大(da)殿面闊、進深各3間,平面近(jin)方(fang)形,單(dan)檐歇山灰(hui)色(se)筒板(ban)瓦頂。檐柱(zhu)12根(gen),其中(zhong)3根(gen)抹棱方(fang)柱(zhu)當是始建時遺物(wu)。殿前有(you)寬敞(chang)的月臺(tai),殿內無柱(zhu)。殿內有(you)泥塑佛像(xiang)17尊,安(an)置在凹形的磚砌(qi)佛壇(tan)上,佛壇(tan)上后部正(zheng)中(zhong)為(wei)釋迦牟尼塑像(xiang),莊嚴(yan)肅穆,總高近(jin)4米,基(ji)本保(bao)存了原(yuan)有(you)風(feng)貌,是現存唐(tang)代塑像(xiang)的杰出作(zuo)品(pin)。1961年定為(wei)全國重點文物(wu)保(bao)護單(dan)位。
山西(xi)五臺山南禪寺大(da)殿(dian),解放后在東冶鎮李家莊被發現。寺院(yuan)坐北向南,有山門、龍王殿(dian)、菩薩殿(dian)和大(da)佛殿(dian)等主要建(jian)筑,圍成一個四合院(yuan)形式(shi)。除大(da)佛殿(dian)是(shi)唐代原物外,其余(yu)幾座殿(dian)宇都是(shi)明(ming)、清時所建(jian)。
寺(si)(si)的創(chuang)建年(nian)(nian)(nian)代(dai)不詳,重(zhong)建于(yu)唐(tang)德宗建中三年(nian)(nian)(nian) (782)。是所知存留到今,早的較(jiao)為完整的木(mu)構遺(yi)物(wu)。寺(si)(si)內大(da)殿(dian)(dian)西縫平(ping)梁下,保(bao)存有唐(tang)人墨書字:“因(yin)舊(jiu)名旹(shi)(時)大(da)唐(tang)建中三年(nian)(nian)(nian)歲次壬(ren)戌(xu)月居戊申丙寅朔(shuo)庚午日癸未(wei)時重(zhong)修(xiu)殿(dian)(dian)法(fa)顯等謹(jin)志”,是寺(si)(si)宇殿(dian)(dian)堂重(zhong)建年(nian)(nian)(nian)代(dai)之證(zheng),較(jiao)佛光(guang)寺(si)(si)東(dong)大(da)殿(dian)(dian)早75年(nian)(nian)(nian)。殿(dian)(dian)內佛像與殿(dian)(dian)宇同時建造(zao),是中國除敦(dun)煌(huang)外稀有的中唐(tang)彩塑。唐(tang)武宗會(hui)昌五年(nian)(nian)(nian) (845)滅法(fa),中國佛寺(si)(si)大(da)都毀壞,而南禪寺(si)(si)由(you)于(yu)規模較(jiao)小,處地偏僻,且州府縣志和(he)佛教(jiao)經(jing)籍上均無(wu)記載,幸免于(yu)難,留存至今。后經(jing)宋(song)、元(yuan)、明、清各代(dai),雖曾有過一些(xie)維修(xiu)和(he)裝繪,兩廂(xiang)配殿(dian)(dian)和(he)山(shan)門(men)均經(jing)重(zhong)葺,但唐(tang)式大(da)殿(dian)(dian)的規制結構和(he)殿(dian)(dian)內唐(tang)代(dai)塑像的體貌(mao)都依舊(jiu)保(bao)存了下來。
南(nan)禪寺大佛殿較(jiao)小(xiao),殿內(nei)(nei)(nei)沒有柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)子。在殿內(nei)(nei)(nei)中心稍后(hou),有高0.7米(mi)(mi)的“凹”字形佛壇,沿壇可以(yi)通行,壇上(shang)有佛教造像17尊,都(dou)是唐代原塑,有很高的藝術價值。大殿單(dan)檐(yan)(yan)歇山(shan)頂(ding),平(ping)面(mian)正方形,面(mian)闊進深(shen)各(ge)三間(jian)(jian),通面(mian)闊 11.75米(mi)(mi),進深(shen)10米(mi)(mi)。殿前月(yue)(yue)臺(tai)寬敞。前檐(yan)(yan)明間(jian)(jian)辟板(ban)(ban)門,兩(liang)次間(jian)(jian)為(wei)(wei)破子欞窗(chuang)。殿四周施(shi)(shi)檐(yan)(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)12根(gen),西山(shan)施(shi)(shi)抹(mo)楞方柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu) 3根(gen),皆為(wei)(wei)創(chuang)建時的原物(wu),余皆圓柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)底自(zi)然料石作(zuo)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)礎。