概況
凈土寺(si)(si)位(wei)于(yu)山西省應縣城內東北角(jiao)。據清代《應州志(zhi)》載(zai),凈土寺(si)(si)于(yu)“金天(tian)(tian)會二(er)年(nian)(1124)僧善(shan)祥(xiang)奉敕(chi)創造,金大(da)定二(er)十四年(nian)僧善(shan)祥(xiang)重修(xiu)”,距(ju)今(jin)已有860多年(nian)的(de)歷史。大(da)雄寶殿是(shi)全(quan)寺(si)(si)之主殿,為(wei)金代原(yuan)物,深廣各3間,面闊進深各三間,單檐(yan)歇山頂,平面呈方形(xing)大(da)殿設(she)覆斗(dou)(dou)形(xing)大(da)花板,以(yi)梁袱劃分9格(ge),分別作(zuo)成9個藻井,中(zhong)部的(de)斗(dou)(dou)8藻井最大(da),藻井下飾以(yi)天(tian)(tian)宮(gong)樓(lou)閣(ge),作(zuo)混金彩畫。殿內天(tian)(tian)花藻井和天(tian)(tian)宮(gong)樓(lou)閣(ge)是(shi)小木作(zuo)的(de)經典(dian)之作(zuo)。2006年(nian)被(bei)列為(wei)第六批全(quan)國重點文物保護單位(wei)。
寺廟布局
據清代(dai)《應州(zhou)志》載,凈土(tu)寺于“金(jin)天(tian)(tian)會二年(1124)僧(seng)善祥奉敕創(chuang)造,金(jin)大(da)(da)定二十四(si)年僧(seng)善祥重修”。凈土(tu)寺占(zhan)地三十余(yu)畝,建筑(zhu)分(fen)布在東(dong)西兩條軸(zhou)線(xian)上。西軸(zhou)線(xian)南為(wei)山門(men),山門(men)前(qian)有(you)大(da)(da)約五(wu)畝方圓一塊空(kong)地。一進(jin)山門(men)正北(bei)(bei)有(you)一座八角五(wu)層石雕舍利佛(fo)塔(ta),高約十米,雄偉壯觀(guan)。塔(ta)北(bei)(bei)有(you)天(tian)(tian)王殿(dian)(dian),兩側有(you)鐘(zhong)、鼓樓。東(dong)配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)三間為(wei)觀(guan)音(yin)殿(dian)(dian),西配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)三間為(wei)地藏殿(dian)(dian),北(bei)(bei)面是大(da)(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian),后(hou)面是法堂。東(dong)軸(zhou)線(xian)南端是禪(chan)堂,禪(chan)堂北(bei)(bei)院有(you)東(dong)西配(pei)房(fang),正中為(wei)五(wu)間念(nian)佛(fo)堂。念(nian)佛(fo)堂背(bei)后(hou)一小(xiao)院為(wei)藏經樓。藏經樓院內還有(you)東(dong)西廂房(fang)。一九(jiu)六六年文革間大(da)(da)部分(fen)建筑(zhu)和(he)佛(fo)像被毀,僅剩大(da)(da)雄寶(bao)殿(dian)(dian)和(he)配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)。
寺廟建筑
大雄寶殿
大雄(xiong)寶殿為(wei)(wei)全(quan)寺(si)主殿,為(wei)(wei)金代(dai)原物,深(shen)廣各三間,長15米,寬12米,平(ping)面(mian)略成方形(xing),單(dan)檐(yan)(yan)(yan)歇(xie)山項(xiang),上(shang)覆筒(tong)、板(ban)瓦,檐(yan)(yan)(yan)頭鑲(xiang)綠色琉(liu)璃瓦,坡(po)度(du)較平(ping)緩(huan)。檐(yan)(yan)(yan)上(shang)為(wei)(wei)斗拱(gong)鋪(pu)作,斗拱(gong)疏朗,四角挑檐(yan)(yan)(yan)升起(qi),呈柔和弧線。雖(sui)經歷(li)代(dai)修葺,尚存原貌。明間裝(zhuang)隔扇(shan)門,次間下徹(che)檻墻(qiang)。整個殿宇秀麗(li)雄(xiong)偉,是(shi)典型的金代(dai)建筑(zhu)。
殿內有(you)清(qing)代壁畫(hua),內容為(wei)佛,菩薩,第子等,構(gou)圖和技(ji)法具(ju)民(min)間傳統(tong)畫(hua)風。手法熟練,技(ji)巧高超(chao),后經補繪,雖失原貌,但仍有(you)一定的藝術價值。特別是殿內的天(tian)花藻(zao)井,稱為(wei)八(ba)門(men)九(jiu)星之天(tian)宮樓閣,全為(wei)木質雕刻。在復斗形(xing)(xing)的天(tian)花板(ban)上,以房梁分(fen)為(wei)九(jiu)個格,即九(jiu)個藻(zao)井,每個藻(zao)井中心(xin)為(wei)一個紅色圓心(xin),呈八(ba)角形(xing)(xing),雕刻精細,色澤(ze)花麗,是少見的金代珍(zhen)品。
