天寧寺始建於唐太中五年(851年),原名國寧寺,宋宗寧二年(1106年)改名為崇寧萬壽寺,改和元年(1111年)更改名為大寧萬壽寺,建炎年間,毀於戰火,不久重建。元至大二年(1309年)為倭寇所毀,後又重建。明洪武十五年(1382年)改為天寧禪寺。近代改稱“天寧寺”。寺前原建有東西兩塔,東塔已於清光緒年間崩塌。1995年配合中山改造對東塔基進行了考古,發掘出殘塔基。現存者為天寧寺的西塔。原因塔磚上有正書“鹹通四年(863年)造此磚紀”之銘文,1995年在西塔組修時,又發現了許多鹹通年間的塔磚。故有“成通塔”之稱,由於該塔比較矮小,又形似烏龜,所以俗稱“烏龜塔”。天寧寺塔系磚結構,立面呈拋物線狀.平面呈正方形,每邊長約3.20米,共五層,逐層收縮。每層用磚疊澀出檐,出檐較遠,有別於北方常見的唐塔。塔內部呈筒形,底層四面均開設壺門,以上每層四壁均設有龕。塔高約12米,壁厚約0.76米,佔地面積為10.42平方米。天寧寺塔是浙江省現存年代較久的一座唐磚塔,也是我國僅存的唐代寺前雙塔實例,對於研究唐時的宗教文化和佛教建築具有重要的作用。現西塔已按原貌復原。2003年對天寧寺遺址進行了考古發掘,基本搞清了唐宋時期中軸線以東的寺院格局,現已原址保護。
鬧市當中,鼓樓附近,原以為會有個宏偉的古寺,沒想到就在路邊有個不高的石塔。這可是唐代明塔,想必也曾有輝煌無限的過去,可如今卻孤零零在路邊,連個起碼的保護也沒有了,行人匆匆路過,估計也不會對它多看一眼,真是令人唏噓呀!
南朝四百八十寺,多少樓台煙雨中。縱覽全國的天寧寺有許多,有東南第一叢林之稱的常州天寧寺,有北京最高的密檐式磚塔的北京市西城區天寧寺,清代列揚州八大古剎之首的揚州市天寧寺,還有林森手書“天寧古禪寺”橫額的衢州市天寧寺,阿拉寧波的天寧寺則僅存烏龜塔和歷史記憶了,而這座烏龜塔也是浙江省現存年代最久和唯一的一座唐塔,可見寧波天寧寺的不復存在有多可惜。目前,除了烏龜塔,在原址上已經變成了海曙中心小學,因此,只在朝中山西路的人行道上樹匾立碑,以示紀念。
Tianning Temple Pagoda is located on Zhongshan West Road in Haishu District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province. It has a history of more than 1000 years. It is the only Tang Pagoda in Zhejiang Province and Ningbo City. May there be two, one damaged, and the remaining one is the West Tower.
Tianning Temple is a very important temple of Zen. Now it is expanded into a park. It takes a long way from the entrance of the scenic spot to the Tianning Temple Pagoda or the main hall, and there are not too many shade places, so it is necessary to wear fans or hats. Many pinecones can be found along the way.
Ningbo is also a part of the modern five-port trade, which shows its important position. Put down your luggage and go to Drum Tower for a turn. On the way to the hotel, you can see a small square pagoda. Close to it, the brick pagoda of Tang Dynasty, the West pagoda of Tianning Temple, the national key cultural relics protection unit, the small pagoda is standing by the side of Zhongshan West Road. The former Tianning Temple has disappeared and the East pagoda no longer exists. This West pagoda has become a landmark here after restoration.
歷史文物地方,塔比較小,但是歷史悠久