各(ge)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)微(wei)向(xiang)內(nei)(nei)(nei)傾(qing),角柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)增高,側腳、生起顯著(zhu)。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)間(jian)(jian)用(yong)闌額聯系,無(wu)(wu)普柏枋,轉角處闌額不出(chu)頭(tou)(tou),唐代特征顯著(zhu)。殿內(nei)(nei)(nei)無(wu)(wu)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu),無(wu)(wu)天花(hua)板(ban)(ban)徹上(shang)露明造。通長的兩(liang)根(gen)四椽栿(fa)橫架于前后(hou)檐(yan)(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)之(zhi)上(shang),栿(fa)上(shang)施(shi)(shi)繳背,通達前后(hou)檐(yan)(yan)外,再上(shang)為(wei)(wei)駝峰、大斗(dou)(dou)(dou)、捧節令栱、承(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)平(ping)梁(liang)(liang)和(he)平(ping)榑(fu)。平(ping)梁(liang)(liang)兩(liang)端施(shi)(shi)托(tuo)(tuo)腳,其(qi)上(shang)用(yong)大叉(cha)手承(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)托(tuo)(tuo)脊榑(fu),無(wu)(wu)駝峰與侏(zhu)儒柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)。這種(zhong)構造是漢唐期間(jian)(jian)的古(gu)制,五(wu)代以(yi)后(hou)已(yi)不復見(jian)。梁(liang)(liang)架兩(liang)山(shan)用(yong)丁栿(fa),轉角處僅設搭牽一(yi)道,承(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)椽枋與平(ping)榑(fu)相交之(zhi)點,用(yong)直(zhi)斗(dou)(dou)(dou)承(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)托(tuo)(tuo)。梁(liang)(liang)栿(fa)形制皆為(wei)(wei)月(yue)(yue)梁(liang)(liang)式。檐(yan)(yan)柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)上(shang)施(shi)(shi)斗(dou)(dou)(dou)栱承(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)托(tuo)(tuo)屋檐(yan)(yan),無(wu)(wu)補間(jian)(jian)鋪作(zuo),古(gu)制猶存(cun)。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)(tou)斗(dou)(dou)(dou)栱五(wu)鋪作(zuo),雙(shuang)抄(chao)單(dan)栱偷心造,前后(hou)檐(yan)(yan)華栱兩(liang)跳皆足(zu)材(cai)。第二跳華栱系四椽栿(fa)伸(shen)至檐(yan)(yan)外制成(cheng)(cheng),繳背伸(shen)出(chu)檐(yan)(yan)下(xia)砍成(cheng)(cheng)耍頭(tou)(tou),與令栱搭交承(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)替木和(he)撩檐(yan)(yan)榑(fu)。兩(liang)山(shan)斗(dou)(dou)(dou)栱上(shang)的耍頭(tou)(tou),是丁栿(fa)外端。轉角處施(shi)(shi)45度斜栱,令栱制成(cheng)(cheng)鴛鴉交首栱。柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)(tou)泥道栱之(zhi)上(shang),疊架柱(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)頭(tou)(tou)枋兩(liang)層(ceng),下(xia)層(ceng)隱(yin)刻慢栱,上(shang)層(ceng)置(zhi)駝峰,皿(min)板(ban)(ban)、散斗(dou)(dou)(dou)承(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)壓槽(cao)枋。各(ge)栱卷(juan)殺(sha)皆分五(wu)瓣,每瓣微(wei)向(xiang)內(nei)(nei)(nei)傾(qing),這種(zhong)作(zuo)法曾(ceng)見(jian)于齊隋間(jian)(jian)石窟窟檐(yan)(yan)和(he)墓(mu)葬雕刻斗(dou)(dou)(dou)栱之(zhi)上(shang),建筑實物(wu)中此為(wei)(wei)僅見(jian)之(zhi)例。
