歷史沿革
這座(zuo)寺廟始建(jian)于1922年。1923年，佛(fo)教天臺宗大德釋(shi)倓虛法師（湛(zhan)山(shan)大師）來長(chang)春(chun)(chun)講“般(ban)若(ruo)心(xin)經”，隨后(hou)創建(jian)寺廟，該寺原址在商埠地南關區(qu)西(xi)四馬路，名為般(ban)若(ruo)寺。1931年遷(qian)到西(xi)長(chang)春(chun)(chun)大街現址長(chang)春(chun)(chun)市長(chang)春(chun)(chun)大街重建(jian)。
般若(ruo)寺(si)由(you)偽國(guo)都建(jian)(jian)(jian)設局負(fu)責設計(ji)(ji)與監理，中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)人辦的(de)(de)四先公司負(fu)責施工，1932年開(kai)始(shi)建(jian)(jian)(jian)設。由(you)于(yu)是中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)傳(chuan)(chuan)統的(de)(de)佛(fo)教建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)，所以在設計(ji)(ji)中(zhong)(zhong)沿用了中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)傳(chuan)(chuan)統佛(fo)寺(si)的(de)(de)布(bu)局形式，并參(can)考了北方寺(si)廟建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)的(de)(de)習慣作法。個(ge)別繁瑣之處，也許源(yuan)于(yu)對(dui)中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)傳(chuan)(chuan)統建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)文化(hua)詮釋的(de)(de)障(zhang)礙。但它可能是當時由(you)中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)人參(can)與設計(ji)(ji)并建(jian)(jian)(jian)造起來唯一的(de)(de)一處大型(xing)建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)。1934年命名為“護國(guo)般若(ruo)寺(si)”。
護國般若(ruo)寺建(jian)于(yu)當時大同廣(guang)場東北側，長春大街(jie)(jie)以北，東接清明(ming)街(jie)(jie)，整個(ge)院落為78.9x174米的長方(fang)形，總占地(di)面積(ji)約1.37萬平(ping)方(fang)米。經多次改(gai)造，有(you)建(jian)筑(zhu)面積(ji)2700平(ping)方(fang)米，是(shi)長春最大一處佛教(jiao)建(jian)筑(zhu)群(qun)。
1941年日偽時期，由于長春市偽國(guo)都城(cheng)市建設(she)計(ji)劃(hua)的實(shi)施，原寺(si)廟被(bei)拆除，在(zai)現址重建新(xin)寺(si)，重建后正式更(geng)名為護國(guo)般若(ruo)寺(si)。
建筑結構
該寺(si)占地七千(qian)二百平米(mi)，是(shi)(shi)長(chang)春市最大(da)的(de)佛(fo)(fo)教(jiao)(jiao)寺(si)廟。寺(si)院的(de)山門(men)為(wei)(wei)(wei)并列(lie)的(de)三座拱門(men)組成(cheng)，門(men)樓檐角飛翹，錯落有(you)致，建工(gong)精(jing)巧，門(men)側(ce)紅(hong)墻寫(xie)有(you)“南(nan)無阿彌陀(tuo)佛(fo)(fo)”六個(ge)大(da)字，寺(si)內(nei)殿(dian)(dian)堂聳立，樹木成(cheng)蔭，蔚為(wei)(wei)(wei)壯觀(guan)。進門(men)左右有(you)鼓樓和(he)鐘樓，正面為(wei)(wei)(wei)天王殿(dian)(dian)，殿(dian)(dian)內(nei)正中供奉(feng)(feng)彌勒佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)，兩(liang)側(ce)有(you)四大(da)天王腳踏八怪塑像(xiang)，栩栩如生。殿(dian)(dian)后(hou)(hou)(hou)塑有(you)護法韋(wei)馱菩(pu)(pu)薩(sa)(sa)立像(xiang).大(da)雄寶(bao)(bao)殿(dian)(dian)建在天王殿(dian)(dian)后(hou)(hou)(hou)面，是(shi)(shi)整個(ge)廟宇的(de)中心，寶(bao)(bao)殿(dian)(dian)外(wai)(wai)觀(guan)莊嚴雄壯，斗拱交(jiao)錯，檐于高啄，畫棟雕梁，彩畫精(jing)麗(li)，金碧輝(hui)煌。