山西省重點(dian)文物(wu)保護單(dan)位(wei)。在沁(qin)縣城北(bei)30千米的南涅(nie)(nie)水鄉南涅(nie)(nie)水村北(bei)隅。四周(zhou)田園廣闊,土嶺突兀,涅(nie)(nie)水河環(huan)繞寺院而過,景色宜(yi)人。
據乾(qian)隆三(san)十(shi)六年(nian)(1771)《沁(qin)州志(zhi)》載,南(nan)(nan)涅(nie)水(shui)(shui)古為(wei)蔡皋狼之地,漢置涅(nie)水(shui)(shui)縣,晉稱涅(nie)縣,后(hou)(hou)周改陽城縣,北(bei)魏設鄉郡,隋稱甲水(shui)(shui),唐(tang)入潞州,宋隸威(wei)勝軍,金(jin)元明清歸沁(qin)州銅鞮管(guan)轄。南(nan)(nan)涅(nie)水(shui)(shui)曾為(wei)縣邑治所,歷史悠(you)久,文化昌盛(sheng)。東漢永平(ping)十(shi)年(nian)(公(gong)元67年(nian)),隨(sui)著(zhu)佛(fo)教(jiao)(jiao)傳入我國,南(nan)(nan)涅(nie)水(shui)(shui)已建(jian)起了(le)佛(fo)教(jiao)(jiao)寺(si)院。初名(ming)“弘(hong)教(jiao)(jiao)寺(si)”,取(qu)弘(hong)揚佛(fo)法,教(jiao)(jiao)化眾(zhong)生(sheng)之意。到(dao)了(le)南(nan)(nan)北(bei)朝(chao)時(shi)期(qi)(qi),佛(fo)教(jiao)(jiao)興盛(sheng),寺(si)院規模日趨擴大(da),佛(fo)教(jiao)(jiao)僧侶驟增,信(xin)佛(fo)居士(shi)(shi)遍布城鄉。這(zhe)一時(shi)期(qi)(qi)興起了(le)鑿(zao)造石(shi)刻、石(shi)窟寺(si)的(de)高潮,著(zhu)名(ming)的(de)“沁(qin)縣南(nan)(nan)涅(nie)水(shui)(shui)石(shi)刻”就是在北(bei)魏永平(ping)元年(nian)(508)由佛(fo)教(jiao)(jiao)僧侶和信(xin)士(shi)(shi)捐(juan)資(zi)捐(juan)刻的(de),一直延(yan)續(xu)到(dao)北(bei)宋天(tian)圣九年(nian)(1031)。后(hou)(hou)寺(si)院建(jian)筑(zhu)毀于兵火。石(shi)刻、石(shi)像則埋于地下保存。金(jin)代重(zhong)建(jian)寺(si)院。金(jin)大(da)定九年(nian)(1169)敕于“洪教(jiao)(jiao)三(san)院”,木制(zhi)牌匾今仍懸掛在大(da)雄寶殿(dian)之前(qian),元至元八年(nian)(1271)重(zhong)修(xiu),明天(tian)順年(nian)間(jian)(1457——1464)重(zhong)修(xiu),清康(kang)熙(xi)三(san)年(nian)(1664)亦重(zhong)修(xiu)。清民(min)時(shi)期(qi)(qi)及建(jian)國后(hou)(hou)也曾多次(ci)修(xiu)葺。
該院(yuan)坐北向南(nan),現存三進院(yuan)落,占地面(mian)(mian)積1522平方米(mi),中軸線(xian)上由山門(men)、前(qian)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、戲臺(tai)、大雄殿(dian)(dian)(dian)組成,左(zuo)右(you)配(pei)以韋馱殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、觀音堂、廂房、耳殿(dian)(dian)(dian)等。前(qian)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)面(mian)(mian)闊(kuo)三間,進深兩間,四架(jia)椽屋,懸山頂(ding)(ding)(ding)。戲臺(tai)廣深三間,懸山式屋頂(ding)(ding)(ding)形制,前(qian)后檐下隔扇裝修(xiu),經清(qing)式多次修(xiu)葺,已(yi)成為(wei)清(qing)式建(jian)筑風(feng)格(ge)。大雄寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)重(zhong)建(jian)于(yu)金(jin)元(yuan)之際,高臺(tai)筑殿(dian)(dian)(dian),三間面(mian)(mian)闊(kuo),六(liu)椽栿前(qian)后貫通,單檐懸山頂(ding)(ding)(ding)。前(qian)檐臺(tai)明(ming)寬闊(kuo),垂帶、踏跺規整(zheng),明(ming)間辟門(men),次間開窗,柱頭(tou)斗(dou)拱五鋪作單抄單下昂(ang),昂(ang)呈琴面(mian)(mian)式,耍頭(tou)做昂(ang)型。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內四根金(jin)柱粗壯挺拔,柱頭(tou)卷(juan)剎(cha)明(ming)顯,抬(tai)梁式構架(jia)。屋頂(ding)(ding)(ding)舉折平緩,筒板布瓦滿(man)覆(fu),脊獸(shou)、脊剎(cha)雖為(wei)后換(huan)之物,但仍具有鮮明(ming)的(de)金(jin)元(yuan)建(jian)筑特征(zheng)。大殿(dian)(dian)(dian)右(you)次間下肩墻(qiang)處鑲嵌著(zhu)元(yuan)至元(yuan)八年(nian)(1271年(nian))五月(yue)重(zhong)修(xiu)寺院(yuan)的(de)石碣(jie)一塊,紅砂巖刻制,文(wen)字清(qing)晰。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內保存著(zhu)數(shu)尊北魏(wei)石刻神像(xiang)及歷(li)代(dai)重(zhong)修(xiu)碑刻,極為(wei)珍貴。
在洪教(jiao)院(yuan)西北200米處,保(bao)存(cun)著一座觀音(yin)(yin)閣,俗稱水閣涼亭。一池清泉(quan)晝夜(ye)縈廽,清澈(che)見底。池內游(you)魚嬉戲,歷歷可數。泉(quan)水冬暖夏涼,飲用甘甜。水池占地面積(ji)百余平方米,正方形池墁由50根望(wang)柱(zhu)(zhu)、欄(lan)桿圈就,中間鑲嵌著欄(lan)板,精雕細刻,圖(tu)案精美(mei)。磚(zhuan)、石、木(mu)結(jie)構(gou)的觀音(yin)(yin)閣,坐落(luo)在深插(cha)水中的12根石柱(zhu)(zhu)之上(shang),每面四柱(zhu)(zhu)三門,隔扇花菱,玲(ling)瓏剔透。斗(dou)拱支(zhi)檐,木(mu)方額穿插(cha),飛檐凌空(kong),古(gu)樸典雅。屋頂單檐歇山頂,筒瓦覆(fu)蓋,脊獸皆備,給人(ren)一曲線柔和的飄逸美(mei)感。觀音(yin)(yin)水閣內保(bao)存(cun)著:觀音(yin)(yin)、文殊、普賢三大士和十八(ba)羅漢的彩塑,個(ge)個(ge)形象(xiang)生動(dong),造(zao)型各(ge)異。梁(liang)架及其他構(gou)件上(shang)“觀音(yin)(yin)救八(ba)難”、“太子(zi)游(you)四門”等壁畫,色彩莊重,勾勒傳(chuan)神(shen)。古(gu)色古(gu)香的建筑(zhu)形制與優美(mei)獨特的自然環境融(rong)為(wei)一體,使洪教(jiao)院(yuan)這處佛教(jiao)古(gu)剎頻(pin)添了幾(ji)分姿色。