大殿(dian)面(mian)闊、進深各3間,平面(mian)近方形(xing),單檐歇山灰色筒(tong)板瓦頂。檐柱(zhu)12根,其中3根抹棱方柱(zhu)當是始建時遺物。殿(dian)前(qian)有(you)寬敞的(de)月(yue)臺,殿(dian)內(nei)無(wu)柱(zhu)。殿(dian)內(nei)有(you)泥(ni)塑(su)佛(fo)像(xiang)17尊,安(an)置(zhi)在凹(ao)形(xing)的(de)磚砌(qi)佛(fo)壇(tan)(tan)上,佛(fo)壇(tan)(tan)上后部(bu)正中為釋(shi)迦(jia)牟尼塑(su)像(xiang),莊(zhuang)嚴肅穆,總(zong)高近4米,基本(ben)保存了原(yuan)有(you)風貌,是現存唐代塑(su)像(xiang)的(de)杰出作品。1961年定為全國重點文物保護(hu)單位。
山西五臺山南禪寺(si)大殿,解放(fang)后在東冶鎮李家莊被發現(xian)。寺(si)院坐(zuo)北向南,有山門(men)、龍王殿、菩薩殿和大佛(fo)殿等主要(yao)建筑,圍成一個(ge)四合院形式。除大佛(fo)殿是唐代原(yuan)物外,其余幾座殿宇都是明(ming)、清時所建。
寺(si)的(de)(de)創建(jian)年(nian)代(dai)不詳,重(zhong)建(jian)于唐(tang)(tang)德宗(zong)(zong)建(jian)中三(san)年(nian) (782)。是所知存留(liu)到(dao)今,早(zao)的(de)(de)較為(wei)完整的(de)(de)木構(gou)遺(yi)物(wu)。寺(si)內大殿(dian)(dian)西縫平梁下(xia),保存有唐(tang)(tang)人墨書字:“因(yin)舊名(ming)旹(時)大唐(tang)(tang)建(jian)中三(san)年(nian)歲(sui)次壬(ren)戌月居戊申丙(bing)寅朔庚午日癸未時重(zhong)修殿(dian)(dian)法(fa)顯等謹志”,是寺(si)宇殿(dian)(dian)堂(tang)重(zhong)建(jian)年(nian)代(dai)之(zhi)證,較佛(fo)(fo)光(guang)寺(si)東大殿(dian)(dian)早(zao)75年(nian)。殿(dian)(dian)內佛(fo)(fo)像與殿(dian)(dian)宇同(tong)時建(jian)造,是中國除敦煌外稀(xi)有的(de)(de)中唐(tang)(tang)彩塑(su)。唐(tang)(tang)武宗(zong)(zong)會昌五年(nian) (845)滅法(fa),中國佛(fo)(fo)寺(si)大都(dou)毀壞,而南(nan)禪寺(si)由于規(gui)模(mo)較小,處地偏僻(pi),且州府縣志和(he)佛(fo)(fo)教經籍上均(jun)無(wu)記載,幸免于難,留(liu)存至(zhi)今。后經宋、元、明、清各(ge)代(dai),雖(sui)曾有過(guo)一些(xie)維(wei)修和(he)裝(zhuang)繪,兩廂配殿(dian)(dian)和(he)山門均(jun)經重(zhong)葺,但唐(tang)(tang)式大殿(dian)(dian)的(de)(de)規(gui)制結(jie)構(gou)和(he)殿(dian)(dian)內唐(tang)(tang)代(dai)塑(su)像的(de)(de)體貌都(dou)依舊保存了下(xia)來(lai)。
南禪寺大佛殿(dian)(dian)較小,殿(dian)(dian)內沒(mei)有柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)子。在殿(dian)(dian)內中心稍后(hou)(hou),有高(gao)(gao)0.7米(mi)的(de)“凹(ao)”字形佛壇(tan),沿壇(tan)可以通(tong)(tong)(tong)行,壇(tan)上有佛教造像17尊(zun),都是(shi)(shi)唐(tang)代(dai)原(yuan)(yuan)塑,有很高(gao)(gao)的(de)藝術價值(zhi)。大殿(dian)(dian)單檐(yan)歇山(shan)(shan)(shan)頂,平面(mian)正(zheng)方形,面(mian)闊進深各(ge)三(san)間(jian)(jian)(jian),通(tong)(tong)(tong)面(mian)闊 11.75米(mi),進深10米(mi)。殿(dian)(dian)前月(yue)臺(tai)寬敞(chang)。前檐(yan)明間(jian)(jian)(jian)辟板(ban)門,兩次(ci)間(jian)(jian)(jian)為破子欞窗。殿(dian)(dian)四(si)周施(shi)(shi)(shi)檐(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)12根(gen),西山(shan)(shan)(shan)施(shi)(shi)(shi)抹楞方柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu) 3根(gen),皆為創建時的(de)原(yuan)(yuan)物,余皆圓柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)底自(zi)然料石作(zuo)(zuo)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)礎。