山(shan)西省重點(dian)文(wen)物保護單(dan)位(wei)。在(zai)沁縣城北30千米的南(nan)涅水鄉南(nan)涅水村北隅(yu)。四(si)周田(tian)園(yuan)廣闊(kuo),土嶺突兀,涅水河環繞寺(si)院而過,景色宜人。
據(ju)乾隆(long)三(san)(san)十六年(nian)(1771)《沁州志(zhi)》載,南涅(nie)水(shui)古為蔡皋狼(lang)之地,漢置涅(nie)水(shui)縣,晉(jin)稱涅(nie)縣,后周改陽城縣,北魏(wei)設(she)鄉郡,隋稱甲水(shui),唐入(ru)潞(lu)州,宋隸威勝軍(jun),金(jin)(jin)元明清(qing)歸沁州銅鞮管轄。南涅(nie)水(shui)曾(ceng)(ceng)為縣邑治所,歷史(shi)悠久,文化(hua)昌盛(sheng)(sheng)。東(dong)漢永平十年(nian)(公元67年(nian)),隨著佛(fo)教(jiao)傳入(ru)我國(guo),南涅(nie)水(shui)已建(jian)起(qi)(qi)了佛(fo)教(jiao)寺(si)院(yuan)(yuan)。初名“弘教(jiao)寺(si)”,取弘揚佛(fo)法,教(jiao)化(hua)眾(zhong)生之意。到了南北朝時期,佛(fo)教(jiao)興盛(sheng)(sheng),寺(si)院(yuan)(yuan)規模(mo)日趨擴大(da),佛(fo)教(jiao)僧侶驟增,信(xin)佛(fo)居士(shi)遍布城鄉。這一時期興起(qi)(qi)了鑿造石刻、石窟寺(si)的高潮,著名的“沁縣南涅(nie)水(shui)石刻”就是在北魏(wei)永平元年(nian)(508)由佛(fo)教(jiao)僧侶和信(xin)士(shi)捐(juan)資捐(juan)刻的,一直延(yan)續(xu)到北宋天圣九年(nian)(1031)。后寺(si)院(yuan)(yuan)建(jian)筑毀于兵火。石刻、石像則埋于地下(xia)保(bao)存。金(jin)(jin)代重建(jian)寺(si)院(yuan)(yuan)。金(jin)(jin)大(da)定(ding)九年(nian)(1169)敕于“洪(hong)教(jiao)三(san)(san)院(yuan)(yuan)”,木制牌匾今仍懸掛在大(da)雄寶殿(dian)之前,元至元八年(nian)(1271)重修,明天順年(nian)間(1457——1464)重修,清(qing)康熙三(san)(san)年(nian)(1664)亦(yi)重修。清(qing)民時期及建(jian)國(guo)后也曾(ceng)(ceng)多次修葺。
該院(yuan)坐北向南,現存三(san)(san)進院(yuan)落(luo),占地面(mian)積1522平方米,中軸線上由山門、前(qian)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、戲臺(tai)、大(da)(da)雄殿(dian)(dian)(dian)組成(cheng),左右配以韋馱殿(dian)(dian)(dian)、觀音堂、廂(xiang)房、耳殿(dian)(dian)(dian)等。前(qian)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)面(mian)闊三(san)(san)間(jian)(jian)(jian),進深兩間(jian)(jian)(jian),四(si)架(jia)椽屋,懸山頂(ding)(ding)(ding)。戲臺(tai)廣深三(san)(san)間(jian)(jian)(jian),懸山式屋頂(ding)(ding)(ding)形制(zhi),前(qian)后檐(yan)(yan)下隔(ge)扇裝(zhuang)修,經清(qing)式多次(ci)(ci)修葺(qi),已成(cheng)為(wei)清(qing)式建(jian)筑風格。大(da)(da)雄寶殿(dian)(dian)(dian)重建(jian)于(yu)金元(yuan)之際,高臺(tai)筑殿(dian)(dian)(dian),三(san)(san)間(jian)(jian)(jian)面(mian)闊,六(liu)椽栿前(qian)后貫通,單檐(yan)(yan)懸山頂(ding)(ding)(ding)。