大殿(dian)面(mian)闊、進深各3間,平(ping)面(mian)近方形(xing),單(dan)檐歇山灰色(se)筒板瓦(wa)頂。檐柱12根,其中3根抹棱方柱當是始建時遺(yi)物。殿(dian)前(qian)有(you)寬敞(chang)的月臺,殿(dian)內(nei)無柱。殿(dian)內(nei)有(you)泥塑佛(fo)像(xiang)17尊,安置在凹形(xing)的磚(zhuan)砌佛(fo)壇上,佛(fo)壇上后部(bu)正(zheng)中為釋迦牟(mou)尼塑像(xiang),莊嚴肅穆,總高近4米(mi),基本(ben)保(bao)存了原有(you)風貌,是現存唐代(dai)塑像(xiang)的杰出作品。1961年定為全國重點文物保(bao)護單(dan)位。
山西五臺山南禪寺大殿(dian),解(jie)放后在東冶鎮李家莊被發(fa)現。寺院坐北向南,有(you)山門、龍(long)王(wang)殿(dian)、菩(pu)薩殿(dian)和大佛殿(dian)等主要建筑,圍(wei)成一個四(si)合(he)院形(xing)式。除大佛殿(dian)是唐代原物外,其余幾座(zuo)殿(dian)宇都(dou)是明、清時所建。
寺(si)的(de)創建(jian)年代(dai)(dai)不詳,重建(jian)于唐(tang)(tang)德宗(zong)建(jian)中(zhong)(zhong)三(san)年 (782)。是所知存(cun)(cun)留(liu)到今,早(zao)的(de)較(jiao)(jiao)為完整的(de)木構(gou)遺物。寺(si)內(nei)大(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)西(xi)縫平梁下,保存(cun)(cun)有(you)唐(tang)(tang)人墨書字:“因舊(jiu)名旹(shi)(時(shi)(shi)(shi))大(da)唐(tang)(tang)建(jian)中(zhong)(zhong)三(san)年歲次(ci)壬戌月居(ju)戊申丙寅朔庚午日癸(gui)未時(shi)(shi)(shi)重修殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)法顯(xian)等(deng)謹志(zhi)”,是寺(si)宇殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)堂(tang)重建(jian)年代(dai)(dai)之(zhi)證,較(jiao)(jiao)佛光寺(si)東大(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)早(zao)75年。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)佛像與殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)宇同時(shi)(shi)(shi)建(jian)造,是中(zhong)(zhong)國除(chu)敦煌(huang)外稀有(you)的(de)中(zhong)(zhong)唐(tang)(tang)彩(cai)塑。唐(tang)(tang)武(wu)宗(zong)會昌五年 (845)滅(mie)法,中(zhong)(zhong)國佛寺(si)大(da)都毀壞(huai),而(er)南禪寺(si)由(you)于規模較(jiao)(jiao)小,處地偏僻,且州府(fu)縣(xian)志(zhi)和佛教(jiao)經籍(ji)上均無記(ji)載,幸(xing)免于難(nan),留(liu)存(cun)(cun)至今。后(hou)經宋、元、明、清(qing)各代(dai)(dai),雖曾有(you)過一些維(wei)修和裝繪,兩(liang)廂配殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)和山(shan)門均經重葺,但唐(tang)(tang)式大(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的(de)規制結構(gou)和殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)唐(tang)(tang)代(dai)(dai)塑像的(de)體貌都依舊(jiu)保存(cun)(cun)了下來(lai)。
南禪(chan)寺大(da)(da)佛殿(dian)較小,殿(dian)內沒有(you)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)子(zi)。在殿(dian)內中(zhong)心稍后,有(you)高0.7米的“凹”字形(xing)(xing)佛壇,沿壇可以通(tong)行,壇上(shang)有(you)佛教造(zao)像17尊,都是唐(tang)代(dai)原(yuan)(yuan)塑(su),有(you)很(hen)高的藝術價值。大(da)(da)殿(dian)單檐歇山(shan)頂(ding),平面(mian)正方形(xing)(xing),面(mian)闊進(jin)深各(ge)(ge)三間,通(tong)面(mian)闊 11.75米,進(jin)深10米。殿(dian)前(qian)(qian)月(yue)臺寬敞。前(qian)(qian)檐明(ming)間辟板(ban)門(men),兩(liang)(liang)次間為破子(zi)欞窗。