大殿(dian)面闊、進(jin)深各3間,平面近方(fang)形,單檐歇山灰色(se)筒板瓦頂(ding)。檐柱(zhu)12根(gen),其(qi)中3根(gen)抹棱方(fang)柱(zhu)當(dang)是(shi)始建時遺物(wu)。殿(dian)前有(you)寬敞的(de)月(yue)臺,殿(dian)內無柱(zhu)。殿(dian)內有(you)泥塑佛(fo)像17尊,安(an)置(zhi)在凹形的(de)磚砌佛(fo)壇(tan)上(shang),佛(fo)壇(tan)上(shang)后(hou)部正中為(wei)釋(shi)迦(jia)牟尼塑像,莊嚴肅穆,總高(gao)近4米,基本(ben)保存了原有(you)風貌,是(shi)現存唐代塑像的(de)杰出作品。1961年定為(wei)全國重點文(wen)物(wu)保護(hu)單位。
山西五臺(tai)山南(nan)禪寺大殿(dian)(dian)(dian),解放后在東冶(ye)鎮李(li)家莊被(bei)發(fa)現。寺院(yuan)坐北向(xiang)南(nan),有(you)山門、龍王殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、菩薩(sa)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)和大佛殿(dian)(dian)(dian)等主要建(jian)筑(zhu),圍成一個四合院(yuan)形(xing)式(shi)。除(chu)大佛殿(dian)(dian)(dian)是唐代原物外(wai),其余幾座(zuo)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)宇都是明、清時所建(jian)。
寺(si)(si)的(de)(de)創建(jian)年(nian)代不詳,重建(jian)于唐(tang)德宗(zong)建(jian)中三年(nian) (782)。是所知存(cun)留(liu)到(dao)今,早(zao)的(de)(de)較(jiao)為完(wan)整的(de)(de)木(mu)構(gou)遺物。寺(si)(si)內(nei)大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)西縫平(ping)梁下,保存(cun)有(you)唐(tang)人墨書字(zi):“因舊名旹(時(shi))大(da)(da)唐(tang)建(jian)中三年(nian)歲次壬戌月居戊申丙寅朔(shuo)庚(geng)午日癸未時(shi)重修(xiu)殿(dian)(dian)法顯(xian)等(deng)謹志(zhi)”,是寺(si)(si)宇(yu)殿(dian)(dian)堂重建(jian)年(nian)代之證,較(jiao)佛光(guang)寺(si)(si)東大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)早(zao)75年(nian)。殿(dian)(dian)內(nei)佛像與殿(dian)(dian)宇(yu)同時(shi)建(jian)造,是中國除敦煌外稀有(you)的(de)(de)中唐(tang)彩塑。唐(tang)武宗(zong)會昌五(wu)年(nian) (845)滅(mie)法,中國佛寺(si)(si)大(da)(da)都(dou)毀壞,而南禪(chan)寺(si)(si)由于規模較(jiao)小,處地(di)偏僻,且州府縣志(zhi)和(he)佛教經(jing)(jing)籍上均(jun)無記載(zai),幸免于難,留(liu)存(cun)至(zhi)今。后(hou)經(jing)(jing)宋、元、明(ming)、清各代,雖曾有(you)過一些(xie)維修(xiu)和(he)裝繪(hui),兩(liang)廂(xiang)配(pei)殿(dian)(dian)和(he)山門均(jun)經(jing)(jing)重葺,但唐(tang)式大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)的(de)(de)規制結構(gou)和(he)殿(dian)(dian)內(nei)唐(tang)代塑像的(de)(de)體貌都(dou)依舊保存(cun)了(le)下來。
南禪寺大佛殿(dian)(dian)較小,殿(dian)(dian)內沒有柱(zhu)(zhu)子。在殿(dian)(dian)內中心(xin)稍(shao)后(hou)(hou),有高0.7米的“凹”字形(xing)(xing)佛壇(tan),沿壇(tan)可以通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)行(xing),壇(tan)上(shang)有佛教(jiao)造(zao)像(xiang)17尊,都(dou)是唐代原塑,有很高的藝術價值(zhi)。大殿(dian)(dian)單(dan)檐(yan)(yan)(yan)歇山(shan)頂,平面正(zheng)方形(xing)(xing),面闊進(jin)深各(ge)(ge)三間,通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)面闊 11.75米,進(jin)深10米。