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.
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