山(shan)西省重(zhong)點文(wen)物保護單(dan)位(wei)。在沁縣城北30千米的南(nan)涅水鄉南(nan)涅水村北隅(yu)。四周(zhou)田園廣闊,土嶺突兀(wu),涅水河環繞寺院(yuan)而(er)過,景色宜人。
據乾(qian)隆三十六年(nian)(nian)(1771)《沁州(zhou)志(zhi)》載,南(nan)涅(nie)水(shui)(shui)古為蔡皋狼之(zhi)地(di),漢置涅(nie)水(shui)(shui)縣(xian),晉稱涅(nie)縣(xian),后周改陽城(cheng)縣(xian),北魏設鄉(xiang)郡(jun),隋(sui)稱甲水(shui)(shui),唐入潞州(zhou),宋(song)隸威(wei)勝軍,金元明(ming)清(qing)歸沁州(zhou)銅(tong)鞮管轄。南(nan)涅(nie)水(shui)(shui)曾(ceng)為縣(xian)邑治所,歷史(shi)悠久(jiu),文化昌盛。東漢永平(ping)十年(nian)(nian)(公(gong)元67年(nian)(nian)),隨著(zhu)(zhu)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)教(jiao)傳入我(wo)國,南(nan)涅(nie)水(shui)(shui)已建(jian)起(qi)了佛(fo)(fo)(fo)教(jiao)寺(si)(si)院(yuan)。初名“弘(hong)教(jiao)寺(si)(si)”,取弘(hong)揚佛(fo)(fo)(fo)法,教(jiao)化眾生之(zhi)意。到了南(nan)北朝(chao)時(shi)期(qi),佛(fo)(fo)(fo)教(jiao)興(xing)盛,寺(si)(si)院(yuan)規模(mo)日趨擴大,佛(fo)(fo)(fo)教(jiao)僧侶驟增,信佛(fo)(fo)(fo)居士遍布城(cheng)鄉(xiang)。這一時(shi)期(qi)興(xing)起(qi)了鑿(zao)造石(shi)刻、石(shi)窟寺(si)(si)的高潮,著(zhu)(zhu)名的“沁縣(xian)南(nan)涅(nie)水(shui)(shui)石(shi)刻”就(jiu)是在(zai)北魏永平(ping)元年(nian)(nian)(508)由佛(fo)(fo)(fo)教(jiao)僧侶和信士捐(juan)資捐(juan)刻的,一直延續到北宋(song)天(tian)圣九(jiu)年(nian)(nian)(1031)。后寺(si)(si)院(yuan)建(jian)筑毀于(yu)兵火。石(shi)刻、石(shi)像則埋于(yu)地(di)下保存。金代重建(jian)寺(si)(si)院(yuan)。金大定九(jiu)年(nian)(nian)(1169)敕于(yu)“洪(hong)教(jiao)三院(yuan)”,木制牌匾今仍(reng)懸掛在(zai)大雄寶殿之(zhi)前,元至(zhi)元八年(nian)(nian)(1271)重修(xiu)(xiu),明(ming)天(tian)順年(nian)(nian)間(1457——1464)重修(xiu)(xiu),清(qing)康熙三年(nian)(nian)(1664)亦(yi)重修(xiu)(xiu)。清(qing)民時(shi)期(qi)及建(jian)國后也曾(ceng)多(duo)次修(xiu)(xiu)葺。
該院(yuan)坐北(bei)向南,現存(cun)三(san)進院(yuan)落,占(zhan)地面(mian)(mian)積1522平方米,中軸線上由(you)山門(men)、前(qian)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、戲(xi)臺、大(da)雄殿(dian)(dian)(dian)組成,左(zuo)右(you)配以韋馱殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、觀音堂、廂(xiang)房、耳殿(dian)(dian)(dian)等(deng)。