大殿(dian)(dian)面闊、進深(shen)各(ge)3間,平面近方形,單檐歇山灰色(se)筒板瓦頂。檐柱12根,其中3根抹棱方柱當是(shi)始建(jian)時遺(yi)物(wu)(wu)。殿(dian)(dian)前有寬敞的(de)(de)月臺,殿(dian)(dian)內無柱。殿(dian)(dian)內有泥塑佛像17尊,安置在凹形的(de)(de)磚砌(qi)佛壇上(shang)(shang),佛壇上(shang)(shang)后部正中為釋迦牟尼塑像,莊(zhuang)嚴肅穆,總(zong)高近4米,基本保存了(le)原有風(feng)貌,是(shi)現存唐代塑像的(de)(de)杰出作品。1961年定(ding)為全國(guo)重點(dian)文物(wu)(wu)保護單位(wei)。
山西五臺(tai)山南禪寺(si)大殿(dian),解放后在東冶(ye)鎮李(li)家莊被發現。寺(si)院(yuan)坐北(bei)向南,有山門、龍王殿(dian)、菩(pu)薩殿(dian)和大佛殿(dian)等主要(yao)建(jian)(jian)筑,圍成一個四合(he)院(yuan)形式。除大佛殿(dian)是唐代原物(wu)外,其余幾座殿(dian)宇都是明、清時所建(jian)(jian)。
寺(si)的(de)創建(jian)年(nian)(nian)(nian)代不詳,重建(jian)于(yu)唐(tang)(tang)(tang)德宗建(jian)中(zhong)(zhong)三(san)(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian) (782)。是(shi)所知存留到(dao)今,早的(de)較為完整的(de)木(mu)構(gou)遺物(wu)。寺(si)內大(da)殿(dian)(dian)西縫平(ping)梁下,保存有(you)唐(tang)(tang)(tang)人墨書字(zi):“因舊名旹(時(shi))大(da)唐(tang)(tang)(tang)建(jian)中(zhong)(zhong)三(san)(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)歲次(ci)壬(ren)戌月居戊(wu)申丙寅(yin)朔庚午(wu)日癸未時(shi)重修殿(dian)(dian)法顯等(deng)謹志”,是(shi)寺(si)宇殿(dian)(dian)堂重建(jian)年(nian)(nian)(nian)代之(zhi)證,較佛(fo)光寺(si)東大(da)殿(dian)(dian)早75年(nian)(nian)(nian)。殿(dian)(dian)內佛(fo)像與(yu)殿(dian)(dian)宇同時(shi)建(jian)造,是(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)國除敦煌外稀有(you)的(de)中(zhong)(zhong)唐(tang)(tang)(tang)彩塑(su)。唐(tang)(tang)(tang)武宗會昌五年(nian)(nian)(nian) (845)滅(mie)法,中(zhong)(zhong)國佛(fo)寺(si)大(da)都(dou)毀(hui)壞(huai),而(er)南禪寺(si)由于(yu)規(gui)模較小,處地偏(pian)僻(pi),且州府縣志和(he)佛(fo)教(jiao)經籍上均(jun)無記(ji)載,幸免于(yu)難,留存至今。后經宋、元、明、清各代,雖曾有(you)過一些維(wei)修和(he)裝(zhuang)繪(hui),兩廂配殿(dian)(dian)和(he)山門均(jun)經重葺,但唐(tang)(tang)(tang)式(shi)大(da)殿(dian)(dian)的(de)規(gui)制(zhi)結構(gou)和(he)殿(dian)(dian)內唐(tang)(tang)(tang)代塑(su)像的(de)體貌都(dou)依舊保存了(le)下來(lai)。
南禪寺(si)大(da)佛(fo)殿較小,殿內(nei)沒有(you)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)子(zi)。在殿內(nei)中(zhong)心稍后(hou)(hou),有(you)高(gao)0.7米的(de)(de)“凹”字形佛(fo)壇,沿壇可以(yi)通行,壇上(shang)(shang)有(you)佛(fo)教造(zao)像17尊(zun),都(dou)是唐代(dai)原(yuan)塑,有(you)很高(gao)的(de)(de)藝術價值。大(da)殿單檐歇(xie)山頂,平(ping)面正方(fang)(fang)形,面闊(kuo)進(jin)深各(ge)三間(jian),通面闊(kuo) 11.75米,進(jin)深10米。殿前月臺寬(kuan)敞。前檐明間(jian)辟板門,兩次間(jian)為(wei)破子(zi)欞窗。殿四(si)周施(shi)(shi)檐柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)12根,西山施(shi)(shi)抹楞方(fang)(fang)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu) 3根,皆(jie)為(wei)創(chuang)建時(shi)的(de)(de)原(yuan)物,余皆(jie)圓柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)底自(zi)然(ran)料(liao)石作(zuo)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)礎。