殿(dian)(dian)前(qian)(qian)月臺寬敞。前(qian)(qian)檐(yan)(yan)(yan)明間辟板(ban)門,兩(liang)次(ci)間為(wei)(wei)破子欞窗。殿(dian)(dian)四周施(shi)(shi)檐(yan)(yan)(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)12根(gen)(gen),西山(shan)施(shi)(shi)抹楞方柱(zhu)(zhu) 3根(gen)(gen),皆(jie)(jie)為(wei)(wei)創建時的原物,余皆(jie)(jie)圓柱(zhu)(zhu),柱(zhu)(zhu)底自然料石(shi)作(zuo)柱(zhu)(zhu)礎。各(ge)(ge)柱(zhu)(zhu)微(wei)向(xiang)內傾,角(jiao)柱(zhu)(zhu)增高,側腳、生起(qi)顯著。柱(zhu)(zhu)間用闌(lan)額聯系,無(wu)普柏枋(fang),轉角(jiao)處闌(lan)額不出頭(tou)(tou),唐代特征顯著。殿(dian)(dian)內無(wu)柱(zhu)(zhu),無(wu)天(tian)花(hua)板(ban)徹上(shang)露明造(zao)。通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)長(chang)的兩(liang)根(gen)(gen)四椽栿(fa)橫架(jia)于前(qian)(qian)后(hou)(hou)檐(yan)(yan)(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)之(zhi)(zhi)上(shang),栿(fa)上(shang)施(shi)(shi)繳背,通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)達前(qian)(qian)后(hou)(hou)檐(yan)(yan)(yan)外,再上(shang)為(wei)(wei)駝峰、大斗(dou)、捧節令栱(gong)(gong)、承(cheng)(cheng)平梁(liang)和平榑。平梁(liang)兩(liang)端(duan)施(shi)(shi)托腳,其(qi)上(shang)用大叉手承(cheng)(cheng)托脊榑,無(wu)駝峰與(yu)侏儒柱(zhu)(zhu)。這種(zhong)(zhong)構造(zao)是漢(han)唐期(qi)間的古制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),五代以后(hou)(hou)已不復(fu)見(jian)。梁(liang)架(jia)兩(liang)山(shan)用丁栿(fa),轉角(jiao)處僅設搭(da)牽一道,承(cheng)(cheng)椽枋(fang)與(yu)平榑相交之(zhi)(zhi)點,用直斗(dou)承(cheng)(cheng)托。梁(liang)栿(fa)形(xing)(xing)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)皆(jie)(jie)為(wei)(wei)月梁(liang)式。檐(yan)(yan)(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)上(shang)施(shi)(shi)斗(dou)栱(gong)(gong)承(cheng)(cheng)托屋檐(yan)(yan)(yan),無(wu)補間鋪(pu)作(zuo),古制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)猶(you)存(cun)。柱(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)(tou)斗(dou)栱(gong)(gong)五鋪(pu)作(zuo),雙抄(chao)單(dan)栱(gong)(gong)偷心(xin)造(zao),前(qian)(qian)后(hou)(hou)檐(yan)(yan)(yan)華栱(gong)(gong)兩(liang)跳(tiao)皆(jie)(jie)足材。第二跳(tiao)華栱(gong)(gong)系四椽栿(fa)伸(shen)至檐(yan)(yan)(yan)外制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)成(cheng),繳背伸(shen)出檐(yan)(yan)(yan)下砍成(cheng)耍(shua)頭(tou)(tou),與(yu)令栱(gong)(gong)搭(da)交承(cheng)(cheng)替木和撩檐(yan)(yan)(yan)榑。兩(liang)山(shan)斗(dou)栱(gong)(gong)上(shang)的耍(shua)頭(tou)(tou),是丁栿(fa)外端(duan)。轉角(jiao)處施(shi)(shi)45度斜栱(gong)(gong),令栱(gong)(gong)制(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)成(cheng)鴛鴉交首(shou)栱(gong)(gong)。