大(da)殿(dian)面闊、進(jin)深各3間,平面近(jin)方形,單(dan)檐歇山灰色筒板瓦頂。檐柱(zhu)12根(gen),其中3根(gen)抹棱方柱(zhu)當是始建時遺物(wu)。殿(dian)前有寬(kuan)敞的(de)月臺,殿(dian)內無柱(zhu)。殿(dian)內有泥塑(su)(su)佛(fo)像17尊(zun),安置(zhi)在凹(ao)形的(de)磚砌(qi)佛(fo)壇(tan)上(shang),佛(fo)壇(tan)上(shang)后部正中為(wei)釋(shi)迦牟尼(ni)塑(su)(su)像,莊嚴肅穆(mu),總高(gao)近(jin)4米,基本保存了原有風(feng)貌(mao),是現(xian)存唐代塑(su)(su)像的(de)杰出作(zuo)品。1961年定為(wei)全(quan)國重點(dian)文物(wu)保護單(dan)位(wei)。
山(shan)西五(wu)臺山(shan)南(nan)禪寺大殿,解放后在東冶鎮李(li)家(jia)莊被發現。寺院(yuan)坐北向南(nan),有(you)山(shan)門、龍(long)王殿、菩薩殿和大佛殿等主要(yao)建(jian)筑,圍成一個四合院(yuan)形式。除大佛殿是(shi)唐代原物外,其余幾座殿宇(yu)都是(shi)明、清時(shi)所(suo)建(jian)。
寺(si)(si)的(de)(de)創(chuang)建(jian)年(nian)代不(bu)詳,重建(jian)于唐(tang)德宗建(jian)中(zhong)三年(nian) (782)。是所知存(cun)(cun)留到今,早(zao)的(de)(de)較(jiao)為完整(zheng)的(de)(de)木構(gou)遺物。寺(si)(si)內(nei)大(da)殿(dian)(dian)西縫(feng)平梁下,保存(cun)(cun)有(you)(you)唐(tang)人墨書字:“因舊名旹(時(shi)(shi))大(da)唐(tang)建(jian)中(zhong)三年(nian)歲次(ci)壬(ren)戌月居戊(wu)申(shen)丙寅朔(shuo)庚午(wu)日癸未時(shi)(shi)重修殿(dian)(dian)法顯等謹志”,是寺(si)(si)宇殿(dian)(dian)堂重建(jian)年(nian)代之證,較(jiao)佛(fo)光寺(si)(si)東大(da)殿(dian)(dian)早(zao)75年(nian)。殿(dian)(dian)內(nei)佛(fo)像與(yu)殿(dian)(dian)宇同時(shi)(shi)建(jian)造(zao),是中(zhong)國除(chu)敦煌(huang)外(wai)稀(xi)有(you)(you)的(de)(de)中(zhong)唐(tang)彩塑(su)。唐(tang)武宗會昌五(wu)年(nian) (845)滅法,中(zhong)國佛(fo)寺(si)(si)大(da)都毀(hui)壞,而南禪寺(si)(si)由于規模較(jiao)小,處地偏(pian)僻,且州(zhou)府縣志和佛(fo)教經(jing)籍上均無記載,幸免于難,留存(cun)(cun)至今。后經(jing)宋、元(yuan)、明、清各代,雖曾(ceng)有(you)(you)過一些維(wei)修和裝繪,兩(liang)廂配殿(dian)(dian)和山門均經(jing)重葺(qi),但唐(tang)式大(da)殿(dian)(dian)的(de)(de)規制結構(gou)和殿(dian)(dian)內(nei)唐(tang)代塑(su)像的(de)(de)體(ti)貌都依舊保存(cun)(cun)了(le)下來。
南禪寺大佛殿(dian)(dian)較小,殿(dian)(dian)內沒有(you)(you)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)子。在(zai)殿(dian)(dian)內中心(xin)稍后(hou),有(you)(you)高(gao)0.7米的(de)“凹”字形(xing)佛壇,沿壇可以通(tong)行(xing),壇上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)有(you)(you)佛教造(zao)像17尊(zun),都是唐代原塑,有(you)(you)很(hen)高(gao)的(de)藝術價值。大殿(dian)(dian)單檐(yan)(yan)歇山(shan)頂,平(ping)面(mian)正方形(xing),面(mian)闊進深(shen)各(ge)(ge)三間(jian),通(tong)面(mian)闊 11.75米,進深(shen)10米。殿(dian)(dian)前月臺寬敞(chang)。前檐(yan)(yan)明間(jian)辟板(ban)(ban)門,兩(liang)次間(jian)為破子欞(ling)窗。殿(dian)(dian)四(si)周施(shi)檐(yan)(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)12根,西(xi)山(shan)施(shi)抹楞方柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu) 3根,皆(jie)為創建時的(de)原物(wu),余皆(jie)圓柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)底自然(ran)料石作柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)礎。