望海(hai)禪寺(si)建在(zai)祖山山腰,它背西面東,三面環(huan)繞高山,一面通向畫廊谷,站在(zai)寺(si)院里(li)透過畫廊谷能夠(gou)東望渤海(hai),所以古(gu)人把這座寺(si)院叫(jiao)作(zuo)"望海(hai)寺(si)",2009年復(fu)建完工(gong)后更名為"望海(hai)禪寺(si)"。
據清代(dai)(dai)《臨(lin)榆縣志》記載,望海禪(chan)寺始建(jian)于金代(dai)(dai)大定年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(jian),也就(jiu)是(shi)公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)1161至(zhi)1189年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(jian),由比(bi)丘張三峰創建(jian),至(zhi)今已有800多年(nian)(nian)(nian)的歷史。到了明代(dai)(dai)曾(ceng)經進行(xing)三次重(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu),第一次是(shi)在(zai)天順年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(jian),也就(jiu)是(shi)公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)1457至(zhi)1464年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(jian),由僧(seng)人張凈朗重(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu);第二次是(shi)在(zai)正德四年(nian)(nian)(nian),就(jiu)是(shi)1509年(nian)(nian)(nian),由僧(seng)人李道敏重(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu);第三次是(shi)在(zai)崇禎元(yuan)年(nian)(nian)(nian),就(jiu)是(shi)公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)1628年(nian)(nian)(nian),由僧(seng)人云祥重(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)。到了清代(dai)(dai)康(kang)熙四十五年(nian)(nian)(nian),就(jiu)是(shi)公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)1706年(nian)(nian)(nian),由僧(seng)人莊福(fu)再度重(zhong)(zhong)修(xiu)(xiu)。清代(dai)(dai)中期以后,無(wu)人修(xiu)(xiu)繕,廢(fei)磚爛瓦散(san)落林間(jian)(jian),人們都叫它"磚廟"。
望海(hai)禪(chan)(chan)寺不(bu)僅(jin)人文景觀(guan)很(hen)好(hao),周圍的自然景觀(guan)也非(fei)常優美,素有"環寺八景"之稱,它們分別(bie)是:渤海(hai)船影,醉臥(wo)劉伶,龜兔賽跑,和(he)合(he)二仙,天女云床(chuang),秀才(cai)看榜,萬壑松(song)濤,神龜探海(hai)。一個栩栩如生(sheng),活(huo)靈(ling)活(huo)現,把望海(hai)禪(chan)(chan)寺襯托(tuo)得更加(jia)雄偉壯觀(guan),大有深山藏(zang)古寺的味(wei)道。
天王殿銅(tong)匾上(shang)鑄(zhu)有"望海禪寺(si)"四個大(da)字,上(shang)款(kuan)是:"徐漢(han)有合家敬(jing)立"。下款(kuan)為(wei):"歲次戊子冬(dong)(dong)日馬(ma)世曉(xiao)瑾書"。戊子冬(dong)(dong)日指2008年冬(dong)(dong)天;馬(ma)世曉(xiao)先生為(wei)中國(guo)書協(xie)理事、浙江大(da)學教授(shou)。
門口的銅匾上鑄有(you)"伽藍殿"三個篆字,落款為"葉(xie)特烈敬尚", 葉(xie)特烈先(xian)生(sheng)是杭州人,中國美(mei)術學(xue)院諸樂山教授的學(xue)生(sheng)。
門口銅(tong)匾上鑄有(you)"觀音殿(dian)"三個大字,落款為(wei)"戊子冬月崔自默"。崔自默先(xian)生(sheng)是北(bei)京人,著名(ming)畫家(jia)范曾先(xian)生(sheng)的弟子。