江西弋(yi)陽南(nan)(nan)巖(yan)寺(si)又名南(nan)(nan)巖(yan)佛窟或南(nan)(nan)巖(yan)佛洞(dong),南(nan)(nan)巖(yan)寺(si)洞(dong)內現(xian)(xian)存石龕40余(yu)座(zuo),摩崖石刻10余(yu)處,依巖(yan)環列成半圓形(xing),龕內雕(diao)有釋迦牟(mou)尼、文(wen)珠、普賢(xian)、觀音及(ji)十八羅漢等佛雕(diao),體現(xian)(xian)了我國(guo)古代勞動人民高超(chao)的石雕(diao)技藝。雖(sui)然(ran)建(jian)國(guo)后因僧人返俗和文(wen)革期(qi)間遭受破(po)壞。但1999年經省文(wen)化廳批(pi)準(zhun),弋(yi)陽縣人民政府找回(hui)了被(bei)損的36尊(zun)佛像(xiang)頭,對該寺(si)進行了整(zheng)體修復(fu),使得這(zhe)座(zuo)千(qian)年名剎得以重現(xian)(xian)昔日的輝(hui)煌。南(nan)(nan)巖(yan)寺(si)現(xian)(xian)為(wei)省級重點(dian)文(wen)物(wu)保護單位(1959年批(pi)),正在申報國(guo)家級重點(dian)文(wen)物(wu)保護單位。
南巖寺(si)起于晉代,唐太(tai)和年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(827-835)僧人神(shen)曜(yao)重修(xiu)(xiu),并(bing)在石壁(bi)上始鑿石龕;宋嘉定年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(1208-1224)邑(yi)人王元長建殿門、堂廡(wu),鐘樓及(ji)架橋設亭,又續鑿石為諸佛像。元至正年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(1341-1368)僧人嗣正再修(xiu)(xiu);明崇禎年(nian)(nian)(nian)間(1628-1644)重修(xiu)(xiu);明代邑(yi)人范(fan)有韜贈匾曰:“自然天地”;清(qing)康熙五年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1666)僧人園修(xiu)(xiu)增修(xiu)(xiu)。時(shi)俱規模如清(qing)弋知縣(xian)劉臨孫在《游南巖記》中所云:“就(jiu)壁(bi)斷石,成之如畫,懸(xuan)空空,令人肅(su)(su)肅(su)(su)生悸矣”。道光八年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1828)僧人空凡又重修(xiu)(xiu)堂房和廂房,后經(jing)民(min)國年(nian)(nian)(nian)間再度重修(xiu)(xiu),香火一(yi)直鼎(ding)盛,是名揚(yang)江南的千年(nian)(nian)(nian)古剎。