![]()
Tanzhe is the most early Buddhist temple in Beijing area, which was constructed in the first year of Yongjia period of Western Jin Dynasty in more than 1,700 year before. As Tanzhe Temple is the most early Buddhist monastery in Beijing, there is a saying: First there was Tanzhe Temple ,then came Beijing. The temple, in Jin Dynasty, was called Jiafu Temple (Temple of Auspicious Fortune). With being renamed times in history, Emperor Kangxi of Qing Dynasty granted it the name of Chi-jian Xiu-yun Chan Temple which is used up to now. However, due to there was a dragon pool behind and were cudrania trees in front of the temple, the local people like to call it the popular name of Tanzhe Temple (the Pool and Cudrania Temple).Tanzhe Temple in history obtained the worships of the emperors in dynasties of Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing. With reconstructions under royal donations, the temple became larger and larger in scale and had the high reputations as the first royal temple for a long time. It was said that Emperor Chenzu Zhu Di in Ming dynasty ever ordered the construction of Beijing city like the layout of Tanzhe Temple. Moreover, there was a saying in history: Lingyin Temple represents the south while Tanzhe Temple represents the north. With two ancient temples in a distance from south to north, it shows us the important role of Tanzhe Temple in Buddhist History.Tanzhe Temple is embraced by nine peaks of Huilong Peak, Huju Peak, Pengri Peak, Zicui Peak, Jiyun Peak, Yingluo Peak, Jiayue Peak, Xiangwang Peak and Lianhua Peak. Admist the nine peaks, it is warm and humid. There are towering old trees and Buddhist pagodas in great numbers as well as lofty buildings in the temple. With a wonderful layout, the temple is very graceful for its scattered constructions and green bamboos or beautiful blossoms.潭柘寺始建于西晋永嘉元年（公元307年），寺院初名“嘉福寺”，清代康熙皇帝赐名为“岫云寺”，但因寺后有龙潭，山上有柘树，故民间一直称为“潭柘寺”。它距今已有近1700年的历史，素有“先有潭柘寺，后有北京城”的民谚。潭柘寺位于北京西部门头沟区东南部的潭柘山麓，距市中心30余公里。寺院坐北朝南，背倚宝珠峰，周围有九座高大的山峰呈马蹄形环护，宛如在九条巨龙的拥立之下。高大的山峰挡住了从西北方袭来的寒流，因此这里气候温暖、湿润，寺内古树参天，佛塔林立，殿宇巍峨整座寺院建筑依地势而巧妙布局，错落有致，更有翠竹名花点缀期间，环境极为优美。潭柘寺规模宏大，寺内占地2.5公顷，寺外占地11.2公顷，再加上周围由潭柘寺所管辖的森林和山场，总面积达121公顷以上。殿堂随山势高低而建，错落有致。北京城的故宫有房9999间半，潭柘寺在鼎盛时期的清代有房999间半，俨然故宫的缩影，据说明朝初期修建紫禁城时，就是仿照潭柘寺而建成的。现潭柘寺共有房舍943间，其中古建殿堂638间，建筑保持着明清时期的风貌，是北京郊区最大的一处寺庙古建筑群。整个建筑群充分体现了中国古建筑的美学原则，以一条中轴线纵贯当中，左右两侧基本对称，使整个建筑群显得规矩、严整、主次分明、层次清晰。其建筑形式有殿、堂、阁、斋、轩、亭、楼、坛等，多种多样。寺外有上下塔院、东西观音洞、安乐延寿堂、龙潭等众多的建筑和景点，宛如众星捧月，散布其间，组成了一个方圆数里、景点众多，样式多样，情趣各异的旅游名胜景区。潭柘寺不但人文景观丰富，而且自然景观也十分优美，春夏秋冬各有美景，晨午晚夜情趣各异，早在清代，“潭柘十景”就己经名扬京华。
![]()
今天的潭柘寺，殿宇巍峨、庭院清幽，殿、堂、坛、室各具特色，楼、阁、亭、斋景色超凡，古树名本、鲜花翠竹遍布寺中，假山叠翠、曲水流觞相映成趣，红墙碧瓦、飞檐翘角掩映在轻松翠柏之中，殿堂整齐、庄严宏伟。己故中国佛教协会会长赵朴初先生曾写联赞耳：“气摄太行半，地群幽州先。”潭拓寺不仅以古迹众多、风景优美吸引着四海宾朋、八方游客，面且近几年还修建了现代化的旅游服务设施，实行交通、住宿、餐饮、游览、娱乐、购物的一条龙服务，使景区成为享誉中外的旅游胜地。1997年，经北京市政府批准，僧团进驻，潭柘寺恢复子宗教活动。
北京长城 The Great Wall
天坛 The Temple of Heaven
故宫 Forbidden City(Palace Museum)
香山公园 Fragrant Hills Park