大殿(dian)面(mian)闊、進深各3間(jian),平(ping)面(mian)近(jin)方形,單(dan)檐歇山(shan)灰(hui)色筒板瓦頂。檐柱12根,其中3根抹棱方柱當是始(shi)建時遺物。殿(dian)前(qian)有寬(kuan)敞(chang)的月臺,殿(dian)內無柱。殿(dian)內有泥塑佛(fo)像(xiang)17尊,安置(zhi)在凹形的磚砌佛(fo)壇上(shang),佛(fo)壇上(shang)后部正中為釋迦牟尼塑像(xiang),莊嚴肅穆,總高近(jin)4米,基本(ben)保存了(le)原有風貌,是現存唐代塑像(xiang)的杰出作品(pin)。1961年(nian)定為全國重點文物保護單(dan)位。
山(shan)西五臺山(shan)南禪寺大(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),解放后(hou)在東(dong)冶鎮李(li)家莊被發現。寺院(yuan)坐北向(xiang)南,有山(shan)門(men)、龍王殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、菩(pu)薩殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)和大(da)佛(fo)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)等(deng)主要建筑,圍成(cheng)一個(ge)四合院(yuan)形(xing)式。除大(da)佛(fo)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)是唐代原物外,其余幾座(zuo)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)宇都(dou)是明、清時所建。
寺(si)的(de)(de)創建(jian)(jian)(jian)年(nian)(nian)代(dai)(dai)(dai)不詳,重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)(jian)于(yu)唐(tang)德(de)宗(zong)(zong)建(jian)(jian)(jian)中(zhong)(zhong)三年(nian)(nian) (782)。是所知存(cun)(cun)留(liu)到今(jin),早的(de)(de)較(jiao)為完整的(de)(de)木(mu)構遺(yi)物。寺(si)內大(da)殿(dian)西(xi)縫平梁(liang)下,保存(cun)(cun)有唐(tang)人(ren)墨書(shu)字:“因舊名旹(時(shi))大(da)唐(tang)建(jian)(jian)(jian)中(zhong)(zhong)三年(nian)(nian)歲(sui)次(ci)壬戌(xu)月居戊申(shen)丙(bing)寅朔庚(geng)午日癸未時(shi)重(zhong)修殿(dian)法(fa)顯(xian)等謹志(zhi)”,是寺(si)宇(yu)殿(dian)堂(tang)重(zhong)建(jian)(jian)(jian)年(nian)(nian)代(dai)(dai)(dai)之證,較(jiao)佛光寺(si)東大(da)殿(dian)早75年(nian)(nian)。殿(dian)內佛像(xiang)(xiang)與殿(dian)宇(yu)同時(shi)建(jian)(jian)(jian)造,是中(zhong)(zhong)國除敦(dun)煌(huang)外稀有的(de)(de)中(zhong)(zhong)唐(tang)彩(cai)塑。唐(tang)武宗(zong)(zong)會昌五年(nian)(nian) (845)滅法(fa),中(zhong)(zhong)國佛寺(si)大(da)都毀壞,而南禪寺(si)由(you)于(yu)規模較(jiao)小,處(chu)地(di)偏僻,且州府縣志(zhi)和佛教經(jing)籍上均無記載,幸免于(yu)難,留(liu)存(cun)(cun)至今(jin)。后經(jing)宋、元、明、清各代(dai)(dai)(dai),雖曾有過一些維(wei)修和裝繪(hui),兩廂(xiang)配殿(dian)和山門(men)均經(jing)重(zhong)葺,但唐(tang)式(shi)大(da)殿(dian)的(de)(de)規制結(jie)構和殿(dian)內唐(tang)代(dai)(dai)(dai)塑像(xiang)(xiang)的(de)(de)體貌都依舊保存(cun)(cun)了下來。
