據塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)銘記載:塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)創(chuang)建于唐(tang)乾符四(si)(si)(si)年(nian)(nian)(877),距(ju)今已(yi)有一千多年(nian)(nian)的歷史。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)平面(mian)呈正方形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing),通高6.5米,邊長2.21米,單(dan)檐(yan)(yan)單(dan)層(ceng)(ceng)五(wu)迭四(si)(si)(si)注(zhu)式(shi),覆(fu)缽尖錐頂(ding)(ding)(ding)。通體(ti)由(you)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)基(ji)、塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)座、塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)身(shen)(shen)、塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)檐(yan)(yan)、塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)剎五(wu)部(bu)分(fen)組成(cheng)。整體(ti)比(bi)例勻稱,輪廓秀美。方形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)基(ji)為(wei)仿(fang)木構建筑框架鑿造,四(si)(si)(si)面(mian)枋(fang)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)交(jiao)錯,貫以(yi)鐵(tie)質鉚釘(ding),周飾(shi)倚柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)、立旌和橫(heng)鈐,西角柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頂(ding)(ding)(ding)端(duan)(duan)雕(diao)刻(ke)凸起的獸(shou)頭,伸出(chu)頸項,支撐全塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)基(ji)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)為(wei)束腰須彌式(shi)塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)座,上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)下三層(ceng)(ceng)疊澀,束腰部(bu)分(fen)每(mei)面(mian)雕(diao)刻(ke)壺(hu)門(men)(men)(men)(men)四(si)(si)(si)個,門(men)(men)(men)(men)內(nei)剔地凸起雕(diao)石獅(shi)十(shi)六軀,獅(shi)身(shen)(shen)周系(xi)環花(hua)(hua)草(cao)綾(ling)帶。這些獅(shi)獸(shou),或(huo)蹲臥,或(huo)靜立,或(huo)跳躍,形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)態各異生動活潑。與(yu)五(wu)臺山(shan)佛光寺唐(tang)代經幢壺(hu)門(men)(men)(men)(men)內(nei)鐫(juan)刻(ke)石獅(shi)如出(chu)一轍。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)身(shen)(shen)中(zhong)(zhong)空,南壁(bi)中(zhong)(zhong)央(yang)辟長方形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)洞,頂(ding)(ding)(ding)端(duan)(duan)為(wei)火券(quan)(quan)。門(men)(men)(men)(men)龕兩側分(fen)別雕(diao)刻(ke)守門(men)(men)(men)(men)金剛(gang)像1尊(zun),身(shen)(shen)著盔甲,足蹬(deng)飛云,手(shou)執寶(bao)劍和金剛(gang)杵等法器,造型(xing)豐滿,氣勢(shi)威猛(meng)。門(men)(men)(men)(men)頂(ding)(ding)(ding)半圓形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)券(quan)(quan)面(mian)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)浮雕(diao)伎(ji)樂(le)天3軀,活潑俊逸,婀娜(na)多姿(zi)。門(men)(men)(men)(men)窗之上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)浮雕(diao)垂(chui)幔紋樣,每(mei)根角柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)刻(ke)有卷草(cao)文,寶(bao)相花(hua)(hua)、龍串富貴,化生童子等人物花(hua)(hua)卉(hui)等線刻(ke)花(hua)(hua)紋圖案(an),精致流暢,莊重美觀。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)室內(nei)設方形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)小屋,四(si)(si)(si)壁(bi)素面(mian)無雕(diao)飾(shi)。中(zhong)(zhong)央(yang)刻(ke)置(zhi)一仰(yang)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)狀覆(fu)盆式(shi)基(ji)座,可能(neng)是(shi)放(fang)置(zhi)死者(zhe)遺像或(huo)遺骨之基(ji)托。室頂(ding)(ding)(ding)刻(ke)有平閣(ge)天花(hua)(hua),圖案(an)清晰,規范考究。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)身(shen)(shen)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)覆(fu)以(yi)石雕(diao)屋頂(ding)(ding)(ding),塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)檐(yan)(yan)四(si)(si)(si)注(zhu)式(shi)。檐(yan)(yan)下在凸起的方框中(zhong)(zhong)刻(ke)出(chu)龜背錦,再(zai)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)雕(diao)刻(ke)額枋(fang)、椽飛,四(si)(si)(si)翼微(wei)向上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)翹,檐(yan)(yan)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)雕(diao)刻(ke)瓦垅、戧(chuang)脊。塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)頂(ding)(ding)(ding)高聳(song),雕(diao)成(cheng)山(shan)花(hua)(hua)蕉葉和仰(yang)覆(fu)蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)、半開蓮(lian)(lian)(lian)形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)狀。由(you)下而上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)由(you)四(si)(si)(si)層(ceng)(ceng)雕(diao)刻(ke)組成(cheng),逐層(ceng)(ceng)收縮,每(mei)層(ceng)(ceng)均由(you)束腰、山(shan)花(hua)(hua)蕉葉和覆(fu)缽構成(cheng)。頂(ding)(ding)(ding)端(duan)(duan)以(yi)錐形(xing)(xing)(xing)(xing)寶(bao)珠收剎。雕(diao)工精細,完(wan)好無損。在國內(nei)已(yi)知的唐(tang)代石塔(ta)(ta)(ta)(ta)中(zhong)(zhong),整體(ti)保存(cun)完(wan)好者(zhe),以(yi)此為(wei)較佳(jia)。
在塔的背面(mian)鑲嵌有五(wu)代后(hou)唐(tang)長(chang)興三年(nian)(nian)(929年(nian)(nian))的銘記。記載了明(ming)惠大(da)師(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)段軼事。謂之唐(tang)乾符四年(nian)(nian),他住持(chi)海慧院時,一(yi)天有人報告說:“保廣要殺(sha)大(da)師(shi)(shi)(shi)”。師(shi)(shi)(shi)云:“吾久于生(sheng)死(si)心不怖焉,若(ruo)被(bei)所誅,償宿債(zhai)矣(yi)”。是年(nian)(nian)正月十三日,大(da)師(shi)(shi)(shi)果然被(bei)殺(sha)。他死(si)后(hou),由弟子崇(chong)職等捧(peng)舍利,奉(feng)潞(lu)州節度(du)使之命建(jian)塔葬之。
明惠大師(shi)塔,全由石質雕(diao)造。總體造型仿(fang)照(zhao)木構(gou)建(jian)筑,均采用柱枋椽飛等(deng)構(gou)件和破(po)直棱窗的做法,與長子(zi)法興(xing)寺燃(ran)燈(deng)塔一樣,是研究我(wo)國(guo)唐代(dai)建(jian)筑技術和雕(diao)刻藝(yi)術及為(wei)(wei)珍貴(gui)的實(shi)物遺存。其(qi)造型優美(mei),精巧華麗,形制典雅(ya)。高寬比例適度,雕(diao)刻內容豐(feng)富,細部裝飾雅(ya)致(zhi),雕(diao)刻技藝(yi)純熟,雖非巨構(gou),但藝(yi)術價值極高,被美(mei)術界權威人士視為(wei)(wei)唐代(dai)石塔建(jian)筑中(zhong)的珍品和獨特范例。