(lai),邑(yi)人于其旁建(jian)庵(an),取名(ming)曰:“榕石(shi)庵(an)”。據史料記載(zai):榕石(shi)庵(an)創建(jian)于明(ming)萬歷八年(nian)(1580),崇禎十七(qi)年(nian)(1644)惠來(lai)(lai)知(zhi)縣沈惟煌(huang)倡(chang)建(jian)。清康熙(xi)十七(qi)年(nian)惠邑(yi)知(zhi)縣張秉政(zheng)《九日榕石(shi)登高》詩云:“欲覽民(min)風(feng)藉勝(sheng)游(you),喜逢佳(jia)節(jie)到林(lin)丘。不知(zhi)巨石(shi)何年(nian)起,久伴白云此地留(liu)。便(bian)可登高瞻蔀屋,何妨泛菊(ju)醉(zui)朋儔。榮枯卉木(mu)尋常事(shi),莫向登臨(lin)感暮秋(qiu)”。
庵(an)內(nei)有(you)石(shi)碑6塊(kuai),記載著該庵(an)創建(jian)與歷(li)(li)年維(wei)修的經(jing)(jing)過。大(da)革(ge)命時期,彭湃同(tong)志曾扎營于此(ci),配(pei)合赤(chi)衛隊(dui)指揮戰斗。榕(rong)石(shi)庵(an)三百(bai)多年間幾(ji)度興廢,歷(li)(li)經(jing)(jing)滄桑。解放后已是廟(miao)宇(yu)頹敗,破舊不堪,榕(rong)石(shi)庵(an)正南(nan)面數百(bai)米(mi)(mi)處有(you)一古寺(si)(si),稱(cheng)“永福寺(si)(si)”。改革(ge)開放以后,宗教政策得(de)到落實。由縣城市政建(jian)設規劃的需要,永福寺(si)(si)遷(qian)并于榕(rong)石(shi)庵(an)處,重建(jian)新寺(si)(si)稱(cheng)“榕(rong)石(shi)永福禪寺(si)(si)”。于1989年破土改建(jian),歷(li)(li)經(jing)(jing)十年,一座坐北(bei)向南(nan),總建(jian)筑面積逾千平(ping)方米(mi)(mi)之梵宇(yu)聳(song)立,新建(jian)成(cheng)大(da)雄寶殿(dian)、天王殿(dian)、觀音閣(ge)、地藏閣(ge)、大(da)顛祖師殿(dian)、宋(song)禪祖師殿(dian),辟建(jian)碑廊,及配(pei)套(tao)設施,規模宏(hong)偉。如今(jin),永福禪寺(si)(si)香火(huo)旺盛,寺(si)(si)內(nei)現(xian)有(you)數十身貼金佛像,神(shen)態儼(yan)然;綠瓦朱扉,金碧(bi)輝煌,成(cheng)為一處旅游勝(sheng)地,吸引著無數海內(nei)外游人前來(lai)觀光。
榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)石勝(sheng)地幽美(mei),周圍群山朝(chao)(chao)拱,樹木繁茂。巨石抱(bao)古(gu)榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong),古(gu)榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)盤巨石,奇觀秀美(mei)。石上刻(ke)有(you)清光緒(xu)十四年(1888)邑人陳(chen)宗翰題書“榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)石”二字并(bing)勒于石上,筆力蒼(cang)勁,大氣渾(hun)厚。還刻(ke)有(you)清光緒(xu)三年(1877)冬朱(zhu)清華等(deng)游覽榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)石時所作并(bing)刻(ke)的七律詩一首(shou):“抱(bao)石蒼(cang)榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)奪化功(gong),擎天(tian)傍立梵王宮。千層翠蓋迷冬日,萬隙(xi)祥光透碧(bi)空。木石猶能相契合,竹梅互許素心同。今朝(chao)(chao)有(you)幸酬三約,勝(sheng)跡(ji)常懷(huai)在(zai)五中”。1983年10月(yue)榕(rong)(rong)(rong)(rong)石被批準列為(wei)惠來縣文(wen)物保護單(dan)位。