南(nan)禪(chan)寺大(da)佛(fo)殿(dian)較小,殿(dian)內沒(mei)有(you)(you)柱(zhu)(zhu)子。在殿(dian)內中心稍后(hou)(hou)(hou),有(you)(you)高(gao)(gao)0.7米的(de)“凹”字形佛(fo)壇,沿壇可以(yi)通(tong)行,壇上有(you)(you)佛(fo)教造(zao)像17尊,都(dou)是唐代(dai)(dai)原塑,有(you)(you)很高(gao)(gao)的(de)藝術(shu)價值(zhi)。大(da)殿(dian)單檐(yan)(yan)歇山(shan)頂,平(ping)(ping)面正方形,面闊(kuo)進深(shen)各(ge)三(san)間(jian),通(tong)面闊(kuo) 11.75米,進深(shen)10米。殿(dian)前(qian)月臺寬敞(chang)。前(qian)檐(yan)(yan)明間(jian)辟板(ban)(ban)門,兩(liang)(liang)次間(jian)為(wei)破子欞窗。殿(dian)四(si)周施檐(yan)(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)12根,西山(shan)施抹(mo)楞方柱(zhu)(zhu) 3根,皆(jie)為(wei)創(chuang)建時的(de)原物,余皆(jie)圓柱(zhu)(zhu),柱(zhu)(zhu)底(di)自然料石作柱(zhu)(zhu)礎。各(ge)柱(zhu)(zhu)微向(xiang)內傾(qing),角柱(zhu)(zhu)增高(gao)(gao),側腳、生起(qi)顯著。柱(zhu)(zhu)間(jian)用(yong)闌(lan)額聯系,無普柏枋(fang),轉角處闌(lan)額不出頭(tou),唐代(dai)(dai)特征(zheng)顯著。殿(dian)內無柱(zhu)(zhu),無天(tian)花板(ban)(ban)徹上露明造(zao)。通(tong)長的(de)兩(liang)(liang)根四(si)椽(chuan)栿(fa)(fa)(fa)橫(heng)架于前(qian)后(hou)(hou)(hou)檐(yan)(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)之(zhi)上,栿(fa)(fa)(fa)上施繳背,通(tong)達前(qian)后(hou)(hou)(hou)檐(yan)(yan)外(wai),再上為(wei)駝(tuo)峰、大(da)斗(dou)、捧節令(ling)(ling)栱(gong)(gong)、承(cheng)(cheng)平(ping)(ping)梁(liang)(liang)和(he)(he)平(ping)(ping)榑。平(ping)(ping)梁(liang)(liang)兩(liang)(liang)端施托(tuo)(tuo)腳,其上用(yong)大(da)叉手承(cheng)(cheng)托(tuo)(tuo)脊榑,無駝(tuo)峰與侏儒(ru)柱(zhu)(zhu)。這(zhe)(zhe)種構造(zao)是漢(han)唐期間(jian)的(de)古(gu)(gu)制,五代(dai)(dai)以(yi)后(hou)(hou)(hou)已不復見。梁(liang)(liang)架兩(liang)(liang)山(shan)用(yong)丁栿(fa)(fa)(fa),轉角處僅設搭(da)牽一(yi)道,承(cheng)(cheng)椽(chuan)枋(fang)與平(ping)(ping)榑相交(jiao)之(zhi)點,用(yong)直(zhi)斗(dou)承(cheng)(cheng)托(tuo)(tuo)。梁(liang)(liang)栿(fa)(fa)(fa)形制皆(jie)為(wei)月梁(liang)(liang)式。檐(yan)(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)上施斗(dou)栱(gong)(gong)承(cheng)(cheng)托(tuo)(tuo)屋(wu)檐(yan)(yan),無補間(jian)鋪(pu)作,古(gu)(gu)制猶存(cun)。柱(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)斗(dou)栱(gong)(gong)五鋪(pu)作,雙抄單栱(gong)(gong)偷心造(zao),前(qian)后(hou)(hou)(hou)檐(yan)(yan)華(hua)(hua)栱(gong)(gong)兩(liang)(liang)跳皆(jie)足材(cai)。第二(er)跳華(hua)(hua)栱(gong)(gong)系四(si)椽(chuan)栿(fa)(fa)(fa)伸至(zhi)檐(yan)(yan)外(wai)制成(cheng),繳背伸出檐(yan)(yan)下(xia)砍成(cheng)耍頭(tou),與令(ling)(ling)栱(gong)(gong)搭(da)交(jiao)承(cheng)(cheng)替(ti)木和(he)(he)撩檐(yan)(yan)榑。兩(liang)(liang)山(shan)斗(dou)栱(gong)(gong)上的(de)耍頭(tou),是丁栿(fa)(fa)(fa)外(wai)端。轉角處施45度斜(xie)栱(gong)(gong),令(ling)(ling)栱(gong)(gong)制成(cheng)鴛鴉交(jiao)首栱(gong)(gong)。