各(ge)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)微向(xiang)內傾(qing),角柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)增高(gao)(gao),側(ce)腳、生起(qi)顯著(zhu)。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)間(jian)(jian)(jian)用闌額(e)聯系(xi),無(wu)普柏(bo)枋(fang),轉(zhuan)角處闌額(e)不出頭,唐(tang)代(dai)特征顯著(zhu)。殿(dian)(dian)內無(wu)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),無(wu)天花板(ban)徹上露明造。通(tong)(tong)(tong)長的(de)兩根(gen)四(si)椽栿橫架于(yu)前后(hou)(hou)檐(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)之(zhi)上,栿上施(shi)(shi)(shi)繳背(bei),通(tong)(tong)(tong)達前后(hou)(hou)檐(yan)外,再上為駝峰(feng)、大斗(dou)(dou)、捧節令(ling)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、承(cheng)(cheng)平梁和平榑(fu)。平梁兩端施(shi)(shi)(shi)托腳,其上用大叉(cha)手(shou)承(cheng)(cheng)托脊(ji)榑(fu),無(wu)駝峰(feng)與(yu)侏儒柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)。這(zhe)種(zhong)構造是(shi)(shi)漢(han)唐(tang)期間(jian)(jian)(jian)的(de)古(gu)制(zhi),五(wu)(wu)代(dai)以后(hou)(hou)已(yi)不復見(jian)。梁架兩山(shan)(shan)(shan)用丁栿,轉(zhuan)角處僅設搭(da)牽一道(dao),承(cheng)(cheng)椽枋(fang)與(yu)平榑(fu)相(xiang)交(jiao)之(zhi)點,用直斗(dou)(dou)承(cheng)(cheng)托。梁栿形制(zhi)皆為月(yue)梁式。檐(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)上施(shi)(shi)(shi)斗(dou)(dou)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)承(cheng)(cheng)托屋(wu)檐(yan),無(wu)補間(jian)(jian)(jian)鋪作(zuo)(zuo),古(gu)制(zhi)猶存。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭斗(dou)(dou)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)五(wu)(wu)鋪作(zuo)(zuo),雙(shuang)抄單栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)偷心造,前后(hou)(hou)檐(yan)華栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)兩跳皆足(zu)材。第二(er)跳華栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)系(xi)四(si)椽栿伸至檐(yan)外制(zhi)成,繳背(bei)伸出檐(yan)下砍成耍(shua)(shua)頭,與(yu)令(ling)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)搭(da)交(jiao)承(cheng)(cheng)替木和撩檐(yan)榑(fu)。兩山(shan)(shan)(shan)斗(dou)(dou)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)上的(de)耍(shua)(shua)頭,是(shi)(shi)丁栿外端。轉(zhuan)角處施(shi)(shi)(shi)45度斜(xie)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),令(ling)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)制(zhi)成鴛(yuan)鴉交(jiao)首栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭泥道(dao)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)之(zhi)上,疊架柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭枋(fang)兩層,下層隱刻(ke)(ke)慢(man)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),上層置(zhi)駝峰(feng),皿板(ban)、散斗(dou)(dou)承(cheng)(cheng)壓槽枋(fang)。