What is the name of the monumental seated Buddha carved into a cliff at Leshan in China?

The Leshan Giant Buddha is the monumental seated Buddha carved into a cliff at Leshan in China.

The statue depicts Maitreya, a future Buddha, and was carved into red sandstone at the confluence of the Min, Dadu, and Qingyi rivers. Construction began in 713 during China’s Tang dynasty under the Buddhist monk Haitong. The project was intended to calm dangerous river currents that threatened boat traffic.

The sculpture measures about 71 meters from head to toe, making it the largest pre-modern stone Buddha statue in the world. Its drainage channels, hidden in the hair, collar, chest, and ears, help protect the stone from rainwater.

The statue is part of the Mount Emei Scenic Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is sometimes confused with the much taller modern Spring Temple Buddha in Henan.