天臺(tai)庵是佛(fo)教創(chuang)立早的(de)(de)宗派(pai)“天臺(tai)宗”的(de)(de)庵院。隋唐時期,佛(fo)教在(zai)修(xiu)行方法上出現(xian)了(le)南義(yi)北禪(chan)的(de)(de)局面(mian),即南方重義(yi)理,重智慧(hui);北方重止,重禪(chan)定。為結束這(zhe)種分(fen)裂的(de)(de)局面(mian)。智順應潮流,提出“義(yi)觀并(bing)重”,“定慧(hui)雙(shuang)修(xiu)”的(de)(de)“止觀”學說,認為這(zhe)兩種方法如同車之雙(shuang)輪,鳥之雙(shuang)翼(yi),不可偏廢。他(ta)創(chuang)立了(le)中國(guo)特色(se)的(de)(de)統一的(de)(de)佛(fo)教宗派(pai),因他(ta)久居天臺(tai)山,故以天臺(tai)為名。
佛(fo)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)建在(zai)1米(mi)高的(de)(de)石臺(tai)基上(shang)(shang),廣深各(ge)3間,面(mian)闊7.15米(mi),進深7.12米(mi),平(ping)(ping)面(mian)看(kan)去(qu),近似一正(zheng)方(fang)形。大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)單檐(yan)(yan)歇山頂(ding)(ding),舉折(zhe)平(ping)(ping)緩,出(chu)(chu)檐(yan)(yan)深廣,其翼角下四(si)根粗(cu)大(da)(da)的(de)(de)擎檐(yan)(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)均為(wei)(wei)后(hou)世所(suo)加。屋(wu)頂(ding)(ding)施灰筒瓦及碩大(da)(da)的(de)(de)琉璃(li)鴟(chi)吻。此殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的(de)(de)琉璃(li)脊飾當為(wei)(wei)金(jin)代所(suo)改,但(dan)仍保(bao)留古(gu)風。佛(fo)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)檐(yan)(yan)下四(si)周設臺(tai)明(ming)(ming),正(zheng)面(mian)明(ming)(ming)間臺(tai)明(ming)(ming)下安裝踏跺,殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)身(shen)四(si)周為(wei)(wei)圓(yuan)形木(mu)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)間施闌額(e),不用(yong)(yong)(yong)普拍(pai)枋。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)身(shen)各(ge)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)(tou)(tou)卷殺平(ping)(ping)緩優美,柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)上(shang)(shang)施斗(dou)口(kou)跳斗(dou)拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),均用(yong)(yong)(yong)足材拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),跳頭(tou)(tou)(tou)上(shang)(shang)施替(ti)木(mu)承托撩檐(yan)(yan)槫。壁內施兩(liang)道單材柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)(tou)(tou)方(fang),方(fang)間用(yong)(yong)(yong)小斗(dou)承托。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)(tou)(tou)方(fang)表面(mian)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)(tou)(tou)部位刻(ke)出(chu)(chu)泥道重拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),各(ge)面(mian)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)(tou)(tou)鋪作(zuo)之慢拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)身(shen)甚(shen)長(chang),形制古(gu)樸。正(zheng)立面(mian)明(ming)(ming)間正(zheng)中施補(bu)間鋪作(zuo)一朵,亦(yi)為(wei)(wei)斗(dou)口(kou)跳,但(dan)用(yong)(yong)(yong)單材。山面(mian)及北立面(mian)明(ming)(ming)間無斗(dou)口(kou)跳,僅于上(shang)(shang)層柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)(tou)(tou)方(fang)上(shang)(shang)隱刻(ke)一斗(dou)三升(sheng)斗(dou)拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)。轉角鋪作(zuo)45°斜向(xiang)(xiang)出(chu)(chu)跳用(yong)(yong)(yong)足材拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),正(zheng)方(fang)向(xiang)(xiang)上(shang)(shang)的(de)(de)出(chu)(chu)跳均用(yong)(yong)(yong)單材。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)身(shen)結構為(wei)(wei)典型(xing)的(de)(de)四(si)架椽屋(wu),通(tong)檐(yan)(yan)用(yong)(yong)(yong)二柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)。
