慧(hui)光寺原名(ming)光孝(xiao)寺,又稱萬壽(shou)寺、報恩寺。二(er)00七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)十二(er)月二(er)十五日,經省(sheng)民宗委粵(yue)民宗行政(zheng)審批[2007]26號(hao)文《關于(yu)同(tong)意設立(li)連(lian)州(zhou)(zhou)市慧(hui)光寺的批復(fu)》正(zheng)式(shi)命名(ming)為慧(hui)光寺。慧(hui)光寺位(wei)于(yu)連(lian)州(zhou)(zhou)市區慧(hui)光路(lu)慧(hui)光塔(ta)側。始建(jian)于(yu)南北朝宋(song)泰始七(qi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(公元471年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),北宋(song)嘉(jia)佑六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)僧(seng)法辯重建(jian),明(ming)朝嘉(jia)靖二(er)十二(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)僧(seng)普化又重建(jian),清朝道光十年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)再(zai)重建(jian)。
慧(hui)光寺主殿左側為慧(hui)光法(fa)堂,堂后(hou)為數十(shi)楹方丈禪房。上有羅漢堂、華(hua)嚴閣,旁有香積(ji)廚,中(zhong)造浮(fu)圖十(shi)余丈,置銀(yin)纓(ying)舍利。
歷史背景、現狀與問題
根(gen)據史料記載慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)寺位于(yu)(yu)州城南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)門(men)(men)(men)外東(dong)側;連州城規制:平(ping)面呈圓形,辟東(dong)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)西(xi)(xi)三門(men)(men)(men),北置北樓無門(men)(men)(men),東(dong)西(xi)(xi)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)門(men)(men)(men)辟甕城,西(xi)(xi)門(men)(men)(men)由于(yu)(yu)河道(dao)(dao)的關(guan)系甕城內(nei)置,東(dong)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)門(men)(men)(men)均外置甕城以利防御。南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)門(men)(men)(men)為州的主門(men)(men)(men),亦為城池(chi)防御的重點,沿(yan)河道(dao)(dao)圈一路橢圓形的羅城,其中東(dong)門(men)(men)(men)曰“永東(dong)門(men)(men)(men)”,南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)辟門(men)(men)(men)四座,由西(xi)(xi)向(xiang)東(dong)依次為“朝陽(yang)門(men)(men)(men)”、“濟川門(men)(men)(men)”、“龍澤(ze)門(men)(men)(men)”、“鎮江門(men)(men)(men)”;城隍(huang)廟、慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)寺、萬壽宮(gong)、慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)塔居(ju)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)羅城的東(dong)側,城隍(huang)廟、慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)寺、萬壽宮(gong)沿(yan)東(dong)西(xi)(xi)橫向(xiang)排列(lie),慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)塔位于(yu)(yu)慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)寺東(dong)北方向(xiang)。
慧光(guang)塔(ta)是國務院公布的(de)重(zhong)點文物保護單位。慧光(guang)塔(ta)始(shi)建(jian)于南北朝時(shi)期(qi)的(de)泰始(shi)四年(公元468年)。宋代(dai)重(zhong)建(jian),兼具(ju)唐宋建(jian)筑(zhu)風格,六角九層通高49.866米,是廣東(dong)省目前保存較(jiao)好的(de)一座樓閣式(shi)磚室佛教塔(ta),且(qie)結構較(jiao)為特(te)殊,其鴛鴦(yang)交手拱在廣東(dong)罕見。慧光(guang)塔(ta)的(de)西側現狀(zhuang)有一所小學,其余均為二——三層的(de)民宅(zhai)。
慧光(guang)塔位于廣東省連州(zhou)市連州(zhou)鎮慧光(guang)路南(nan)端(duan)107國道旁,地(di)理坐標(biao)為東經(jing)112°30′,北(bei)緯24°70′。慧光(guang)塔附近地(di)貌(mao)為半丘陵,海拔100米(mi)左右,四面(mian)環山。東西兩端(duan)從巾峰山至連江(jiang)河地(di)勢(shi)逐漸低緩(huan),形成東高西低,南(nan)北(bei)相對(dui)平緩(huan)的河谷平原(yuan)。