慈(ci)云塔所在的慈(ci)云寺(si)占地九畝,始(shi)建(jian)(jian)于(yu)宋咸(xian)淳年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1260-1274年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))。明正(zheng)統年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1436-1449年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))僧道澤(ze)重(zhong)建(jian)(jian),舊名(ming)廣濟(ji)寺(si)。天順年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1457-1464年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),御賜“慈(ci)云禪寺(si)”額。萬歷五(wu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1577年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))、四十(shi)(shi)(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)、清(qing)康熙七年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1668年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))、二(er)(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)、二(er)(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)二(er)(er)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)、二(er)(er)十(shi)(shi)(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),乾(qian)隆十(shi)(shi)(shi)八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1753年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))、五(wu)十(shi)(shi)(shi)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian),道光十(shi)(shi)(shi)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1836年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))多次對塔和寺(si)進行修(xiu)建(jian)(jian)或增建(jian)(jian)。咸(xian)豐十(shi)(shi)(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1860年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian))寺(si)毀于(yu)兵燹,唯塔獨存。同治光緒之(zhi)交(jiao),里人募金(jin)修(xiu)塔。民國13年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(1924年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)),震澤(ze)絲業(ye)公(gong)會抽絲經(jing)捐(juan)2000金(jin),徐世(shi)興經(jing)行主遺(yi)孀(shuang)徐畢氏,為了卻其(qi)夫(fu)遺(yi)愿,捐(juan)巨款建(jian)(jian)寺(si)。共耗銀八千(qian)余兩,重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)大殿(dian)三(san)楹。民國15年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)秋大風毀塔第(di)五(wu)層層面。時(shi)適已(yi)故邑(yi)紳(shen)、吳江旅滬同鄉會會長施(shi)之(zhi)英(ying)入祠,其(qi)子玉聲捐(juan)資(zi)千(qian)元但(dan)倡導(dao),由里人再(zai)募捐(juan)于(yu)17年(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)(nian)修(xiu)塔。
1950年慈云禪(chan)(chan)寺被征(zheng)用當糧庫。1954年、1982年政(zheng)府撥款對(dui)塔(ta)(ta)進(jin)行大(da)(da)修(xiu)。慈云塔(ta)(ta)寺地當頔(di)塘(tang)(tang)(tang)河畔,西(xi)去的新(xin)舊頔(di)塘(tang)(tang)(tang)在(zai)它腳下分道(dao),舊頔(di)塘(tang)(tang)(tang)上建有單拱石(shi)橋禹跡(ji)橋,以(yi)紀(ji)念大(da)(da)禹治水;新(xin)頔(di)塘(tang)(tang)(tang)上飛跨單孔混凝土便(bian)橋。兩橋夾(jia)一塔(ta)(ta),仿(fang)佛是(shi)(shi)昂首(shou)東方的雄(xiong)鷹。橋光塔(ta)(ta)影是(shi)(shi)震澤(ze)古(gu)鎮特有的自然景觀。1997年開始恢復禪(chan)(chan)寺屋宇,古(gu)剎重(zhong)見木梵音。2004年,重(zhong)建大(da)(da)雄(xiong)寶殿。
2007年(nian)5月升格為第七批全國(guo)重點文物保護(hu)單位(wei)。
每逢夕陽(yang)西沉,登臨第五級(ji),北望洞庭,南瞰麻(ma)溪(xi),《震澤八景》謂之“慈(ci)云(yun)夕照(zhao)”。
一說三國(guo)時(shi),當年(nian)孫(sun)(sun)權實施“美人計”,誘劉備至南徐(xu),欲軟禁威逼。可他“賠了夫人又(you)折兵”。但孫(sun)(sun)權還不甘(gan)心,將妹妹騙回(hui)東(dong)吳,孫(sun)(sun)夫人日(ri)夜掛記丈(zhang)(zhang)夫,就在太湖之(zhi)濱震澤鎮(zhen)擇地造塔,每(mei)日(ri)登高遠眺,盼望(wang)丈(zhang)(zhang)夫早日(ri)歸來。所以稱“望(wang)夫塔”。
后(hou)來(lai),相傳(chuan)北宋末年,北方金兵乘虛而入,徽宗女兒慈(ci)云(yun)公主避難來(lai)到震澤后(hou),念(nian)念(nian)不忘(wang)被(bei)擄的父親,這建(jian)了(le)這座(zuo)“慈(ci)云(yun)禪(chan)寺”。
解放后(hou),“慈云寺塔”被列(lie)為省(sheng)級重點(dian)保護單位。1954年與(yu)1982年前后(hou)兩次進行(xing)全(quan)面(mian)整修,使之面(mian)目一新,雄姿長在。“慈云塔”造型美觀,別(bie)具風采(cai)。
古代(dai)有不少詩人墨(mo)客(ke),曾為此留下無數贊美的詩篇(pian)。“四面湖光繞,中(zhong)流塔影(ying)懸(xuan),由 唐西去(qu)路,蠶事勝耕(geng)田”便是(shi)其中(zhong)的一幅(fu)美景(jing)。
巍峨古(gu)塔,既為江(jiang)南水增(zeng)添色彩,也讓人們見識到了我國古(gu)代燦爛文化之一斑!