現(xian)存的(de)幾根直抵(di)于四(si)椽栿下之柱均為后(hou)(hou)世所補加(jia)。明(ming)間前后(hou)(hou)檐平(ping)槫(tuan)下施(shi)襻(pan)間。平(ping)梁(liang)(liang)上(shang)施(shi)駝(tuo)峰+蜀柱承(cheng)托(tuo)(tuo)橫(heng)拱,拱上(shang)施(shi)替木承(cheng)托(tuo)(tuo)脊槫(tuan)。山面斗拱柱頭鋪作里轉出(chu)一跳華拱承(cheng)托(tuo)(tuo)箚(zha)牽(qian)。角(jiao)部(bu)用45°遞(di)角(jiao)梁(liang)(liang)。殿(dian)(dian)內(nei)梁(liang)(liang)架及斗拱上(shang)保留有(you)(you)簡單的(de)清式彩繪(hui),山花壁內(nei)尚有(you)(you)部(bu)分清代壁畫殘跡。天(tian)臺(tai)庵大(da)殿(dian)(dian)規模(mo)不大(da),但結構簡練(lian),相交嚴實,沒有(you)(you)繁雜(za)裝飾之感,這體現(xian)了(le)唐代建筑(zhu)的(de)特點。天(tian)臺(tai)庵大(da)殿(dian)(dian)雖然具(ju)有(you)(you)很多(duo)后(hou)(hou)期(qi)修繕的(de)痕跡,但其依然是我國現(xian)存唐代木結構古建筑(zhu)的(de)珍貴實例,具(ju)有(you)(you)重(zhong)要的(de)學術價值。
天臺庵東傍山谷、西臨漳水,坐北向南,占地(di)970平方(fang)米,建(jian)筑面積90多平方(fang)米。院東矗立一唐(tang)碑,字跡風化(hua)不清。
佛(fo)殿(dian)(dian)建(jian)在1米(mi)高的(de)石臺(tai)基上,廣深各3間,面(mian)闊(kuo)7.15米(mi),進深7.12米(mi),屋(wu)坡舉(ju)折平緩(huan),四(si)翼如飛,單檐(yan)(yan)簡板(ban)布瓦,琉璃脊獸歇山(shan)頂。佛(fo)殿(dian)(dian)檐(yan)(yan)下(xia)四(si)周(zhou)設臺(tai)明(ming),正面(mian)明(ming)間臺(tai)明(ming)下(xia)安裝踏(ta)垛,殿(dian)(dian)身四(si)周(zhou)為(wei)(wei)圓形(xing)木柱(zhu),柱(zhu)間施闌(lan)額,柱(zhu)礎為(wei)(wei)常見的(de)覆盆式,柱(zhu)頭(tou)形(xing)卷舌較緩(huan),柱(zhu)上安有(you)斗拱,承(cheng)托(tuo)屋(wu)檐(yan)(yan),正側兩面(mian)明(ming)間較大(da),次間僅為(wei)(wei)明(ming)間的(de)一(yi)半。殿(dian)(dian)內(nei)沒有(you)一(yi)根柱(zhu)子,結構簡練,相(xiang)交嚴(yan)實,沒有(you)繁(fan)雜裝飾之感,而且使殿(dian)(dian)內(nei)的(de)空(kong)間更顯得空(kong)闊(kuo),充分體現了唐代建(jian)筑的(de)特點。
一聽到天臺庵(an)的名(ming)字,大家就會把它同佛(fo)(fo)教聯系在一起,確(que)實如此,它是中(zhong)國佛(fo)(fo)教創立早的宗(zong)派“天臺宗(zong)”的庵(an)院。
我們知道(dao),隋唐(tang)二代是(shi)中(zhong)國佛(fo)教(jiao)的(de)鼎(ding)盛期(qi),這時期(qi)出現的(de)佛(fo)教(jiao)諸宗(zong)派(pai),大多另辟蹊徑,以(yi)自家的(de)理解對(dui)印度佛(fo)教(jiao)進行重(zhong)新編排(pai),“說己心中(zhong)所行之法(fa)門”,當(dang)時,傳人中(zhong)國的(de)佛(fo)教(jiao)在修行方(fang)法(fa)上曾出現南義(yi)北禪的(de)局面,即南方(fang)重(zhong)義(yi)理,重(zhong)智慧,北方(fang)重(zhong)止,重(zhong)禪定。
政(zheng)治上的(de)(de)統一(yi)為(wei)結(jie)束佛(fo)教(jiao)南義(yi)北禪的(de)(de)分裂局面創造了條件,智顓順(shun)應(ying)潮流,提出了“止觀并重”、“定慧雙修”的(de)(de)“止觀”學說(shuo),認為(wei)“止”、“觀”二法是轉迷開悟,成菩薩作(zuo)佛(fo)的(de)(de)兩種(zhong)基本的(de)(de)修行方(fang)法,這兩種(zhong)方(fang)法就如同(tong)車之(zhi)兩輪,鳥之(zhi)雙翼,不可偏廢。在此基礎上,智顓創立了具有中(zhong)國特色的(de)(de)統一(yi)的(de)(de)佛(fo)教(jiao)宗派(pai),因他(ta)久居浙江天臺(tai)(tai)山(shan),故以“天臺(tai)(tai)”為(wei)宗名(ming),隨之(zhi)各地紛(fen)紛(fen)建起了天臺(tai)(tai)宗的(de)(de)寺廟、庵(an)院。
以往的佛(fo)教(jiao)學說,在談及佛(fo)性(xing)時,都認(ren)為佛(fo)性(xing)是至純至凈,盡(jin)善(shan)盡(jin)美的,天臺宗則一反佛(fo)教(jiao)的傳統說法(fa),主(zhu)張佛(fo)性(xing)不但本(ben)具善(shan),而且本(ben)具惡(e),它(ta)把一切(qie)眾生(sheng)包括諸佛(fo)菩(pu)薩分成(cheng)十界,即佛(fo)、菩(pu)薩、緣覺、聲聞、天、人、阿修羅、鬼、畜生(sheng)、地獄。
前四(si)界稱“四(si)圣”,后六界稱“六凡”,而每(mei)一界又(you)都具有(you)其它界的(de)特(te)性。天臺宗這種不依經教的(de)精神,使得有(you)人責(ze)備它改變了印度佛教的(de)本(ben)來面(mian)目。其實,這也可以說是天臺宗學說富有(you)創造(zao)性,富有(you)中(zhong)國(guo)特(te)色的(de)一個重要表(biao)現。