各(ge)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)卷殺(sha)皆分五(wu)(wu)瓣,每瓣微向(xiang)內傾(qing),這(zhe)種(zhong)作(zuo)(zuo)法(fa)曾見(jian)于(yu)齊隋間(jian)(jian)(jian)石窟(ku)窟(ku)檐(yan)和墓葬雕刻(ke)(ke)斗(dou)(dou)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)之(zhi)上,建筑實物中此為僅見(jian)之(zhi)例。
殿頂舉(ju)折平(ping)緩,總舉(ju)高(gao)為前后撩檐(yan)榑之間的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)。翼角處大角梁通達(da)內外,無(wu)子角梁,平(ping)直(zhi)古樸(pu)。
殿內(nei)(nei)佛(fo)壇(tan)寬(kuan)大,約(yue)占(zhan)室內(nei)(nei)面積的二(er)分之一。壇(tan)上(shang)彩(cai)塑17尊(zun),皆為唐(tang)物。主像(xiang)釋迦佛(fo),體(ti)形高大,結跏趺(fu)坐于束腰(yao)須彌座上(shang)。兩側有文殊(shu)、普賢各(ge)騎獅像(xiang)。主像(xiang)兩側為阿難、迦葉二(er)弟子(zi)和(he)二(er)脅侍(shi)菩(pu)(pu)薩。文殊(shu)、普賢前(qian)隅有獠蠻、拂菻牽引獅象(xiang)和(he)二(er)童(tong)子(zi)仰望,再前(qian)為二(er)侍(shi)立菩(pu)(pu)薩和(he)二(er)天王。釋迦前(qian)面有二(er)供養菩(pu)(pu)薩置蓮(lian)臺上(shang)。各(ge)像(xiang)比(bi)例適度(du),面形豐(feng)滿,衣飾(shi)華麗,神態(tai)自如,體(ti)形較六(liu)朝柔和(he)。與(yu)敦(dun)煌唐(tang)塑相較,如出一轍,是中國現存(cun)寺觀彩(cai)塑中的珍品。
此外,南禪(chan)寺(si)還保存有角石(shi)(shi)2塊,石(shi)(shi)獅3軀,小石(shi)(shi)塔1座(zuo),雕(diao)工(gong)精練。
南禪寺年久失修,大殿木構件(jian)有(you)所風化,地(di)震沖擊(ji)后梁架(jia)向(xiang)東歪閃,檐柱向(xiang)前傾斜,部分構件(jian)脫榫劈裂,四椽受(shou)壓彎垂10余(yu)厘米。經(jing)過實地(di)發掘(jue)、測繪設計,制成修復方案,1974~1975年落(luo)架(jia)修繕。
南禪寺(si)(si)大殿雖然很小(xiao),但(dan)人們仍可以從中(zhong)感受到(dao)(dao)(dao)大唐(tang)建(jian)筑的(de)(de)(de)藝(yi)術性格。舒(shu)緩的(de)(de)(de)屋頂,雄大疏朗的(de)(de)(de)斗拱(gong),簡潔(jie)明朗的(de)(de)(de)構(gou)圖,體現出一(yi)(yi)種雍容大度,氣(qi)度不凡,健康而爽朗的(de)(de)(de)格調;同時(shi),還可以從南禪寺(si)(si)的(de)(de)(de)大殿看到(dao)(dao)(dao)中(zhong)唐(tang)時(shi)期(qi)(qi)木結(jie)構(gou)梁(liang)架已經有用“材”(栱高)作為木構(gou)用料標準的(de)(de)(de)現象,說(shuo)明我(wo)國(guo)唐(tang)代建(jian)筑技術已有很高水平。中(zhong)國(guo)古代建(jian)筑受等(deng)級(ji)約(yue)束,南禪寺(si)(si)是村落(luo)中(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)小(xiao)佛寺(si)(si),是非正式的(de)(de)(de)村佛堂(tang),故至多(duo)與貴邸的(de)(de)(de)廳(ting)堂(tang)近似,使用廳(ting)堂(tang)型構(gou)架,造低一(yi)(yi)個(ge)等(deng)級(ji)的(de)(de)(de)歇山屋頂。晚唐(tang)時(shi)期(qi)(qi)的(de)(de)(de)武(wu)宗(zong)“會昌滅法”,使得(de)大多(duo)數佛寺(si)(si)遭受到(dao)(dao)(dao)破(po)壞。南禪寺(si)(si)由于地(di)處偏僻(pi)而幸免毀(hui)壞,這也從另外一(yi)(yi)個(ge)角度說(shuo)明當時(shi)的(de)(de)(de)建(jian)造技術已經相(xiang)當的(de)(de)(de)普及(ji)了。