Leshan Giant Buddha

A 71-meter stone statue of Maitreya Buddha carved into a cliff at the confluence of three rivers in Sichuan, China. Completed in the eighth century, it is among the world’s largest premodern Buddha statues.

Maitreya: A bodhisattva in Buddhist tradition who will become the next Buddha in the future. The statue portrays this future Buddha, linking the monument to expectations of Buddhist renewal.
Hai Tong: A Tang dynasty Buddhist monk associated with initiating construction of the Leshan Giant Buddha. Tradition credits him with beginning the project to calm hazardous currents.
Chinese stone carving: The carving of figures, inscriptions, and ornament from stone in Chinese artistic traditions. The Buddha was formed by removing sandstone from the cliff face.
Mount Emei Scenic Area: A UNESCO World Heritage property in Sichuan encompassing Mount Emei and the Leshan Giant Buddha. The statue is protected and presented internationally as part of this shared heritage property.
Buddhist rock-cut architecture: Buddhist buildings and images carved directly into natural rock formations. The statue belongs to a tradition of shaping sacred spaces and images from cliffs.
Tang dynasty: A Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 618 to 907. Construction began during the Tang period, when Buddhism and monumental art flourished.
Sandstone: A sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized mineral or rock grains. The cliff’s workable sandstone enabled the statue’s immense scale and detailed carving.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: A place inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List for its recognized cultural or natural value. The Buddha’s inscription recognizes its exceptional artistic and historical significance.
Lingyun Mountain: A mountain on the eastern bank of the Min River at Leshan, Sichuan. The Buddha is carved into the mountain’s red sandstone cliff.
Lingyun Temple: A Buddhist temple complex on Lingyun Mountain near the Leshan Giant Buddha. The temple landscape situates the statue within a broader sacred site.

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