柱(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)(tou)泥道栱(gong)(gong)之(zhi)(zhi)上(shang),疊(die)架(jia)柱(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)(tou)枋(fang)兩(liang)層,下層隱刻慢栱(gong)(gong),上(shang)層置駝峰,皿板(ban)、散(san)斗(dou)承(cheng)(cheng)壓槽(cao)枋(fang)。各(ge)(ge)栱(gong)(gong)卷殺(sha)皆(jie)(jie)分五瓣,每瓣微(wei)向(xiang)內傾,這種(zhong)(zhong)作(zuo)法曾見(jian)于齊(qi)隋間石(shi)窟窟檐(yan)(yan)(yan)和墓葬(zang)雕(diao)刻斗(dou)栱(gong)(gong)之(zhi)(zhi)上(shang),建筑實物中此為(wei)(wei)僅見(jian)之(zhi)(zhi)例。
殿頂(ding)舉(ju)折平緩,總舉(ju)高(gao)為(wei)前(qian)后撩檐榑之(zhi)間的1/5.15,即19.4%。檐出(chu)部分僅施(shi)檐椽一層,不加飛椽。翼角處大角梁(liang)通達內外,無(wu)子角梁(liang),平直古樸(pu)。
殿內佛(fo)壇寬大(da),約占室(shi)內面積的二(er)分之(zhi)一。壇上(shang)彩塑17尊(zun),皆(jie)為(wei)唐物。主像釋迦佛(fo),體(ti)形(xing)高大(da),結跏趺(fu)坐于束腰須(xu)彌座上(shang)。兩側有(you)文殊、普賢各騎獅像。主像兩側為(wei)阿難、迦葉二(er)弟(di)子和(he)二(er)脅侍菩(pu)薩。文殊、普賢前隅有(you)獠蠻、拂菻牽引獅象(xiang)和(he)二(er)童(tong)子仰望,再前為(wei)二(er)侍立菩(pu)薩和(he)二(er)天王。釋迦前面有(you)二(er)供養菩(pu)薩置(zhi)蓮臺上(shang)。各像比例適度,面形(xing)豐滿(man),衣飾華麗(li),神態自如,體(ti)形(xing)較六朝柔和(he)。與敦(dun)煌(huang)唐塑相較,如出一轍,是中國現存(cun)寺觀彩塑中的珍品。
此外(wai),南禪寺還(huan)保(bao)存有角石2塊,石獅3軀(qu),小石塔(ta)1座(zuo),雕工(gong)精練。
南禪寺(si)年(nian)久(jiu)失修,大殿木構(gou)(gou)件有所風化,地震沖擊后梁(liang)架(jia)向東歪(wai)閃,檐柱向前(qian)傾斜,部分構(gou)(gou)件脫榫劈裂,四(si)椽受壓(ya)彎垂10余厘(li)米。經過實地發掘、測繪設計(ji),制成修復方案,1974~1975年(nian)落(luo)架(jia)修繕。
南禪(chan)寺(si)(si)大(da)(da)(da)殿(dian)雖然很小(xiao),但人們仍可以從(cong)(cong)(cong)中(zhong)感受到(dao)大(da)(da)(da)唐建筑的(de)(de)藝術性格。舒緩(huan)的(de)(de)屋頂(ding),雄大(da)(da)(da)疏朗的(de)(de)斗拱,簡潔明(ming)朗的(de)(de)構(gou)(gou)(gou)圖,體現出一(yi)(yi)種雍容大(da)(da)(da)度(du),氣(qi)度(du)不凡,健康而(er)爽朗的(de)(de)格調;同(tong)時,還可以從(cong)(cong)(cong)南禪(chan)寺(si)(si)的(de)(de)大(da)(da)(da)殿(dian)看到(dao)中(zhong)唐時期木結構(gou)(gou)(gou)梁架已(yi)經有用“材”(栱高)作為(wei)木構(gou)(gou)(gou)用料標(biao)準的(de)(de)現象,說(shuo)明(ming)我國唐代建筑技(ji)術已(yi)有很高水平(ping)。中(zhong)國古(gu)代建筑受等級約束,南禪(chan)寺(si)(si)是村落中(zhong)的(de)(de)小(xiao)佛(fo)寺(si)(si),是非正(zheng)式的(de)(de)村佛(fo)堂(tang)(tang),故至多(duo)與貴邸(di)的(de)(de)廳(ting)堂(tang)(tang)近似,使用廳(ting)堂(tang)(tang)型構(gou)(gou)(gou)架,造低一(yi)(yi)個等級的(de)(de)歇山屋頂(ding)。晚唐時期的(de)(de)武宗“會昌滅法”,使得大(da)(da)(da)多(duo)數佛(fo)寺(si)(si)遭受到(dao)破(po)壞(huai)(huai)。南禪(chan)寺(si)(si)由(you)于地(di)處偏僻(pi)而(er)幸免毀壞(huai)(huai),這也(ye)從(cong)(cong)(cong)另外(wai)一(yi)(yi)個角度(du)說(shuo)明(ming)當(dang)時的(de)(de)建造技(ji)術已(yi)經相當(dang)的(de)(de)普及了。