Tanzhe Temple
The Pool and Cudrania Temple or Tanzhe Si, is situated 45 kilometres west of the city. For Centuries, there has been a saying: "First there was the Pool and Cudrania Temple, then came Beijing." It dates back 1,600 years to the Jin Dynasty, when it was known as the Temple of Auspicious Fortune. In the Tang Dynasty, it was expanded and renamed the Dragon Spring Temple. It has been popularly known as the Pool and Cudrania Temple because of the Dragon Pool and cudrania trees on the hill behind the temple. The buildings were mostly rebuilt in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Pool and Cudrania Temple, or Tanzhe Si, is situated 45 kilometres west of the city. For Centuries, there has been a saying: "First there was the Pool and Cudrania Temple, then came Beijing." It dates back 1,600 years to the Jin Dynasty, when it was known as the Temple of Auspicious Fortune. In the Tang Dynasty, it was expanded and renamed the Dragon Spring Temple. It has been popularly known as the Pool and Cudrania Temple because of the Dragon Pool and cudrania trees on the hill behind the temple.
The buildings were mostly rebuilt in the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The temple was built into the landscape and laid out in a beautiful setting. In front of the gate are ancient pines believed to be several hundred years old. Several groups of buildings stand on the terraces one higher than the other. Their distribution is symmetrical, typical of Ming temple architecture.
The buildings spacious and imposing, are arranged in three main northsouth axes. Along the central axis are the Archway, the Front Gate, Deveraja Hall, Mahavira Hall and Vairochana Pavilion.
The temple was built into the landscape and laid out in a beautiful setting. In front of the gate are ancient pines believed to be several hundred years old. Several groups of buildings stand on the terraces one higher than the other. Their distribution is symmetrical, typical of Ming temple architecture.
The buildings spacious and imposing, are arranged in three main northsouth axes. Along the central axis are the Archway, the Front Gate, Deveraja Hall, Mahavira Hall and Vairochana Pavilion. |