位于五台山台怀镇的显通寺,是中国历史上第二座寺院,建成仅晚于洛阳白马寺。当年汉明帝请来印度僧人摄摩腾和竺法兰,在京都洛阳建白马寺;同年两人来到五台山,建造了显通寺,揭开了五台佛国的历史。显通寺在五台山寺庙群中规模最大、历史最悠久,俗称“祖寺”,也是历朝历代的皇家寺院,现存建筑大多为明、清时期的建筑。
显通寺的主要建筑都排列在中轴线上,从南到北依次为观音殿、大文殊殿、大雄宝殿、无量殿、千钵文殊殿、铜殿、藏经楼等,寺内苍松翠柏参差其间,佛教气息非常浓郁。游览显通寺有三大看点:全木结构的大佛殿、全铜铸成的铜殿、纯砖结构的无量殿。
大佛殿(大雄宝殿),重建于清光绪二十五年(1899年),全木结构建筑。大殿内正前方的横梁上,高悬康熙皇帝御笔“真如权应”木匾。殿台上,并列主佛三尊,殿墙两侧是十八罗汉,都是明、清时期遗留的雕塑。每逢大的佛事活动日,由五台山佛教协会主持,各寺庙的僧尼都要身披袈裟,汇集到这里举行礼佛仪式。
高约8米的显通寺铜殿,建于明代万历三十七年(1609年),是一座铜铸成的仿木建筑物。铜殿的上层四面,各有六块格扇,下层四面,各有八块格扇。格扇内壁铸有佛像,重重叠叠,号称有万尊佛像,中央台上端坐一尊铜铸大佛。格扇外壁铸有各种图案和花卉鸟兽,十分生动传神,富有生活情趣。殿前原有同期铸成的五座铜塔,抗战时被日军掠去三座,现仅存东西两座。
显通寺的无量殿是“纯砖结构”,建于明万历三十四年(1606年),殿内的四壁铸有佛像万尊,所以也称为“万佛殿”。殿身的柱额、斗栱、梁架、屋顶及吻兽脊饰等完好无损。四周隔扇的棂花图案和裙板上花鸟人物,工艺精湛。寺内还珍藏着许多历史上遗留下来的珍贵文物,包括幽冥钟、唐代的石碑等,都值得花时间细细品读。
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中国历史上第二座寺院,仅次于洛阳白马寺。观赏寺内的铜殿、全木大佛殿和全砖结构的无量殿,以及康熙的御笔匾额等。