慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)寺(si)原名光(guang)(guang)孝寺(si),又稱萬壽寺(si)、報(bao)恩(en)寺(si)。二(er)00七年(nian)(nian)十二(er)月(yue)二(er)十五(wu)日,經省民(min)宗委粵民(min)宗行政審批[2007]26號文《關于同意設立連州(zhou)市慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)寺(si)的批復》正(zheng)式命名為慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)寺(si)。慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)寺(si)位于連州(zhou)市區(qu)慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)路(lu)慧(hui)(hui)光(guang)(guang)塔側。始建(jian)(jian)于南北朝宋泰始七年(nian)(nian)(公元471年(nian)(nian)),北宋嘉(jia)佑六年(nian)(nian)僧法辯重(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)(jian),明朝嘉(jia)靖(jing)二(er)十二(er)年(nian)(nian)僧普化又重(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)(jian),清朝道光(guang)(guang)十年(nian)(nian)再(zai)重(zhong)(zhong)建(jian)(jian)。
慧光(guang)寺(si)主殿左側為慧光(guang)法(fa)堂(tang),堂(tang)后為數十楹(ying)方丈禪(chan)房。上(shang)有羅漢堂(tang)、華嚴閣,旁有香積廚,中(zhong)造浮圖十余丈,置銀纓(ying)舍利。
歷史背景、現狀與問題
根據史料(liao)記載慧(hui)(hui)光寺(si)位于(yu)州(zhou)(zhou)城(cheng)(cheng)南(nan)(nan)(nan)門(men)(men)(men)外(wai)東(dong)(dong)側;連州(zhou)(zhou)城(cheng)(cheng)規制:平面呈圓形,辟東(dong)(dong)南(nan)(nan)(nan)西(xi)(xi)三門(men)(men)(men),北置北樓無門(men)(men)(men),東(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)南(nan)(nan)(nan)門(men)(men)(men)辟甕城(cheng)(cheng),西(xi)(xi)門(men)(men)(men)由于(yu)河道的(de)關系甕城(cheng)(cheng)內(nei)置,東(dong)(dong)南(nan)(nan)(nan)門(men)(men)(men)均外(wai)置甕城(cheng)(cheng)以利防御(yu)。南(nan)(nan)(nan)門(men)(men)(men)為州(zhou)(zhou)的(de)主門(men)(men)(men),亦為城(cheng)(cheng)池防御(yu)的(de)重點(dian),沿(yan)河道圈(quan)一路橢圓形的(de)羅(luo)城(cheng)(cheng),其(qi)中東(dong)(dong)門(men)(men)(men)曰“永東(dong)(dong)門(men)(men)(men)”,南(nan)(nan)(nan)辟門(men)(men)(men)四座,由西(xi)(xi)向東(dong)(dong)依次為“朝陽門(men)(men)(men)”、“濟(ji)川門(men)(men)(men)”、“龍澤(ze)門(men)(men)(men)”、“鎮江門(men)(men)(men)”;城(cheng)(cheng)隍廟、慧(hui)(hui)光寺(si)、萬壽(shou)宮、慧(hui)(hui)光塔(ta)居(ju)南(nan)(nan)(nan)羅(luo)城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)東(dong)(dong)側,城(cheng)(cheng)隍廟、慧(hui)(hui)光寺(si)、萬壽(shou)宮沿(yan)東(dong)(dong)西(xi)(xi)橫向排列(lie),慧(hui)(hui)光塔(ta)位于(yu)慧(hui)(hui)光寺(si)東(dong)(dong)北方向。
慧光(guang)塔是國務院(yuan)公布的(de)(de)(de)(de)重(zhong)點文(wen)物保護單(dan)位(wei)。慧光(guang)塔始(shi)建(jian)于(yu)南北朝(chao)時(shi)期的(de)(de)(de)(de)泰(tai)始(shi)四(si)年(公元468年)。宋(song)代重(zhong)建(jian),兼具唐宋(song)建(jian)筑風格(ge),六(liu)角(jiao)九層(ceng)通高49.866米,是廣東省目前保存較(jiao)好的(de)(de)(de)(de)一座樓閣式(shi)磚(zhuan)室佛教塔,且結(jie)構較(jiao)為特殊,其(qi)鴛鴦交手拱在廣東罕見。慧光(guang)塔的(de)(de)(de)(de)西側現狀有一所小(xiao)學,其(qi)余均為二——三層(ceng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)民(min)宅(zhai)。
慧光塔位于廣(guang)東省連州市連州鎮慧光路南(nan)端(duan)107國道(dao)旁(pang),地理坐(zuo)標(biao)為(wei)東經112°30′,北緯24°70′。慧光塔附(fu)近地貌為(wei)半丘陵,海(hai)拔100米左右,四面環(huan)山。東西兩端(duan)從巾(jin)峰(feng)山至連江河地勢逐漸低緩(huan),形成東高西低,南(nan)北相(xiang)對平(ping)緩(huan)的河谷平(ping)原。