大殿面闊、進深各3間,平面近(jin)方(fang)形,單檐(yan)歇(xie)山灰色(se)筒板瓦頂(ding)。檐(yan)柱(zhu)12根,其中3根抹(mo)棱方(fang)柱(zhu)當是(shi)始(shi)建時遺(yi)物。殿前有(you)寬敞的(de)月(yue)臺,殿內無柱(zhu)。殿內有(you)泥塑佛像17尊,安置(zhi)在(zai)凹形的(de)磚砌(qi)佛壇上(shang),佛壇上(shang)后部(bu)正(zheng)中為(wei)釋迦牟尼(ni)塑像,莊嚴肅穆(mu),總高近(jin)4米,基本保存(cun)了原有(you)風貌(mao),是(shi)現存(cun)唐代塑像的(de)杰出作品。1961年定(ding)為(wei)全國(guo)重點文物保護單位。
山西五(wu)臺(tai)山南禪(chan)寺大殿(dian)(dian)(dian),解放后在東冶鎮(zhen)李家莊被發現。寺院坐北向南,有(you)山門、龍(long)王殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、菩薩殿(dian)(dian)(dian)和(he)大佛殿(dian)(dian)(dian)等主要建筑,圍成一個四合(he)院形式。除大佛殿(dian)(dian)(dian)是唐代原物外(wai),其余幾座殿(dian)(dian)(dian)宇都是明、清時所建。
寺(si)(si)(si)(si)的(de)創(chuang)建(jian)(jian)年(nian)代不詳,重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)于唐(tang)德宗建(jian)(jian)中三(san)年(nian) (782)。是(shi)所(suo)知(zhi)存(cun)(cun)留到今(jin),早的(de)較為完整的(de)木構(gou)遺(yi)物(wu)。寺(si)(si)(si)(si)內大(da)殿西縫平梁(liang)下(xia)(xia),保(bao)(bao)存(cun)(cun)有唐(tang)人(ren)墨書字:“因舊名(ming)旹(shi)(時(shi)(shi))大(da)唐(tang)建(jian)(jian)中三(san)年(nian)歲次壬戌月居(ju)戊申丙寅朔庚午日癸未(wei)時(shi)(shi)重(zhong)修(xiu)殿法顯等謹志”,是(shi)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)宇(yu)殿堂重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)年(nian)代之(zhi)證,較佛(fo)光寺(si)(si)(si)(si)東大(da)殿早75年(nian)。殿內佛(fo)像(xiang)與殿宇(yu)同時(shi)(shi)建(jian)(jian)造,是(shi)中國除(chu)敦(dun)煌外稀有的(de)中唐(tang)彩塑。唐(tang)武(wu)宗會(hui)昌五(wu)年(nian) (845)滅法,中國佛(fo)寺(si)(si)(si)(si)大(da)都毀壞,而(er)南禪寺(si)(si)(si)(si)由于規(gui)模較小(xiao),處地偏僻,且州府縣志和(he)佛(fo)教經(jing)籍(ji)上均(jun)(jun)無記載,幸免(mian)于難,留存(cun)(cun)至(zhi)今(jin)。后經(jing)宋、元(yuan)、明(ming)、清各代,雖曾有過(guo)一些維(wei)修(xiu)和(he)裝(zhuang)繪,兩廂配殿和(he)山門均(jun)(jun)經(jing)重(zhong)葺,但(dan)唐(tang)式大(da)殿的(de)規(gui)制結構(gou)和(he)殿內唐(tang)代塑像(xiang)的(de)體貌都依舊保(bao)(bao)存(cun)(cun)了下(xia)(xia)來(lai)。
南禪寺大(da)佛殿(dian)(dian)較小(xiao),殿(dian)(dian)內沒有(you)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)子。在殿(dian)(dian)內中(zhong)心稍后,有(you)高0.7米的(de)(de)(de)“凹(ao)”字形佛壇(tan)(tan),沿壇(tan)(tan)可以通行(xing),壇(tan)(tan)上(shang)(shang)(shang)有(you)佛教造(zao)像17尊,都是(shi)唐代(dai)(dai)原塑,有(you)很高的(de)(de)(de)藝術價值。大(da)殿(dian)(dian)單檐(yan)歇山(shan)頂(ding),平面(mian)正方形,面(mian)闊進深各(ge)三間(jian),通面(mian)闊 11.75米,進深10米。殿(dian)(dian)前(qian)月臺寬敞。前(qian)檐(yan)明間(jian)辟板(ban)(ban)門,兩(liang)(liang)次(ci)間(jian)為破(po)子欞窗(chuang)。