青檀寺位于棗莊嶧城西3.5公里處,兩山窄谷之中,始建于唐代,為魯南地區(qū)規(guī)模較大的一座佛教寺院。寺院是冠世榴園風(fēng)景區(qū)自東向西的第一個(gè)旅游景點(diǎn),俗稱“青檀秋色”,為古嶧縣八景之一。
據(jù)《嶧縣志》記載,唐朝以前名“云峰寺”。唐時(shí)青檀樹(shù)遍植山谷,遮天蔽日,故改名為“青檀寺”。大殿內(nèi)供有三世佛,銅面金身,法顏慈祥。寺內(nèi)有口千余年銀杏,雌雄同株,至今枝葉茂盛,果實(shí)累累。樹(shù)下有口“龍窟泉”,水質(zhì)清冽,甘甜醇厚,為泡茶之佳品。
到青檀寺游覽,一是觀賞千年古檀;二是朝佛,領(lǐng)略遠(yuǎn)離塵囂的清幽和靜謐。生長(zhǎng)在青檀幽谷中的數(shù)十棵千年古檀,由于飽經(jīng)風(fēng)霜,被大自然的鬼斧神工和歲月的滄桑雕塑成了一件件令人嘆為觀止的藝術(shù)品。而寺院內(nèi)的千年銀杏,雌雄連理,蔭遮廟宇,古意盎然,使這座佛家寺院多了一縷人間煙火和文化張力。
一千多年的銀杏樹(shù),在中國(guó)算不上稀奇,但像青檀寺中的銀杏樹(shù),恐怕算得上中國(guó)的一絕,大自然的絕世精品。 一雄一雌的兩棵,如今已是密不可分。如不經(jīng)人指點(diǎn),不聽(tīng)人講解,你很難想到,也絕難看出,他們是兩棵樹(shù)的“合二為一”。
從唐代到宋、元時(shí)期,寺廟香火日盛,谷中置寺廟多處,故有僧屋如巢之說(shuō)。到明、清時(shí)期,此地為文人墨客,達(dá)官貴人游玩勝地。清末民初,寺毀于兵火?,F(xiàn)青檀寺為1985年重建。寺院由大殿、配房、長(zhǎng)亭組成。門(mén)坊為三門(mén)四柱雙垂飛檐斗拱,木質(zhì)結(jié)構(gòu)與鋼筋水泥混合結(jié)構(gòu)的仿古建筑。門(mén)上方一黑色大理石鑲嵌橫匾,題“青檀秋色”四字。門(mén)坊內(nèi)是長(zhǎng)約1.5公里的狹谷,谷內(nèi)樹(shù)齡在千年以上青檀樹(shù)有36棵,百年樹(shù)齡的不計(jì)其數(shù)。狹谷盡頭即為青檀寺。廟門(mén)匾額“青檀寺”三個(gè)字,為書(shū)法家舒同手筆。寺院占地面積1050平方米,建筑面積330平方米。主體建筑為大雄寶殿5間,飛檐斗拱,殿內(nèi)供奉三世佛。殿前院內(nèi)有一株銀杏樹(shù),樹(shù)齡逾千年,至今干壯葉茂。殿前有一龍窟泉,水從大殿基地流出。西有三間配房,東有長(zhǎng)亭。亭旁的東山巖壁上有文峰山人題寫(xiě)的摩崖石刻“忘歸”、“龍”二處。
大殿后石壁上刻有“還我河山”四個(gè)大字,上有岳飛養(yǎng)眼樓。相傳宋代民族英雄岳飛因患眼疾曾在此養(yǎng)病,故建 “金界樓”,當(dāng)?shù)厝艘卜Q此樓為“岳飛養(yǎng)眼樓”,內(nèi)塑有岳飛坐像。
金秋送爽之時(shí),層林盡染,丹霞萬(wàn)朵,山谷中的紅楓、銀杏、青檀紅黃綠三色交相輝映,倒映在波光瀲滟的青檀湖水之中,別有一番情境。
Qingtan Temple in Yicheng
Qingtan Temple is located at a narrow valley, 3.5 kilometers to the west of Yicheng District, Zaozhuang City. Constructed during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), this temple is the largest temple in south Shandong. This temple is the first tourist attraction of the Guanshi Pomegranate Scenic Site going from the east to the west and is one of the eight famous scenic sites in the ancient Feng County.
According to a record in the History of Feng County, before the Tang Dynasty, this temple was called the “Yunfeng Temple.” During the Tang Dynasty, wing hackberry was planted all over the valley, hence the temple was renamed Qingtan (Wing Hackberry) Temple. Inside of the temple hall, there were three Buddha statues. In the courtyard, there are two male and female gingko trees, which still bear fruit today. Under the tree there is a spring called Longkuquan, which bubbles clean and sweet water suitable for boiling tea.
Visiting Qingtan Temple, one can admire the thousand-year-old wing hackberry while offering homage to the Buddha. Dozens of wing hackberry in the valley, together with the gingko trees in the temple, make the temple very attractive.