各(ge)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)微向(xiang)內(nei)傾,角柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)增高(gao),側腳、生(sheng)起顯著。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)間(jian)用(yong)闌額聯系,無(wu)普(pu)柏(bo)枋,轉角處闌額不(bu)出頭(tou),唐代(dai)特征顯著。殿內(nei)無(wu)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),無(wu)天(tian)花板徹上(shang)(shang)露明造(zao)。通長的(de)(de)兩根四(si)椽栿(fa)(fa)(fa)橫(heng)架于(yu)前后(hou)(hou)檐柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)之(zhi)(zhi)上(shang)(shang),栿(fa)(fa)(fa)上(shang)(shang)施(shi)(shi)繳背(bei),通達前后(hou)(hou)檐外(wai)(wai),再上(shang)(shang)為(wei)駝峰(feng)、大(da)斗、捧節令(ling)(ling)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)、承(cheng)(cheng)平(ping)梁(liang)和(he)平(ping)榑。平(ping)梁(liang)兩端施(shi)(shi)托(tuo)腳,其(qi)上(shang)(shang)用(yong)大(da)叉(cha)手承(cheng)(cheng)托(tuo)脊榑,無(wu)駝峰(feng)與侏(zhu)儒柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)。這種構造(zao)是漢唐期間(jian)的(de)(de)古制(zhi),五代(dai)以(yi)后(hou)(hou)已不(bu)復見(jian)。梁(liang)架兩山用(yong)丁(ding)栿(fa)(fa)(fa),轉角處僅設搭(da)牽(qian)一道,承(cheng)(cheng)椽枋與平(ping)榑相交之(zhi)(zhi)點,用(yong)直斗承(cheng)(cheng)托(tuo)。梁(liang)栿(fa)(fa)(fa)形制(zhi)皆(jie)為(wei)月梁(liang)式(shi)。檐柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)上(shang)(shang)施(shi)(shi)斗栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)承(cheng)(cheng)托(tuo)屋檐,無(wu)補(bu)間(jian)鋪作(zuo),古制(zhi)猶存(cun)。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)斗栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)五鋪作(zuo),雙(shuang)抄單栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)偷心造(zao),前后(hou)(hou)檐華栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)兩跳皆(jie)足材。第(di)二跳華栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)系四(si)椽栿(fa)(fa)(fa)伸(shen)至檐外(wai)(wai)制(zhi)成,繳背(bei)伸(shen)出檐下(xia)砍成耍(shua)頭(tou),與令(ling)(ling)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)搭(da)交承(cheng)(cheng)替木和(he)撩(liao)檐榑。兩山斗栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)上(shang)(shang)的(de)(de)耍(shua)頭(tou),是丁(ding)栿(fa)(fa)(fa)外(wai)(wai)端。轉角處施(shi)(shi)45度斜(xie)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),令(ling)(ling)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)制(zhi)成鴛鴉交首(shou)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)泥道栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)之(zhi)(zhi)上(shang)(shang),疊架柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)枋兩層,下(xia)層隱(yin)刻慢栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong),上(shang)(shang)層置駝峰(feng),皿板、散斗承(cheng)(cheng)壓槽枋。