天宮閣樓藻井
藻(zao)(zao)(zao)井(jing)是我(wo)國古代建(jian)筑(zhu)中(zhong)(zhong)室內天(tian)花的(de)(de)(de)一種裝飾性處理(li)手法(fa),多(duo)做成方(fang)形、多(duo)邊形或圓(yuan)形。宮(gong)殿或寺廟殿宇中(zhong)(zhong)多(duo)做成斗(dou)八(ba)藻(zao)(zao)(zao)井(jing),藻(zao)(zao)(zao)井(jing)上(shang)裝飾各(ge)種花紋(wen)、雕刻或彩畫。面(mian)闊3間(jian)(jian)或5間(jian)(jian)的(de)(de)(de)建(jian)筑(zhu)大多(duo)只(zhi)在(zai)明(ming)間(jian)(jian)正(zheng)中(zhong)(zhong)使用一個(ge)藻(zao)(zao)(zao)井(jing),凈土寺大殿的(de)(de)(de)藻(zao)(zao)(zao)井(jing)卻布滿3間(jian)(jian)殿宇的(de)(de)(de)全部(bu)天(tian)花,明(ming)間(jian)(jian)為斗(dou)八(ba)藻(zao)(zao)(zao)井(jing),正(zheng)中(zhong)(zhong)金龍(long)(long)盤繞(rao),氣勢磅(bang)礴。另外八(ba)個(ge)藻(zao)(zao)(zao)井(jing)則(ze)成八(ba)角、正(zheng)六(liu)、長六(liu)角、菱形等。采用的(de)(de)(de)是《營造(zao)法(fa)式》中(zhong)(zhong)天(tian)宮(gong)樓閣的(de)(de)(de)制作方(fang)法(fa),構造(zao)精美(mei),雕工(gong)巧細。你看(kan),殿頂覆斗(dou)形天(tian)花板,以房梁(liang)劃為9格,分作9個(ge)藻(zao)(zao)(zao)井(jing),數當心間(jian)(jian)的(de)(de)(de)藻(zao)(zao)(zao)井(jing)最大,傳說,中(zhong)(zhong)間(jian)(jian)那兩條(tiao)金色的(de)(de)(de)浮雕雙龍(long)(long)會在(zai)深夜飛舞,光照大殿。
每個(ge)藻井中心為一紅色圓星(xing),旁(pang)用上(shang)萬塊小木條與小木塊飾(shi)成“天宮(gong)(gong)樓(lou)閣(ge)”,混金彩繪。下層(ceng)四(si)周置平座,設欄桿,四(si)面各開一門(men),共八門(men)。仔細(xi)觀(guan)察,可發現(xian)殿(dian)內(nei)四(si)周和藻井平齊的(de)墻頭都裝有天宮(gong)(gong)樓(lou)閣(ge),與藻井相呼(hu)應(ying),莊嚴雅致,閣(ge)內(nei)壁板(ban)上(shang)繪佛像。仰(yang)觀(guan)殿(dian)宇的(de)頂(ding)部,頓感到(dao)樓(lou)閣(ge)重重,金碧輝(hui)煌。八門(men)九星(xing)和天宮(gong)(gong)樓(lou)閣(ge)都是小木雕(diao)刻(ke),從星(xing)檐(yan)、斗拱到(dao)吻獸、欄桿,構件玲瓏精巧,規格(ge)手法變化多樣(yang)。
寺廟價值
1933年秋,我國(guo)著名古建筑學家梁思成先生考察應縣(xian)木塔時,發(fa)現(xian)離木塔幾百米之(zhi)遙(yao)處(chu),有一(yi)個(ge)大(da)(da)型寺廟群(qun),他(ta)走進去一(yi)看(kan),驚嘆(tan)不已,連連稱(cheng)贊,說應縣(xian)有三(san)件(jian)寶:一(yi)為(wei)佛宮寺釋迦塔,是世界上獨一(yi)無二的(de)(de)偉大(da)(da)杰作,實屬國(guo)之(zhi)瑰寶,世之(zhi)奇(qi)葩(pa);二是凈土寺的(de)(de)天宮樓(lou)(lou)閣藻井(jing),構思精(jing)巧,妙微入神,玲瓏細致,超類絕倫,是國(guo)寶一(yi)絕;三(san)是凈土寺山門前(qian)的(de)(de)一(yi)對(dui)石(shi)獅,“披(pi)頭(tou)散發(fa)”,造型獨特,雕工(gong)精(jing)美,全(quan)國(guo)罕見。當年的(de)(de)寺廟群(qun)已不復存在,只剩大(da)(da)雄寶殿,但其內(nei)金碧輝(hui)煌的(de)(de)天宮樓(lou)(lou)閣完好無損,那對(dui)披(pi)頭(tou)散發(fa)的(de)(de)石(shi)獅仍(reng)然堅(jian)強地駐守在廟內(nei)。