江西弋(yi)陽(yang)南(nan)巖寺(si)又名(ming)南(nan)巖佛(fo)窟(ku)或南(nan)巖佛(fo)洞,南(nan)巖寺(si)洞內現(xian)(xian)存石(shi)龕40余(yu)座,摩崖石(shi)刻10余(yu)處,依巖環列(lie)成半(ban)圓(yuan)形(xing),龕內雕有釋迦牟尼、文珠、普賢、觀音及十八(ba)羅漢等佛(fo)雕,體現(xian)(xian)了(le)我國古代勞動人民高超(chao)的石(shi)雕技藝。雖然(ran)建國后因僧(seng)人返(fan)俗(su)和(he)文革期間(jian)遭受破壞。但1999年經省文化廳(ting)批準(zhun),弋(yi)陽(yang)縣人民政(zheng)府找回(hui)了(le)被損(sun)的36尊佛(fo)像頭,對該(gai)寺(si)進(jin)行了(le)整體修復,使得(de)這座千年名(ming)剎得(de)以重現(xian)(xian)昔日的輝煌(huang)。南(nan)巖寺(si)現(xian)(xian)為省級重點(dian)文物(wu)(wu)保(bao)護單(dan)位(1959年批),正在申報國家級重點(dian)文物(wu)(wu)保(bao)護單(dan)位。
南巖寺起于晉代,唐(tang)太和(he)年(nian)(nian)間(jian)(827-835)僧(seng)人(ren)神曜重(zhong)修,并在(zai)(zai)石(shi)壁上始鑿(zao)石(shi)龕;宋(song)嘉(jia)定年(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1208-1224)邑人(ren)王元(yuan)長建殿門、堂廡,鐘(zhong)樓及架(jia)橋設亭,又(you)續鑿(zao)石(shi)為諸佛像。元(yuan)至正(zheng)(zheng)年(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1341-1368)僧(seng)人(ren)嗣(si)正(zheng)(zheng)再修;明(ming)崇禎年(nian)(nian)間(jian)(1628-1644)重(zhong)修;明(ming)代邑人(ren)范(fan)有韜贈匾(bian)曰(yue):“自(zi)然天地(di)”;清(qing)康熙(xi)五年(nian)(nian)(1666)僧(seng)人(ren)園修增修。時俱規模如清(qing)弋知縣(xian)劉臨孫(sun)在(zai)(zai)《游南巖記》中所云:“就壁斷石(shi),成之如畫,懸空(kong)空(kong),令(ling)人(ren)肅肅生悸(ji)矣”。道光八年(nian)(nian)(1828)僧(seng)人(ren)空(kong)凡又(you)重(zhong)修堂房(fang)和(he)廂房(fang),后(hou)經(jing)民國年(nian)(nian)間(jian)再度重(zhong)修,香火一直鼎(ding)盛,是名(ming)揚江南的千年(nian)(nian)古剎。