各(ge)栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)卷殺皆(jie)分五瓣(ban),每瓣(ban)微向(xiang)內(nei)傾,這種作(zuo)法曾見(jian)于(yu)齊隋間(jian)石窟(ku)窟(ku)檐和(he)墓葬雕刻斗栱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)之(zhi)(zhi)上(shang)(shang),建筑(zhu)實物中(zhong)此為(wei)僅見(jian)之(zhi)(zhi)例。
殿(dian)頂舉折平緩,總舉高(gao)為前后撩檐(yan)榑之間的1/5.15,即19.4%。檐(yan)出部分僅施檐(yan)椽一層,不加飛椽。翼角處大角梁通達內外,無子角梁,平直古樸。
殿內(nei)佛(fo)壇寬大(da),約占室內(nei)面(mian)積的二(er)分之一。壇上彩(cai)塑17尊,皆為唐(tang)物。主像(xiang)釋迦佛(fo),體形(xing)高大(da),結跏趺(fu)坐于束腰須彌座(zuo)上。兩(liang)側(ce)有(you)(you)文(wen)殊(shu)、普賢(xian)各騎獅像(xiang)。主像(xiang)兩(liang)側(ce)為阿難、迦葉二(er)弟(di)子和二(er)脅侍菩薩。文(wen)殊(shu)、普賢(xian)前(qian)(qian)(qian)隅(yu)有(you)(you)獠(liao)蠻、拂菻牽引(yin)獅象和二(er)童子仰望,再(zai)前(qian)(qian)(qian)為二(er)侍立菩薩和二(er)天王。釋迦前(qian)(qian)(qian)面(mian)有(you)(you)二(er)供養(yang)菩薩置蓮臺上。各像(xiang)比(bi)例適度,面(mian)形(xing)豐滿,衣飾華麗,神態自如,體形(xing)較六(liu)朝柔和。與敦煌唐(tang)塑相(xiang)較,如出一轍(che),是中(zhong)國現存寺觀彩(cai)塑中(zhong)的珍品。
此(ci)外,南禪寺(si)還保存有角石(shi)2塊,石(shi)獅3軀,小(xiao)石(shi)塔(ta)1座,雕工精練。
南禪(chan)寺年(nian)久失修(xiu),大殿木(mu)構件有所(suo)風化,地(di)震沖擊后梁(liang)架(jia)向東歪閃,檐柱(zhu)向前傾斜,部(bu)分(fen)構件脫榫劈裂,四椽受壓彎垂10余厘米(mi)。經過實地(di)發掘、測(ce)繪設計,制成修(xiu)復方案,1974~1975年(nian)落架(jia)修(xiu)繕(shan)。
南(nan)禪(chan)寺(si)(si)(si)大(da)(da)殿雖然很(hen)小,但人們仍可(ke)以從中感受到大(da)(da)唐建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)的(de)(de)(de)藝術性格。舒緩的(de)(de)(de)屋(wu)頂(ding),雄大(da)(da)疏朗(lang)的(de)(de)(de)斗拱,簡潔(jie)明朗(lang)的(de)(de)(de)構圖,體現出一種雍容(rong)大(da)(da)度(du),氣度(du)不凡,健康而爽朗(lang)的(de)(de)(de)格調;同時(shi)(shi),還(huan)可(ke)以從南(nan)禪(chan)寺(si)(si)(si)的(de)(de)(de)大(da)(da)殿看到中唐時(shi)(shi)期木結構梁架已(yi)(yi)經(jing)有用(yong)“材(cai)”(栱高)作為木構用(yong)料標準的(de)(de)(de)現象,說(shuo)明我國唐代建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)技術已(yi)(yi)有很(hen)高水平。中國古代建(jian)(jian)筑(zhu)受等級約束(shu),南(nan)禪(chan)寺(si)(si)(si)是村落中的(de)(de)(de)小佛寺(si)(si)(si),是非正(zheng)式的(de)(de)(de)村佛堂,故至多與(yu)貴邸的(de)(de)(de)廳(ting)堂近似,使用(yong)廳(ting)堂型(xing)構架,造低一個等級的(de)(de)(de)歇山(shan)屋(wu)頂(ding)。晚唐時(shi)(shi)期的(de)(de)(de)武宗“會昌(chang)滅法”,使得大(da)(da)多數佛寺(si)(si)(si)遭受到破壞。南(nan)禪(chan)寺(si)(si)(si)由于地處偏僻而幸免毀(hui)壞,這也從另外一個角度(du)說(shuo)明當(dang)(dang)時(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)(de)建(jian)(jian)造技術已(yi)(yi)經(jing)相當(dang)(dang)的(de)(de)(de)普及(ji)了。