前(qian)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)面(mian)(mian)闊三(san)間(jian),進深(shen)兩間(jian),四(si)(si)架(jia)椽屋,懸(xuan)(xuan)山頂(ding)。戲(xi)臺廣深(shen)三(san)間(jian),懸(xuan)(xuan)山式屋頂(ding)形制(zhi),前(qian)后(hou)檐(yan)下隔(ge)扇(shan)裝修(xiu),經清(qing)式多次(ci)修(xiu)葺,已(yi)成為(wei)清(qing)式建筑風格(ge)。大(da)雄寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)重建于金元(yuan)之(zhi)際(ji),高臺筑殿(dian)(dian)(dian),三(san)間(jian)面(mian)(mian)闊,六椽栿前(qian)后(hou)貫通,單檐(yan)懸(xuan)(xuan)山頂(ding)。前(qian)檐(yan)臺明寬闊,垂帶、踏跺規整,明間(jian)辟門(men),次(ci)間(jian)開(kai)窗,柱(zhu)頭斗拱五(wu)鋪作單抄單下昂,昂呈琴(qin)面(mian)(mian)式,耍頭做昂型。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內四(si)(si)根金柱(zhu)粗壯挺(ting)拔,柱(zhu)頭卷剎(cha)明顯,抬梁式構架(jia)。屋頂(ding)舉折平緩,筒板(ban)布(bu)瓦滿覆(fu),脊(ji)(ji)獸、脊(ji)(ji)剎(cha)雖為(wei)后(hou)換之(zhi)物,但(dan)仍具有鮮明的(de)金元(yuan)建筑特征(zheng)。大(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)右(you)次(ci)間(jian)下肩墻處鑲嵌著(zhu)元(yuan)至元(yuan)八年(1271年)五(wu)月重修(xiu)寺(si)院(yuan)的(de)石碣一塊,紅砂巖刻(ke)制(zhi),文字清(qing)晰。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內保存(cun)著(zhu)數尊北(bei)魏石刻(ke)神(shen)像及歷代重修(xiu)碑刻(ke),極為(wei)珍貴。
在洪(hong)教院西北200米處,保(bao)存著(zhu)一(yi)座觀(guan)音(yin)(yin)閣(ge),俗稱水閣(ge)涼(liang)亭。一(yi)池(chi)(chi)清泉晝夜縈廽,清澈見底。池(chi)(chi)內游魚嬉戲,歷歷可數。泉水冬暖夏涼(liang),飲用甘甜。水池(chi)(chi)占地面積百(bai)余平方米,正方形(xing)池(chi)(chi)墁由(you)50根(gen)望(wang)柱、欄桿圈就,中間鑲(xiang)嵌(qian)著(zhu)欄板(ban),精雕(diao)細刻(ke),圖案精美。磚、石、木(mu)結構(gou)的觀(guan)音(yin)(yin)閣(ge),坐(zuo)落在深插水中的12根(gen)石柱之上,每(mei)面四柱三門,隔扇花(hua)菱,玲瓏剔透(tou)。斗拱支(zhi)檐(yan),木(mu)方額(e)穿插,飛檐(yan)凌空,古(gu)樸典雅。屋頂(ding)單(dan)檐(yan)歇(xie)山(shan)頂(ding),筒瓦(wa)覆蓋,脊(ji)獸皆備,給人一(yi)曲(qu)線柔和的飄逸(yi)美感(gan)。觀(guan)音(yin)(yin)水閣(ge)內保(bao)存著(zhu):觀(guan)音(yin)(yin)、文殊、普賢三大(da)士和十八羅漢的彩(cai)塑,個(ge)個(ge)形(xing)象生(sheng)動,造型各(ge)異。梁架(jia)及(ji)其(qi)他(ta)構(gou)件上“觀(guan)音(yin)(yin)救八難”、“太子游四門”等(deng)壁畫,色彩(cai)莊重,勾勒傳神(shen)。古(gu)色古(gu)香的建筑形(xing)制與優美獨特的自(zi)然環(huan)境融(rong)為一(yi)體,使洪(hong)教院這(zhe)處佛教古(gu)剎頻添(tian)了幾分姿(zi)色。