殿(dian)四(si)周施(shi)(shi)檐柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)12根,西山(shan)施(shi)(shi)抹(mo)楞方柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu) 3根,皆為創建時的原(yuan)(yuan)物,余皆圓(yuan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)底自然料石作(zuo)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)礎。各(ge)(ge)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)微向內傾(qing),角(jiao)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)增(zeng)高,側腳、生(sheng)起顯(xian)著。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)間用闌額(e)聯系,無普(pu)柏枋,轉(zhuan)角(jiao)處(chu)(chu)闌額(e)不(bu)出頭(tou),唐(tang)代(dai)特征顯(xian)著。殿(dian)內無柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),無天花板(ban)徹上(shang)露明(ming)造(zao)。通(tong)長的兩(liang)(liang)根四(si)椽栿(fa)橫架(jia)于(yu)前(qian)(qian)后檐柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)之(zhi)(zhi)上(shang),栿(fa)上(shang)施(shi)(shi)繳背,通(tong)達前(qian)(qian)后檐外,再上(shang)為駝峰、大(da)(da)斗、捧(peng)節令(ling)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)、承(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)平梁(liang)和(he)平榑(fu)。平梁(liang)兩(liang)(liang)端施(shi)(shi)托(tuo)腳,其上(shang)用大(da)(da)叉手承(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)托(tuo)脊榑(fu),無駝峰與侏儒柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)。這種構造(zao)是漢唐(tang)期間的古制(zhi),五代(dai)以后已不(bu)復見。梁(liang)架(jia)兩(liang)(liang)山(shan)用丁栿(fa),轉(zhuan)角(jiao)處(chu)(chu)僅(jin)設搭(da)牽(qian)一道(dao),承(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)椽枋與平榑(fu)相交之(zhi)(zhi)點,用直斗承(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)托(tuo)。梁(liang)栿(fa)形(xing)(xing)制(zhi)皆為月(yue)梁(liang)式。檐柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)上(shang)施(shi)(shi)斗栱(gong)(gong)(gong)承(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)托(tuo)屋檐,無補間鋪作(zuo),古制(zhi)猶存。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)斗栱(gong)(gong)(gong)五鋪作(zuo),雙抄(chao)單栱(gong)(gong)(gong)偷心造(zao),前(qian)(qian)后檐華栱(gong)(gong)(gong)兩(liang)(liang)跳皆足材。第二跳華栱(gong)(gong)(gong)系四(si)椽栿(fa)伸(shen)至檐外制(zhi)成(cheng),繳背伸(shen)出檐下砍(kan)成(cheng)耍(shua)頭(tou),與令(ling)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)搭(da)交承(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)替木和(he)撩(liao)檐榑(fu)。兩(liang)(liang)山(shan)斗栱(gong)(gong)(gong)上(shang)的耍(shua)頭(tou),是丁栿(fa)外端。