殿(dian)(dian)四(si)周施(shi)檐(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)12根,西山(shan)施(shi)抹楞(leng)方柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu) 3根,皆(jie)為創建時的(de)(de)(de)原物,余皆(jie)圓柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)底(di)自然(ran)料石(shi)作(zuo)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)礎。各(ge)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)微(wei)向內傾,角(jiao)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)增高,側腳(jiao)、生起顯著(zhu)。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)間(jian)用闌額聯(lian)系,無普柏(bo)枋(fang),轉角(jiao)處(chu)(chu)闌額不出頭,唐代(dai)(dai)特征顯著(zhu)。殿(dian)(dian)內無柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),無天花板(ban)(ban)徹上(shang)(shang)(shang)露明造(zao)。通長的(de)(de)(de)兩(liang)(liang)根四(si)椽栿(fa)橫架于(yu)(yu)前(qian)后檐(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)之(zhi)上(shang)(shang)(shang),栿(fa)上(shang)(shang)(shang)施(shi)繳背,通達(da)前(qian)后檐(yan)外,再上(shang)(shang)(shang)為駝(tuo)峰(feng)、大(da)斗、捧節令(ling)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)、承(cheng)(cheng)平梁(liang)(liang)(liang)和平榑(fu)。平梁(liang)(liang)(liang)兩(liang)(liang)端(duan)施(shi)托腳(jiao),其上(shang)(shang)(shang)用大(da)叉手承(cheng)(cheng)托脊榑(fu),無駝(tuo)峰(feng)與(yu)侏(zhu)儒柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)。這(zhe)種(zhong)構(gou)造(zao)是(shi)漢唐期間(jian)的(de)(de)(de)古制,五代(dai)(dai)以后已不復見。梁(liang)(liang)(liang)架兩(liang)(liang)山(shan)用丁栿(fa),轉角(jiao)處(chu)(chu)僅(jin)設搭(da)牽一道,承(cheng)(cheng)椽枋(fang)與(yu)平榑(fu)相交之(zhi)點,用直(zhi)斗承(cheng)(cheng)托。梁(liang)(liang)(liang)栿(fa)形制皆(jie)為月梁(liang)(liang)(liang)式。檐(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)上(shang)(shang)(shang)施(shi)斗栱(gong)(gong)(gong)承(cheng)(cheng)托屋檐(yan),無補間(jian)鋪作(zuo),古制猶存(cun)。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭斗栱(gong)(gong)(gong)五鋪作(zuo),雙抄單栱(gong)(gong)(gong)偷心造(zao),前(qian)后檐(yan)華栱(gong)(gong)(gong)兩(liang)(liang)跳(tiao)皆(jie)足材(cai)。第二跳(tiao)華栱(gong)(gong)(gong)系四(si)椽栿(fa)伸(shen)(shen)至(zhi)檐(yan)外制成(cheng),繳背伸(shen)(shen)出檐(yan)下(xia)砍(kan)成(cheng)耍頭,與(yu)令(ling)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)搭(da)交承(cheng)(cheng)替木和撩檐(yan)榑(fu)。兩(liang)(liang)山(shan)斗栱(gong)(gong)(gong)上(shang)(shang)(shang)的(de)(de)(de)耍頭,是(shi)丁栿(fa)外端(duan)。