各(ge)(ge)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)微(wei)向(xiang)內傾(qing),角(jiao)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)增(zeng)高(gao),側腳、生起顯(xian)著(zhu)。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)間(jian)用闌(lan)額聯系,無(wu)普(pu)柏枋(fang),轉角(jiao)處闌(lan)額不出頭(tou),唐代特征顯(xian)著(zhu)。殿(dian)(dian)內無(wu)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),無(wu)天花板(ban)(ban)徹上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)露明造(zao)。通(tong)長(chang)的(de)兩(liang)根四(si)椽栿(fa)(fa)(fa)橫架(jia)于前后(hou)檐(yan)(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)之上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang),栿(fa)(fa)(fa)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)施(shi)繳背(bei),通(tong)達前后(hou)檐(yan)(yan)外,再(zai)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)為駝峰、大斗、捧(peng)節令(ling)(ling)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、承平(ping)梁和平(ping)榑(fu)(fu)。平(ping)梁兩(liang)端施(shi)托(tuo)腳,其上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)用大叉手(shou)承托(tuo)脊榑(fu)(fu),無(wu)駝峰與侏儒柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)。這種構造(zao)是漢唐期間(jian)的(de)古制,五代以后(hou)已不復見(jian)(jian)。梁架(jia)兩(liang)山(shan)用丁栿(fa)(fa)(fa),轉角(jiao)處僅(jin)設搭(da)牽一道,承椽枋(fang)與平(ping)榑(fu)(fu)相交(jiao)之點,用直斗承托(tuo)。梁栿(fa)(fa)(fa)形(xing)制皆(jie)為月梁式。檐(yan)(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)施(shi)斗栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)承托(tuo)屋檐(yan)(yan),無(wu)補間(jian)鋪(pu)作,古制猶存。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)斗栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)五鋪(pu)作,雙抄單栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)偷心(xin)造(zao),前后(hou)檐(yan)(yan)華(hua)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)兩(liang)跳(tiao)皆(jie)足材。第二跳(tiao)華(hua)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)系四(si)椽栿(fa)(fa)(fa)伸(shen)至檐(yan)(yan)外制成,繳背(bei)伸(shen)出檐(yan)(yan)下(xia)砍成耍頭(tou),與令(ling)(ling)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)搭(da)交(jiao)承替(ti)木和撩檐(yan)(yan)榑(fu)(fu)。兩(liang)山(shan)斗栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)的(de)耍頭(tou),是丁栿(fa)(fa)(fa)外端。轉角(jiao)處施(shi)45度斜(xie)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),令(ling)(ling)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)制成鴛鴉交(jiao)首栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)泥道栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)之上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang),疊(die)架(jia)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)枋(fang)兩(liang)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng),下(xia)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)隱刻慢栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang)層(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)置駝峰,皿板(ban)(ban)、散斗承壓槽(cao)枋(fang)。