轉(zhuan)角(jiao)處(chu)(chu)施(shi)(shi)45度(du)斜栱(gong)(gong)(gong),令(ling)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)制(zhi)成(cheng)鴛鴉(ya)交首(shou)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)泥道(dao)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)之(zhi)(zhi)上(shang),疊(die)架(jia)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)枋兩(liang)(liang)層,下層隱刻(ke)慢栱(gong)(gong)(gong),上(shang)層置駝峰,皿板(ban)、散斗承(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)壓槽(cao)枋。各(ge)(ge)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)卷殺皆分五瓣(ban),每瓣(ban)微向內傾(qing),這種作(zuo)法曾(ceng)見于(yu)齊隋間石窟窟檐和(he)墓葬雕(diao)刻(ke)斗栱(gong)(gong)(gong)之(zhi)(zhi)上(shang),建筑實物中(zhong)此為僅(jin)見之(zhi)(zhi)例。
殿頂(ding)舉折平(ping)緩,總舉高(gao)為前后撩檐榑之間的1/5.15,即19.4%。檐出部分僅施檐椽一層(ceng),不加飛椽。翼角處大角梁通(tong)達內外,無(wu)子角梁,平(ping)直古樸。
殿內佛壇寬(kuan)大(da)(da),約占(zhan)室(shi)內面(mian)積的(de)二(er)分之一。壇上(shang)(shang)彩(cai)塑(su)17尊,皆為唐物。主像釋迦佛,體形高(gao)大(da)(da),結(jie)跏趺坐于束(shu)腰須彌座上(shang)(shang)。兩側(ce)有文殊(shu)、普賢(xian)(xian)各(ge)騎(qi)獅(shi)像。主像兩側(ce)為阿難、迦葉二(er)弟(di)子(zi)和二(er)脅侍(shi)菩薩(sa)(sa)。文殊(shu)、普賢(xian)(xian)前隅有獠蠻、拂菻(lin)牽引獅(shi)象(xiang)和二(er)童子(zi)仰望,再前為二(er)侍(shi)立菩薩(sa)(sa)和二(er)天王。釋迦前面(mian)有二(er)供養菩薩(sa)(sa)置蓮臺上(shang)(shang)。各(ge)像比(bi)例適度,面(mian)形豐滿,衣飾(shi)華(hua)麗(li),神態自如,體形較六朝柔(rou)和。與(yu)敦煌唐塑(su)相較,如出一轍,是(shi)中國現存寺觀彩(cai)塑(su)中的(de)珍品。
此外,南禪寺還保存有角(jiao)石(shi)2塊,石(shi)獅(shi)3軀,小石(shi)塔1座,雕工精練。
南禪寺年(nian)久(jiu)失(shi)修(xiu),大殿木構(gou)件(jian)(jian)有所風化(hua),地(di)震沖(chong)擊后(hou)梁架向(xiang)東歪閃,檐柱向(xiang)前傾斜(xie),部分構(gou)件(jian)(jian)脫(tuo)榫劈裂,四椽(chuan)受壓彎垂10余厘米。經過實地(di)發掘、測繪設計,制成(cheng)修(xiu)復(fu)方案(an),1974~1975年(nian)落架修(xiu)繕(shan)。
南禪寺大殿雖然很小(xiao)(xiao),但人(ren)們仍可以從(cong)中感受到(dao)大唐建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑的(de)(de)藝術(shu)(shu)性(xing)格。舒緩的(de)(de)屋頂,雄大疏朗的(de)(de)斗拱,簡潔明(ming)朗的(de)(de)構圖,體(ti)現(xian)出一種(zhong)雍容(rong)大度,氣度不凡,健康而爽朗的(de)(de)格調;同時(shi)(shi),還可以從(cong)南禪寺的(de)(de)大殿看到(dao)中唐時(shi)(shi)期木結(jie)構梁架(jia)已經有用“材”(栱高(gao))作(zuo)為(wei)木構用料標準的(de)(de)現(xian)象,說明(ming)我(wo)國(guo)唐代建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑技術(shu)(shu)已有很高(gao)水平。中國(guo)古代建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑受等(deng)級(ji)約束,南禪寺是(shi)村落中的(de)(de)小(xiao)(xiao)佛寺,是(shi)非正式的(de)(de)村佛堂,故至多與貴邸的(de)(de)廳(ting)堂近似,使用廳(ting)堂型構架(jia),造低(di)一個(ge)等(deng)級(ji)的(de)(de)歇(xie)山(shan)屋頂。晚唐時(shi)(shi)期的(de)(de)武(wu)宗(zong)“會(hui)昌滅(mie)法”,使得大多數佛寺遭受到(dao)破壞(huai)。南禪寺由于地處(chu)偏僻(pi)而幸免毀壞(huai),這也從(cong)另外一個(ge)角度說明(ming)當(dang)時(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)建(jian)(jian)(jian)造技術(shu)(shu)已經相當(dang)的(de)(de)普及了(le)。