大(da)殿面闊、進深各3間,平面近方(fang)形(xing)(xing),單檐(yan)歇(xie)山灰色筒(tong)板瓦頂。檐(yan)柱12根,其(qi)中3根抹棱方(fang)柱當是始建時遺物。殿前有寬敞的月臺,殿內無柱。殿內有泥塑(su)佛(fo)像17尊(zun),安置在凹形(xing)(xing)的磚砌佛(fo)壇上,佛(fo)壇上后(hou)部正中為釋迦牟尼塑(su)像,莊嚴肅穆,總高(gao)近4米,基本保存(cun)了(le)原(yuan)有風貌(mao),是現存(cun)唐代(dai)塑(su)像的杰出作品。1961年定為全國重點文物保護單位。
山西(xi)五臺(tai)山南禪寺(si)大(da)殿,解放(fang)后在東冶鎮李家莊被發現。寺(si)院坐北向南,有(you)山門(men)、龍王(wang)殿、菩薩殿和(he)大(da)佛(fo)殿等主要建筑,圍成(cheng)一(yi)個四合院形(xing)式。除大(da)佛(fo)殿是唐代(dai)原物外,其余幾(ji)座(zuo)殿宇都是明、清時所建。
寺(si)的創建年(nian)代(dai)不詳,重(zhong)建于唐(tang)德宗(zong)建中(zhong)三(san)年(nian) (782)。是(shi)(shi)所知(zhi)存(cun)留到今,早(zao)的較(jiao)為(wei)完整的木構遺物。寺(si)內大(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)西縫(feng)平梁下(xia),保(bao)(bao)存(cun)有唐(tang)人墨書字:“因舊(jiu)名旹(shi)(時)大(da)唐(tang)建中(zhong)三(san)年(nian)歲次壬戌(xu)月居戊申丙寅朔(shuo)庚(geng)午日癸未時重(zhong)修殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)法顯等謹志”,是(shi)(shi)寺(si)宇(yu)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)堂重(zhong)建年(nian)代(dai)之證(zheng),較(jiao)佛(fo)光寺(si)東大(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)早(zao)75年(nian)。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內佛(fo)像與殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)宇(yu)同時建造(zao),是(shi)(shi)中(zhong)國除敦煌外稀有的中(zhong)唐(tang)彩塑。唐(tang)武宗(zong)會昌五年(nian) (845)滅法,中(zhong)國佛(fo)寺(si)大(da)都毀壞,而南禪寺(si)由于規模較(jiao)小,處地偏僻,且(qie)州府縣志和佛(fo)教經籍(ji)上均(jun)無記(ji)載,幸免于難(nan),留存(cun)至今。后經宋、元、明(ming)、清各代(dai),雖曾有過(guo)一些維修和裝繪,兩(liang)廂配殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)和山門均(jun)經重(zhong)葺,但唐(tang)式大(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)的規制結構和殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內唐(tang)代(dai)塑像的體貌都依舊(jiu)保(bao)(bao)存(cun)了下(xia)來。
南(nan)禪寺大(da)佛殿(dian)(dian)較(jiao)小,殿(dian)(dian)內(nei)沒有柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)子。在(zai)殿(dian)(dian)內(nei)中心(xin)稍(shao)后,有高0.7米(mi)的“凹”字形(xing)佛壇(tan),沿壇(tan)可以(yi)通(tong)行(xing),壇(tan)上(shang)有佛教造(zao)像17尊,都是唐代(dai)原塑,有很高的藝術價值。大(da)殿(dian)(dian)單檐(yan)(yan)歇山(shan)(shan)頂,平面正方(fang)形(xing),面闊進(jin)深各(ge)三(san)間(jian)(jian)(jian),通(tong)面闊 11.75米(mi),進(jin)深10米(mi)。殿(dian)(dian)前(qian)(qian)月臺寬(kuan)敞。前(qian)(qian)檐(yan)(yan)明間(jian)(jian)(jian)辟板(ban)門,兩(liang)次間(jian)(jian)(jian)為(wei)(wei)破子欞窗。