殿(dian)頂舉折平緩,總舉高為前后撩(liao)檐榑之間的1/5.15,即19.4%。檐出部分僅施檐椽一(yi)層,不(bu)加飛椽。翼角(jiao)處(chu)大角(jiao)梁通達內外,無(wu)子角(jiao)梁,平直古(gu)樸。
殿內佛壇寬(kuan)大,約占室內面積的二(er)(er)(er)分之一。壇上(shang)彩塑(su)17尊,皆(jie)為唐物。主(zhu)像(xiang)(xiang)釋迦(jia)佛,體形(xing)高大,結(jie)跏(jia)趺坐于束腰須彌座上(shang)。兩(liang)側有文殊、普賢各(ge)騎(qi)獅(shi)像(xiang)(xiang)。主(zhu)像(xiang)(xiang)兩(liang)側為阿(a)難、迦(jia)葉二(er)(er)(er)弟(di)子和(he)二(er)(er)(er)脅侍(shi)(shi)菩(pu)薩。文殊、普賢前隅有獠(liao)蠻、拂菻(lin)牽引獅(shi)象和(he)二(er)(er)(er)童子仰望,再前為二(er)(er)(er)侍(shi)(shi)立菩(pu)薩和(he)二(er)(er)(er)天王。釋迦(jia)前面有二(er)(er)(er)供(gong)養(yang)菩(pu)薩置蓮(lian)臺上(shang)。各(ge)像(xiang)(xiang)比(bi)例適度,面形(xing)豐滿,衣飾華麗,神(shen)態(tai)自如(ru),體形(xing)較(jiao)六朝柔和(he)。與敦煌唐塑(su)相較(jiao),如(ru)出(chu)一轍,是中國現(xian)存寺觀彩塑(su)中的珍品。
此外,南禪寺還保存有角(jiao)石(shi)(shi)2塊,石(shi)(shi)獅3軀,小石(shi)(shi)塔1座,雕工精練(lian)。
南禪寺年久失(shi)修(xiu)(xiu),大(da)殿木構件(jian)有(you)所風化,地震沖擊(ji)后梁(liang)架向(xiang)東歪閃,檐(yan)柱向(xiang)前傾斜,部分構件(jian)脫榫劈(pi)裂,四椽受壓(ya)彎垂10余厘米。經過實地發掘、測繪設計,制成修(xiu)(xiu)復方案,1974~1975年落架修(xiu)(xiu)繕。
南(nan)禪寺(si)大(da)(da)殿雖然很(hen)小(xiao),但人(ren)們仍可以從(cong)(cong)中(zhong)感受(shou)到(dao)大(da)(da)唐(tang)(tang)建筑(zhu)的(de)(de)藝術性格。舒緩的(de)(de)屋頂,雄大(da)(da)疏(shu)朗(lang)的(de)(de)斗拱,簡潔明(ming)朗(lang)的(de)(de)構(gou)圖(tu),體現出一種雍容大(da)(da)度,氣度不凡,健康而爽朗(lang)的(de)(de)格調;同時(shi),還(huan)可以從(cong)(cong)南(nan)禪寺(si)的(de)(de)大(da)(da)殿看(kan)到(dao)中(zhong)唐(tang)(tang)時(shi)期木(mu)結構(gou)梁架(jia)已(yi)經有(you)用(yong)(yong)“材”(栱(gong)高)作(zuo)為木(mu)構(gou)用(yong)(yong)料標準的(de)(de)現象,說明(ming)我國唐(tang)(tang)代(dai)建筑(zhu)技(ji)術已(yi)有(you)很(hen)高水平。中(zhong)國古代(dai)建筑(zhu)受(shou)等級約束,南(nan)禪寺(si)是村落中(zhong)的(de)(de)小(xiao)佛(fo)寺(si),是非正式的(de)(de)村佛(fo)堂,故(gu)至(zhi)多(duo)與貴邸(di)的(de)(de)廳堂近似,使用(yong)(yong)廳堂型構(gou)架(jia),造低(di)一個等級的(de)(de)歇山屋頂。晚唐(tang)(tang)時(shi)期的(de)(de)武宗“會昌滅法”,使得(de)大(da)(da)多(duo)數佛(fo)寺(si)遭受(shou)到(dao)破壞。南(nan)禪寺(si)由于(yu)地處偏僻(pi)而幸(xing)免(mian)毀壞,這也從(cong)(cong)另外一個角度說明(ming)當時(shi)的(de)(de)建造技(ji)術已(yi)經相當的(de)(de)普及了。