前(qian)檐(yan)(yan)臺(tai)明(ming)寬闊,垂帶、踏跺(duo)規整(zheng),明(ming)間(jian)(jian)(jian)辟門,次(ci)(ci)間(jian)(jian)(jian)開(kai)窗,柱頭斗拱(gong)五(wu)鋪作單抄單下昂,昂呈琴面(mian)式,耍頭做昂型。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)四(si)根金柱粗壯(zhuang)挺拔(ba),柱頭卷剎(cha)明(ming)顯(xian),抬梁式構(gou)架(jia)。屋頂(ding)(ding)(ding)舉折平緩,筒板布瓦滿覆(fu),脊(ji)獸、脊(ji)剎(cha)雖為(wei)后換之物(wu),但仍具有鮮(xian)明(ming)的金元(yuan)建(jian)筑特征(zheng)。大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)右次(ci)(ci)間(jian)(jian)(jian)下肩墻處鑲嵌著元(yuan)至元(yuan)八年(1271年)五(wu)月重修寺院(yuan)的石(shi)碣(jie)一塊,紅砂巖刻(ke)制(zhi),文(wen)字(zi)清(qing)晰(xi)。殿(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)保(bao)存著數尊北魏(wei)石(shi)刻(ke)神像及歷(li)代重修碑刻(ke),極為(wei)珍貴。
在洪教院(yuan)西(xi)北200米處,保(bao)存著(zhu)一座(zuo)觀(guan)音(yin)閣(ge)(ge),俗稱水(shui)(shui)(shui)閣(ge)(ge)涼亭。一池(chi)(chi)清泉晝夜縈廽,清澈見底(di)。池(chi)(chi)內游(you)魚嬉戲,歷歷可數。泉水(shui)(shui)(shui)冬(dong)暖夏(xia)涼,飲用甘甜。水(shui)(shui)(shui)池(chi)(chi)占地(di)面積百余平(ping)方(fang)米,正方(fang)形(xing)池(chi)(chi)墁由(you)50根(gen)望柱(zhu)、欄桿圈就,中(zhong)間鑲(xiang)嵌著(zhu)欄板,精(jing)雕(diao)細刻(ke),圖(tu)案(an)精(jing)美(mei)。磚、石(shi)、木結構(gou)的(de)(de)(de)觀(guan)音(yin)閣(ge)(ge),坐落在深(shen)插水(shui)(shui)(shui)中(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)12根(gen)石(shi)柱(zhu)之上,每面四柱(zhu)三門(men)(men),隔扇花菱,玲(ling)瓏剔透。斗拱支檐,木方(fang)額(e)穿(chuan)插,飛(fei)檐凌空,古(gu)樸典雅(ya)。屋頂單檐歇山(shan)頂,筒(tong)瓦(wa)覆蓋,脊獸皆備,給人一曲線柔和的(de)(de)(de)飄逸美(mei)感。觀(guan)音(yin)水(shui)(shui)(shui)閣(ge)(ge)內保(bao)存著(zhu):觀(guan)音(yin)、文殊、普賢三大士和十(shi)八(ba)羅漢的(de)(de)(de)彩(cai)(cai)塑,個個形(xing)象生動,造型各異。梁架及其他(ta)構(gou)件上“觀(guan)音(yin)救(jiu)八(ba)難”、“太子游(you)四門(men)(men)”等壁畫,色(se)彩(cai)(cai)莊重,勾勒傳神。古(gu)色(se)古(gu)香(xiang)的(de)(de)(de)建筑形(xing)制與(yu)優美(mei)獨特的(de)(de)(de)自(zi)然環(huan)境融為一體(ti),使洪教院(yuan)這處佛(fo)教古(gu)剎頻(pin)添了幾(ji)分姿色(se)。