殿(dian)(dian)四周(zhou)施檐(yan)(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)12根(gen),西山(shan)(shan)施抹楞方(fang)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu) 3根(gen),皆(jie)為(wei)(wei)創(chuang)建(jian)時的原物,余皆(jie)圓柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)底自然料(liao)石作柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)礎(chu)。各(ge)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)微向(xiang)內(nei)傾(qing),角(jiao)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)增高,側腳、生(sheng)起顯著。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)間(jian)(jian)(jian)用(yong)(yong)闌額聯系,無(wu)(wu)普柏枋,轉角(jiao)處闌額不(bu)出(chu)頭(tou),唐代(dai)特征顯著。殿(dian)(dian)內(nei)無(wu)(wu)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),無(wu)(wu)天花板(ban)徹上(shang)露明造(zao)。通(tong)長的兩(liang)根(gen)四椽栿(fa)(fa)橫架(jia)于前(qian)(qian)后檐(yan)(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)之(zhi)上(shang),栿(fa)(fa)上(shang)施繳背,通(tong)達(da)前(qian)(qian)后檐(yan)(yan)外(wai),再上(shang)為(wei)(wei)駝(tuo)峰(feng)、大(da)斗、捧節(jie)令(ling)栱(gong)(gong)、承平梁(liang)(liang)和平榑。平梁(liang)(liang)兩(liang)端(duan)施托腳,其上(shang)用(yong)(yong)大(da)叉(cha)手承托脊榑,無(wu)(wu)駝(tuo)峰(feng)與(yu)侏(zhu)儒柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)。這種(zhong)構造(zao)是漢(han)唐期(qi)間(jian)(jian)(jian)的古制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),五(wu)代(dai)以(yi)后已不(bu)復(fu)見(jian)(jian)。梁(liang)(liang)架(jia)兩(liang)山(shan)(shan)用(yong)(yong)丁栿(fa)(fa),轉角(jiao)處僅設搭(da)牽(qian)一道,承椽枋與(yu)平榑相交之(zhi)點,用(yong)(yong)直斗承托。梁(liang)(liang)栿(fa)(fa)形(xing)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)皆(jie)為(wei)(wei)月梁(liang)(liang)式。檐(yan)(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)上(shang)施斗栱(gong)(gong)承托屋檐(yan)(yan),無(wu)(wu)補間(jian)(jian)(jian)鋪作,古制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)猶存。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)斗栱(gong)(gong)五(wu)鋪作,雙抄(chao)單栱(gong)(gong)偷(tou)心(xin)造(zao),前(qian)(qian)后檐(yan)(yan)華栱(gong)(gong)兩(liang)跳(tiao)皆(jie)足(zu)材。第二跳(tiao)華栱(gong)(gong)系四椽栿(fa)(fa)伸至檐(yan)(yan)外(wai)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)成,繳背伸出(chu)檐(yan)(yan)下(xia)砍(kan)成耍(shua)頭(tou),與(yu)令(ling)栱(gong)(gong)搭(da)交承替(ti)木和撩檐(yan)(yan)榑。兩(liang)山(shan)(shan)斗栱(gong)(gong)上(shang)的耍(shua)頭(tou),是丁栿(fa)(fa)外(wai)端(duan)。轉角(jiao)處施45度斜栱(gong)(gong),令(ling)栱(gong)(gong)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)成鴛鴉交首栱(gong)(gong)。