殿(dian)(dian)內(nei)正中供奉(feng)(feng)釋迦(jia)牟(mou)尼佛(fo)(fo)主，兩(liang)側(ce)為(wei)(wei)(wei)十八羅漢；殿(dian)(dian)后(hou)(hou)(hou)供奉(feng)(feng)觀(guan)世音菩(pu)(pu)薩(sa)(sa)佛(fo)(fo)像(xiang)；再后(hou)(hou)(hou)便(bian)是(shi)(shi)藏(zang)經樓，收藏(zang)著大(da)量佛(fo)(fo)教(jiao)(jiao)經典(dian)。殿(dian)(dian)前蒼(cang)松翠柏，古樹參天，與寶(bao)(bao)殿(dian)(dian)紅(hong)綠相映，顯(xian)得(de)格外(wai)(wai)雄偉壯觀(guan)。寺(si)院還建有(you)東西(xi)廂(xiang)房數十間，分(fen)別為(wei)(wei)(wei)禪堂、齋堂、起居室等。這就是(shi)(shi)被(bei)長(chang)春人稱為(wei)(wei)(wei)“大(da)廟”的(de)長(chang)春般若寺(si)。
般若(ruo)寺占地面積1、4萬平方(fang)(fang)米，建(jian)筑面積2700平方(fang)(fang)米，是長春市最(zui)大的(de)華教廟宇。進入山門，東有鐘樓，西有鼓(gu)樓，這(zhe)兩座建(jian)筑設計奇(qi)特、工藝精巧，遇重要節日，這(zhe)里(li)就會鐘鼓(gu)動齊鳴。
整個(ge)(ge)廟宇進(jin)深三層。第一層是(shi)(shi)彌(mi)勒殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內供奉彌(mi)勒佛坐像，殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)前(qian)有(you)一座漢(han)白玉石碑,碑文(wen)記(ji)載著(zhu)建(jian)廟的詳細經(jing)(jing)過；第二層是(shi)(shi)大(da)雄寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，這是(shi)(shi)整個(ge)(ge)廟宇的中心，也是(shi)(shi)最大(da)的一座建(jian)筑；第三層是(shi)(shi)西(xi)方(fang)三圣(sheng)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，該殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)為(wei)二層歇山式建(jian)筑，樓(lou)上為(wei)藏(zang)經(jing)(jing)樓(lou)，樓(lou)下供奉阿(a)彌(mi)陀佛、大(da)勢(shi)至菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)和(he)觀世音(yin)菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)三圣(sheng)像。西(xi)方(fang)三圣(sheng)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的兩側是(shi)(shi)大(da)雄寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的后院(yuan)配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),其中東配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)(shi)觀世音(yin)菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)，西(xi)配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是(shi)(shi)地(di)藏(zang)王菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。與前(qian)兩個(ge)(ge)院(yuan)落(luo)相(xiang)比，這里(li)松柏(bo)參(can)天。鳥語(yu)繞(rao)梁(liang)，營造出一種古(gu)樸(pu)、玄遠的宗教氛圍。
西方三圣殿的(de)后(hou)院，是(shi)(shi)般若寺的(de)盡頭(tou)，墻外就是(shi)(shi)紛擾的(de)馬路和街市(shi)。這(zhe)個小院內有三座塔型建(jian)筑物：前面一座是(shi)(shi)倓虛法師七(qi)十壽(shou)辰的(de)紀念幢；后(hou)面兩(liang)座分(fen)別是(shi)(shi)倓虛法師和本寺首(shou)任住持澍培法師的(de)舍利塔。
給生活一把琴 