柱(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)泥道栱(gong)(gong)之(zhi)上,疊(die)架柱(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)枋(fang)兩(liang)(liang)層,下(xia)層隱刻慢栱(gong)(gong),上層置駝(tuo)峰,皿板(ban)(ban)、散斗(dou)承(cheng)(cheng)壓(ya)槽枋(fang)。各(ge)栱(gong)(gong)卷殺皆(jie)分五瓣,每瓣微向(xiang)內傾(qing),這(zhe)(zhe)種作法(fa)曾(ceng)見于齊(qi)隋間(jian)石窟(ku)窟(ku)檐(yan)(yan)和(he)(he)墓葬雕刻斗(dou)栱(gong)(gong)之(zhi)上,建筑實(shi)物中此為(wei)僅見之(zhi)例。
殿頂(ding)舉(ju)折平(ping)緩(huan),總舉(ju)高(gao)為前后撩檐(yan)榑之間的1/5.15,即19.4%。檐(yan)出部(bu)分僅施檐(yan)椽(chuan)一層,不加飛椽(chuan)。翼角處大角梁通達內外,無(wu)子角梁,平(ping)直古樸。
殿內佛壇寬大(da),約(yue)占室(shi)內面積的二(er)(er)(er)分之一。壇上彩塑17尊(zun),皆(jie)為唐物。主(zhu)像釋(shi)迦佛,體形高大(da),結跏趺(fu)坐于束(shu)腰須彌座(zuo)上。兩側有文殊、普(pu)賢(xian)各騎獅像。主(zhu)像兩側為阿難、迦葉二(er)(er)(er)弟(di)子和(he)(he)(he)二(er)(er)(er)脅侍菩薩。文殊、普(pu)賢(xian)前(qian)隅有獠(liao)蠻、拂菻牽引獅象和(he)(he)(he)二(er)(er)(er)童子仰望,再前(qian)為二(er)(er)(er)侍立菩薩和(he)(he)(he)二(er)(er)(er)天王(wang)。釋(shi)迦前(qian)面有二(er)(er)(er)供養(yang)菩薩置(zhi)蓮(lian)臺(tai)上。各像比例適度,面形豐滿,衣(yi)飾(shi)華(hua)麗,神態自如,體形較六朝柔和(he)(he)(he)。與敦(dun)煌(huang)唐塑相較,如出一轍,是中國現存寺(si)觀彩塑中的珍(zhen)品。
此外,南禪寺還保存有角石(shi)2塊,石(shi)獅3軀,小石(shi)塔1座,雕工(gong)精(jing)練。
南禪(chan)寺年(nian)久失修,大殿木(mu)構件有(you)所(suo)風化,地震沖擊后(hou)梁架(jia)向東歪閃,檐(yan)柱向前傾斜,部(bu)分構件脫榫(sun)劈裂,四椽受(shou)壓彎垂10余厘米(mi)。經過實地發掘、測繪設計,制(zhi)成修復方案,1974~1975年(nian)落架(jia)修繕。
南禪(chan)寺大殿(dian)雖(sui)然(ran)很小(xiao),但人們仍可(ke)以(yi)(yi)從(cong)中(zhong)感受到大唐建(jian)(jian)筑的(de)(de)(de)(de)藝術性格。舒緩的(de)(de)(de)(de)屋頂,雄大疏朗的(de)(de)(de)(de)斗拱,簡潔明朗的(de)(de)(de)(de)構(gou)圖,體現(xian)(xian)出一種雍(yong)容大度(du),氣度(du)不凡,健康而爽朗的(de)(de)(de)(de)格調;同時,還可(ke)以(yi)(yi)從(cong)南禪(chan)寺的(de)(de)(de)(de)大殿(dian)看(kan)到中(zhong)唐時期(qi)木結構(gou)梁架已(yi)經(jing)有(you)用“材”(栱高)作為木構(gou)用料標準的(de)(de)(de)(de)現(xian)(xian)象,說明我國唐代(dai)建(jian)(jian)筑技術已(yi)有(you)很高水平。中(zhong)國古代(dai)建(jian)(jian)筑受等級約束(shu),南禪(chan)寺是(shi)(shi)村落中(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)小(xiao)佛寺,是(shi)(shi)非正式(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)村佛堂(tang)(tang),故至多與貴邸的(de)(de)(de)(de)廳堂(tang)(tang)近(jin)似,使用廳堂(tang)(tang)型構(gou)架,造(zao)低一個(ge)等級的(de)(de)(de)(de)歇山屋頂。晚(wan)唐時期(qi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)武宗“會昌滅法”,使得大多數佛寺遭受到破壞。南禪(chan)寺由于地處(chu)偏僻(pi)而幸免毀壞,這也從(cong)另外一個(ge)角度(du)說明當時的(de)(de)(de)(de)建(jian)(jian)造(zao)技術已(yi)經(jing)相(xiang)當的(de)(de)(de)(de)普及(ji)了。