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)泥道栱(gong)(gong)之(zhi)上(shang),疊架(jia)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)枋兩(liang)層(ceng)(ceng),下(xia)層(ceng)(ceng)隱刻慢栱(gong)(gong),上(shang)層(ceng)(ceng)置(zhi)駝(tuo)峰(feng),皿板(ban)、散斗承壓槽枋。各(ge)栱(gong)(gong)卷殺皆(jie)分五(wu)瓣(ban),每(mei)瓣(ban)微向(xiang)內(nei)傾(qing),這種(zhong)作法曾見(jian)(jian)于齊隋間(jian)(jian)(jian)石窟窟檐(yan)(yan)和墓(mu)葬雕刻斗栱(gong)(gong)之(zhi)上(shang),建(jian)筑實物中此為(wei)(wei)僅見(jian)(jian)之(zhi)例。
殿頂舉折(zhe)平緩,總舉高為前后撩檐(yan)榑之間的1/5.15,即(ji)19.4%。檐(yan)出部分僅施(shi)檐(yan)椽一層(ceng),不加飛(fei)椽。翼角處(chu)大角梁通(tong)達內外,無子角梁,平直古樸(pu)。
殿(dian)內佛壇寬大,約占室內面積(ji)的二分之一(yi)(yi)。壇上彩塑17尊,皆為(wei)唐物。主(zhu)像(xiang)釋(shi)迦(jia)佛,體形高大,結(jie)跏趺坐(zuo)于束腰須彌座上。兩側(ce)(ce)有文(wen)殊、普賢各(ge)騎(qi)獅像(xiang)。主(zhu)像(xiang)兩側(ce)(ce)為(wei)阿難、迦(jia)葉二弟子和(he)(he)二脅侍菩(pu)薩。文(wen)殊、普賢前隅有獠(liao)蠻(man)、拂菻牽引獅象和(he)(he)二童子仰(yang)望,再前為(wei)二侍立菩(pu)薩和(he)(he)二天王。釋(shi)迦(jia)前面有二供養菩(pu)薩置蓮臺上。各(ge)像(xiang)比例(li)適度,面形豐滿,衣(yi)飾華麗,神(shen)態自如,體形較六朝柔和(he)(he)。與敦煌唐塑相較,如出一(yi)(yi)轍,是中(zhong)國現存寺觀彩塑中(zhong)的珍品。
此外,南禪寺還保存(cun)有角石(shi)2塊,石(shi)獅3軀,小石(shi)塔(ta)1座,雕工精(jing)練。
南(nan)禪寺年(nian)久失修(xiu),大殿木構件(jian)有(you)所(suo)風化,地(di)震沖擊(ji)后梁架向東歪閃,檐柱向前傾(qing)斜,部分構件(jian)脫榫(sun)劈裂,四椽(chuan)受壓彎(wan)垂10余厘米。經過實地(di)發掘、測(ce)繪設計,制成修(xiu)復方案,1974~1975年(nian)落(luo)架修(xiu)繕。
南(nan)禪(chan)寺(si)大(da)殿雖然很小,但人們仍可以從(cong)中感受到大(da)唐(tang)建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑的(de)(de)(de)藝(yi)術(shu)性格。舒緩的(de)(de)(de)屋頂,雄大(da)疏朗(lang)的(de)(de)(de)斗拱(gong),簡潔明(ming)朗(lang)的(de)(de)(de)構圖,體(ti)現(xian)出一種雍容大(da)度(du),氣(qi)度(du)不(bu)凡,健康而爽朗(lang)的(de)(de)(de)格調;同時(shi),還可以從(cong)南(nan)禪(chan)寺(si)的(de)(de)(de)大(da)殿看到中唐(tang)時(shi)期木結構梁架(jia)已(yi)經有(you)用“材”(栱(gong)高)作為木構用料標(biao)準(zhun)的(de)(de)(de)現(xian)象,說明(ming)我國唐(tang)代建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑技術(shu)已(yi)有(you)很高水平。中國古代建(jian)(jian)(jian)筑受等(deng)級(ji)約束,南(nan)禪(chan)寺(si)是村落中的(de)(de)(de)小佛(fo)寺(si),是非正式的(de)(de)(de)村佛(fo)堂,故至多與(yu)貴邸的(de)(de)(de)廳堂近(jin)似,使用廳堂型構架(jia),造(zao)低一個(ge)等(deng)級(ji)的(de)(de)(de)歇(xie)山屋頂。晚唐(tang)時(shi)期的(de)(de)(de)武宗(zong)“會(hui)昌滅(mie)法”,使得大(da)多數佛(fo)寺(si)遭受到破壞(huai)。南(nan)禪(chan)寺(si)由于地處(chu)偏僻而幸免(mian)毀壞(huai),這也從(cong)另外一個(ge)角度(du)說明(ming)當時(shi)的(de)(de)(de)建(jian)(jian)(jian)造(zao)技術(shu)已(yi)經相當的(de)(de)(de)普及了。