概況
南通(tong)(tong)天寧禪(chan)(chan)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)始建于唐朝,是南通(tong)(tong)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)代久(jiu),規模較(jiao)大而(er)又保存較(jiao)好的一座佛教寺(si)(si)(si)(si)院(yuan)。它是南通(tong)(tong)江(jiang)海地區現存的三座唐寺(si)(si)(si)(si)(狼山廣教寺(si)(si)(si)(si),如皋定慧寺(si)(si)(si)(si),南通(tong)(tong)天寧寺(si)(si)(si)(si))之(zhi)一,明《萬歷志》、清《康熙志》皆作這樣(yang)的記載(zai):“唐咸通(tong)(tong)中(zhong)僧藻(zao)煥堂建。舊名光孝天順(shun)元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)僧法恩(en)奏改今名。”《乾隆(long)志》作了這樣(yang)的補充(chong)“寺(si)(si)(si)(si)有(you)光孝塔五(wu)級(ji),后有(you)毗盧(lu)閣(ge)。宋咸淳(chun)中(zhong)(約990年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)—1003年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))君(jun)人管某(mou)建,僧法恩(en)募捐(juan)。”這里記載(zai)“天順(shun)元年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)法恩(en)奏改今名”有(you)誤,應(ying)為善慧。‘管某(mou)’,難以評考,僧人曾稱為“管公,管婆”,并(bing)在金(jin)剛(gang)殿供奉其像。在咸淳(chun)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian),有(you)宋度宗(zong)兵部尚書、郡(jun)人(一說石港(gang)人)印應(ying)雷舍(she)其宅(zhai)入(ru)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)(一記管某(mou)舍(she)宅(zhai)入(ru)寺(si)(si)(si)(si))。天寧寺(si)(si)(si)(si)原系奉圣寺(si)(si)(si)(si),居州治(zhi)之(zhi)西政和間(jian)(公元1111年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)—1118年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))遷(qian)天寧禪(chan)(chan)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)并(bing)入(ru)報恩(en)光孝,后以天寧禪(chan)(chan)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)通(tong)(tong)稱。
歷史
對于這(zhe)座唐(tang)寺(si)(si)的建(jian)(jian)年(nian)(nian),說法(fa)頗混亂,有(you)(you)說“明(ming)宣德年(nian)(nian)問重建(jian)(jian)。”有(you)(you)說“始(shi)建(jian)(jian)于北宋(song)。”史(shi)書碑文均記載唐(tang)咸(xian)(xian)通(tong)或(huo)貞(zhen)觀年(nian)(nian)間(jian)。考(kao)察這(zhe)一歷(li)(li)史(shi)時(shi)期,正(zheng)是(shi)唐(tang)王朝(chao)經(jing)濟文化發展的鼎盛,佛教(jiao)在(zai)(zai)江(jiang)海(hai)地(di)區(qu)的空前發展是(shi)自然(ran)的事.雖然(ran)寺(si)(si)院的規(gui)模遠不似后來(lai)(lai)的面貌(mao),也應承認(ren)它是(shi)寺(si)(si)廟(miao)始(shi)建(jian)(jian)的最初歷(li)(li)史(shi)。在(zai)(zai)漫長薩歷(li)(li)史(shi)年(nian)(nian)代(dai),天(tian)寧(ning)寺(si)(si)有(you)(you)過(guo)兩次興盛的記錄:一為(wei)北宋(song)政和年(nian)(nian)間(jian),經(jing)過(guo)并(bing)寺(si)(si)營建(jian)(jian),使其:“殿(dian)(dian)(dian)堂(tang)宏麗,樓閣穹崇(chong),實(shi)一州之(zhi)偉(wei)觀”“至(zhi)咸(xian)(xian)淳(chun)間(jian),復新(xin)之(zhi),比(bi)舊則加焉”其時(shi),宋(song)徽宗趙佶御筆題寫(xie)“大雄之(zhi)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)”,更為(wei)其推(tui)波助潤,但到明(ming)宣德初,天(tian)寧(ning)寺(si)(si)已是(shi):‘僅存大殿(dian)(dian)(dian),山門,風(feng)雨(yu)不支,像護(hu)剝落。”后在(zai)(zai)宣德、正(zheng)統,天(tian)順(shun)、萬歷(li)(li)、天(tian)啟年(nian)(nian)間(jian)均有(you)(you)興修(xiu)(xiu)之(zhi)舉,天(tian)寧(ning)寺(si)(si)迎來(lai)(lai)第二(er)個中(zhong)興期。重振之(zhi)功首推(tui)通(tong)州守御陳謙,他捐資請來(lai)(lai)杭州凈(jing)緣禪師(shi)主(zhu)持(chi)修(xiu)(xiu)建(jian)(jian)事宜,前后四年(nian)(nian)整(zheng)修(xiu)(xiu)了(le)光孝塔牙大殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、山門,他還主(zhu)持(chi)興建(jian)(jian)了(le)園(yuan)通(tong)殿(dian)(dian)(dian),輪(lun)藏(zang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian),醇零樓,其徒善意(yi)又于正(zheng)紀(ji)十四年(nian)(nian),天(tian)順(shun)二(er)年(nian)(nian)兩次興工修(xiu)(xiu)舊補缺,鑄造銅像。而且(qie)敕(chi)賜寺(si)(si)名。成為(wei)演習禮(li)儀之(zhi)所。”《萬歷(li)(li)通(tong)州志》還提(ti)到寺(si)(si)有(you)(you)火(huo)神(shen)廟(miao),祠山廟(miao),毗(pi)盧(lu)閣等(deng)建(jian)(jian)筑。此外,惠儒等(deng)僧人還重建(jian)(jian)了(le)禪堂(tang),地(di)藏(zang)和彌勒殿(dian)(dian)(dian)等(deng),當時(shi)通(tong)州名士沈明(ming)臣,盧(lu)純學(xue),吳熠、湯有(you)(you)光題下“偶(ou)翼毗(pi)盧(lu)閣,遙堪俯(fu)大璃”等(deng)佳(jia)句,詠頌天(tian)寧(ning)寺(si)(si)的一時(shi)盛況。天(tian)寧(ning)寺(si)(si)東部近代(dai)枝(zhi)學(xue)校(xiao)改建(jian)(jian)為(wei)校(xiao)舍,西側的火(huo)星殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、水神(shen)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(禹王殿(dian)(dian)(dian)),祖師(shi)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、大意(yi)堂(tang)為(wei)晚清或(huo)民國時(shi)所建(jian)(jian)。