慈云(yun)塔(ta)所在(zai)的慈云(yun)寺占地九畝,始建(jian)(jian)于(yu)(yu)宋咸淳(chun)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(1260-1274年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))。明正統年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(1436-1449年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧道(dao)澤重建(jian)(jian),舊名廣濟寺。天順年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(1457-1464年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),御(yu)賜“慈云(yun)禪寺”額。萬(wan)歷五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1577年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))、四十(shi)(shi)(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)、清康熙七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1668年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))、二十(shi)(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)、二十(shi)(shi)(shi)二年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)、二十(shi)(shi)(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),乾隆十(shi)(shi)(shi)八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1753年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))、五十(shi)(shi)(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),道(dao)光十(shi)(shi)(shi)六(liu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1836年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))多次對塔(ta)和寺進行(xing)修(xiu)(xiu)建(jian)(jian)或增(zeng)建(jian)(jian)。咸豐(feng)十(shi)(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))寺毀于(yu)(yu)兵燹,唯(wei)塔(ta)獨存。同(tong)治光緒之(zhi)交,里人(ren)募金修(xiu)(xiu)塔(ta)。民國13年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1924年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),震澤絲(si)業公會(hui)抽絲(si)經捐2000金,徐世興(xing)經行(xing)主遺(yi)孀(shuang)徐畢氏(shi),為了卻其夫(fu)遺(yi)愿,捐巨款建(jian)(jian)寺。共耗銀八千余兩,重建(jian)(jian)大殿三(san)楹。民國15年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)秋大風毀塔(ta)第五層層面。時適已故邑紳、吳江旅滬同(tong)鄉會(hui)會(hui)長施之(zhi)英(ying)入祠,其子玉聲捐資千元但倡導,由(you)里人(ren)再募捐于(yu)(yu)17年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)修(xiu)(xiu)塔(ta)。
1950年(nian)(nian)慈(ci)云禪寺(si)被(bei)征(zheng)用當糧庫。1954年(nian)(nian)、1982年(nian)(nian)政府撥(bo)款對塔(ta)(ta)進行大(da)修。慈(ci)云塔(ta)(ta)寺(si)地當頔塘河畔(pan),西去的新(xin)舊頔塘在它(ta)腳下分道,舊頔塘上(shang)建(jian)有單拱石橋禹(yu)跡橋,以紀念(nian)大(da)禹(yu)治水;新(xin)頔塘上(shang)飛跨單孔混凝土便橋。兩橋夾一塔(ta)(ta),仿佛是昂首東(dong)方的雄鷹。橋光塔(ta)(ta)影是震澤古鎮特有的自(zi)然景觀。1997年(nian)(nian)開始恢(hui)復禪寺(si)屋宇,古剎(cha)重見木梵音(yin)。2004年(nian)(nian),重建(jian)大(da)雄寶殿。
2007年(nian)5月升(sheng)格(ge)為(wei)第七(qi)批全國(guo)重點(dian)文物保護單位。
每逢夕陽西沉,登臨(lin)第五級(ji),北望洞庭,南(nan)瞰(kan)麻(ma)溪,《震澤八景》謂之“慈(ci)云夕照”。
一說三(san)國時,當年孫權(quan)實施“美(mei)人(ren)計”,誘劉(liu)備至南徐,欲軟(ruan)禁威逼。可(ke)他“賠(pei)了夫人(ren)又折兵”。但孫權(quan)還(huan)不(bu)甘心,將妹妹騙回東吳,孫夫人(ren)日夜(ye)掛記丈夫,就在太湖(hu)之濱震(zhen)澤鎮擇地(di)造塔(ta),每(mei)日登高遠眺,盼望(wang)(wang)丈夫早日歸(gui)來。所以稱“望(wang)(wang)夫塔(ta)”。
后來,相傳北(bei)宋末年,北(bei)方(fang)金兵乘虛而入,徽(hui)宗女兒慈(ci)(ci)云(yun)公主避(bi)難來到震澤后,念念不忘被擄的(de)父親,這建(jian)了(le)這座(zuo)“慈(ci)(ci)云(yun)禪寺”。
解放后(hou),“慈云寺塔(ta)”被列(lie)為省級重點保(bao)護單位。1954年(nian)與1982年(nian)前后(hou)兩次進(jin)行全面(mian)整修,使之面(mian)目一新,雄姿長在。“慈云塔(ta)”造(zao)型美觀,別(bie)具風采。
古代有不少(shao)詩人墨客,曾為此留下無數贊美的(de)詩篇(pian)。“四面湖(hu)光(guang)繞,中流(liu)塔(ta)影懸,由 唐西去路,蠶事勝耕田”便是其中的(de)一(yi)幅美景(jing)。
巍(wei)峨古塔(ta),既為江南水增添色彩(cai),也讓人(ren)們(men)見識到了我國古代燦爛(lan)文化(hua)之(zhi)一斑!