各(ge)(ge)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)卷殺皆(jie)分(fen)五瓣,每瓣微(wei)向(xiang)內傾(qing),這種作法曾見(jian)(jian)于齊隋間(jian)石窟窟檐(yan)(yan)和墓(mu)葬雕刻斗栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)之上(shang)(shang)(shang)(shang),建筑實物(wu)中此為僅(jin)見(jian)(jian)之例。
殿頂(ding)舉折平緩,總舉高為前后撩(liao)檐(yan)榑之間(jian)的1/5.15,即19.4%。檐(yan)出部分僅施檐(yan)椽(chuan)一層,不加飛(fei)椽(chuan)。翼角(jiao)處大角(jiao)梁通達(da)內外,無子角(jiao)梁,平直古樸(pu)。
殿內佛(fo)(fo)壇寬大,約占室內面(mian)積的(de)二(er)(er)分之(zhi)一。壇上(shang)(shang)彩(cai)塑17尊,皆為(wei)唐物。主(zhu)像(xiang)釋迦佛(fo)(fo),體(ti)形高大,結(jie)跏(jia)趺坐于束腰(yao)須彌座上(shang)(shang)。兩側有(you)(you)文殊、普賢(xian)各(ge)騎獅(shi)像(xiang)。主(zhu)像(xiang)兩側為(wei)阿難、迦葉(xie)二(er)(er)弟子(zi)和(he)二(er)(er)脅侍菩(pu)薩(sa)。文殊、普賢(xian)前(qian)隅有(you)(you)獠蠻、拂菻牽引獅(shi)象和(he)二(er)(er)童(tong)子(zi)仰(yang)望,再前(qian)為(wei)二(er)(er)侍立菩(pu)薩(sa)和(he)二(er)(er)天(tian)王。釋迦前(qian)面(mian)有(you)(you)二(er)(er)供養菩(pu)薩(sa)置蓮(lian)臺(tai)上(shang)(shang)。各(ge)像(xiang)比例適度,面(mian)形豐滿,衣飾華(hua)麗,神態自如,體(ti)形較六朝柔(rou)和(he)。與敦煌唐塑相較,如出一轍,是中(zhong)國現存寺觀彩(cai)塑中(zhong)的(de)珍品。
此(ci)外(wai),南禪寺還保存有角(jiao)石(shi)2塊,石(shi)獅(shi)3軀(qu),小(xiao)石(shi)塔1座,雕工(gong)精練。
南(nan)禪寺年久失修(xiu),大殿(dian)木構件有所風(feng)化(hua),地(di)震(zhen)沖(chong)擊后梁(liang)架向(xiang)東歪閃,檐柱向(xiang)前(qian)傾斜,部(bu)分構件脫榫劈裂,四椽(chuan)受壓彎垂10余厘米。經過實(shi)地(di)發掘(jue)、測繪(hui)設計,制成修(xiu)復方案(an),1974~1975年落架修(xiu)繕。
南禪(chan)寺大(da)殿雖(sui)然很小,但人們仍(reng)可以從中(zhong)感(gan)受到(dao)(dao)大(da)唐(tang)(tang)(tang)建(jian)(jian)筑的(de)(de)藝(yi)術(shu)性格(ge)。舒緩的(de)(de)屋頂,雄大(da)疏朗的(de)(de)斗(dou)拱,簡潔明朗的(de)(de)構圖(tu),體現出一種雍容(rong)大(da)度,氣度不凡,健康(kang)而(er)爽朗的(de)(de)格(ge)調(diao);同(tong)時(shi),還可以從南禪(chan)寺的(de)(de)大(da)殿看(kan)到(dao)(dao)中(zhong)唐(tang)(tang)(tang)時(shi)期(qi)木結構梁架已經有(you)用(yong)“材”(栱高)作(zuo)為木構用(yong)料標準的(de)(de)現象,說明我國唐(tang)(tang)(tang)代建(jian)(jian)筑技(ji)術(shu)已有(you)很高水平。中(zhong)國古(gu)代建(jian)(jian)筑受等級約束(shu),南禪(chan)寺是村落中(zhong)的(de)(de)小佛寺,是非正(zheng)式的(de)(de)村佛堂,故至多與貴(gui)邸(di)的(de)(de)廳堂近(jin)似,使用(yong)廳堂型(xing)構架,造(zao)低一個等級的(de)(de)歇山屋頂。晚唐(tang)(tang)(tang)時(shi)期(qi)的(de)(de)武宗“會昌滅法”,使得(de)大(da)多數佛寺遭受到(dao)(dao)破壞。南禪(chan)寺由于地處偏僻而(er)幸免(mian)毀壞,這也從另(ling)外一個角度說明當時(shi)的(de)(de)建(jian)(jian)造(zao)技(ji)術(shu)已經相當的(de)(de)普及了。