轉角(jiao)處(chu)(chu)施(shi)45度斜栱(gong)(gong)(gong),令(ling)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)制成(cheng)鴛鴉交首(shou)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭泥道栱(gong)(gong)(gong)之(zhi)上(shang)(shang)(shang),疊(die)架柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭枋(fang)兩(liang)(liang)層,下(xia)層隱刻慢栱(gong)(gong)(gong),上(shang)(shang)(shang)層置駝(tuo)峰(feng),皿板(ban)(ban)、散斗承(cheng)(cheng)壓(ya)槽枋(fang)。各(ge)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)卷(juan)殺皆(jie)分五瓣(ban),每瓣(ban)微(wei)向內傾,這(zhe)種(zhong)作(zuo)法曾見于(yu)(yu)齊隋間(jian)石(shi)窟(ku)窟(ku)檐(yan)和墓葬(zang)雕(diao)刻斗栱(gong)(gong)(gong)之(zhi)上(shang)(shang)(shang),建筑(zhu)實(shi)物中(zhong)此為僅(jin)見之(zhi)例。
殿(dian)頂舉折(zhe)平緩(huan),總舉高為前后撩檐(yan)(yan)榑之間的1/5.15,即(ji)19.4%。檐(yan)(yan)出部分僅施檐(yan)(yan)椽一(yi)層,不加飛椽。翼角(jiao)處大角(jiao)梁通(tong)達內外,無子角(jiao)梁,平直古樸(pu)。
殿內佛壇(tan)寬大,約占室內面積的二(er)(er)分之一。壇(tan)上彩(cai)塑(su)(su)17尊,皆為唐物。主(zhu)像(xiang)(xiang)釋迦佛,體形高大,結跏趺坐(zuo)于(yu)束(shu)腰須彌座上。兩側有文(wen)殊、普賢各騎獅(shi)像(xiang)(xiang)。主(zhu)像(xiang)(xiang)兩側為阿難(nan)、迦葉二(er)(er)弟子和二(er)(er)脅侍(shi)菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)。文(wen)殊、普賢前隅有獠蠻(man)、拂菻牽引獅(shi)象和二(er)(er)童子仰望,再前為二(er)(er)侍(shi)立菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)和二(er)(er)天王。釋迦前面有二(er)(er)供養菩(pu)薩(sa)(sa)置(zhi)蓮臺上。各像(xiang)(xiang)比例(li)適度,面形豐滿,衣(yi)飾華麗,神態自如,體形較(jiao)六朝柔和。與(yu)敦煌唐塑(su)(su)相較(jiao),如出(chu)一轍,是中國現存(cun)寺觀彩(cai)塑(su)(su)中的珍品。
此外,南禪(chan)寺還(huan)保存有(you)角石(shi)2塊,石(shi)獅3軀,小石(shi)塔1座,雕工精(jing)練。
南禪寺年(nian)久失修,大殿木(mu)構件有所風化,地(di)震沖擊后梁架向東(dong)歪閃(shan),檐(yan)柱向前(qian)傾斜,部分構件脫(tuo)榫劈(pi)裂,四(si)椽受壓(ya)彎垂10余厘(li)米。經過實地(di)發掘、測繪設計(ji),制成(cheng)修復方(fang)案,1974~1975年(nian)落架修繕。
南(nan)(nan)(nan)禪寺大(da)殿(dian)(dian)雖(sui)然很小,但人們(men)仍可以從(cong)中(zhong)(zhong)感受到(dao)(dao)大(da)唐建筑的(de)(de)藝術性格(ge)。舒緩的(de)(de)屋頂,雄大(da)疏朗的(de)(de)斗拱,簡潔明朗的(de)(de)構(gou)圖(tu),體現出(chu)一種雍(yong)容大(da)度,氣度不凡,健康而爽朗的(de)(de)格(ge)調;同(tong)時(shi),還可以從(cong)南(nan)(nan)(nan)禪寺的(de)(de)大(da)殿(dian)(dian)看到(dao)(dao)中(zhong)(zhong)唐時(shi)期木(mu)結構(gou)梁架已(yi)經(jing)有用“材”(栱高(gao)(gao))作為木(mu)構(gou)用料標(biao)準的(de)(de)現象,說明我國唐代建筑技術已(yi)有很高(gao)(gao)水平。中(zhong)(zhong)國古(gu)代建筑受等級(ji)約(yue)束,南(nan)(nan)(nan)禪寺是(shi)村(cun)落中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)小佛(fo)(fo)(fo)寺,是(shi)非正式的(de)(de)村(cun)佛(fo)(fo)(fo)堂,故至多(duo)與貴邸(di)的(de)(de)廳堂近似(si),使(shi)用廳堂型構(gou)架,造低一個等級(ji)的(de)(de)歇山屋頂。晚唐時(shi)期的(de)(de)武宗“會昌滅法”,使(shi)得大(da)多(duo)數佛(fo)(fo)(fo)寺遭受到(dao)(dao)破壞。南(nan)(nan)(nan)禪寺由于地處偏(pian)僻而幸(xing)免毀壞,這也從(cong)另外一個角度說明當時(shi)的(de)(de)建造技術已(yi)經(jing)相當的(de)(de)普(pu)及了。