Construction of the famous Leshan Giant Buddha, an enormous statue of a Maitreya (a future Buddha) was started in 713 CE under Xuanzong's reign. A Buddhist monk named Hai Tong began the project to ward off evil spirits from the river at the bottom of the cliffs. This statue of the Maitreya, carved into the cliff, is 233 feet (71 meters) tall and remains a popular tourist attraction today.
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speedygroundhog. (2016, March 23). Leshan Giant Buddha. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4736/leshan-giant-buddha/
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speedygroundhog. "Leshan Giant Buddha." World History Encyclopedia, March 23, 2016. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4736/leshan-giant-buddha/.
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speedygroundhog. "Leshan Giant Buddha." World History Encyclopedia, 23 Mar 2016, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4736/leshan-giant-buddha/.
