The Giant Buddha of Leshan is carved on Lingyun Hill

The Giant Buddha of Leshan is carved on Lingyun Hill, east of Leshan City, which is not far away from Mount Emei. The solemn Buddha is 71 meters high and its head itself is 14.7 meters high. Its ear is 6.2 meters long, eye 3.3 meters wide, and shoulder 34 meters wide. Its head is covered with 1,021 chignons. Its middle finger is 8.3 meters long, and each of the feet are 11 meters long and 8.5 meters wide, large enough to accommodate more than 100 people sitting on it. The huge figure sits with his hands resting on his knees, his head reaching the hilltop and his feet the river, occupying the entire hillside.
The initiator of the construction of the Giant Buddha is monk Hai Tong. Born in Guizhou Province, he came to Mt Lingyun to be amonk devoted to Buddhism. Mt Lingyun was the jointing site of the three rivers, frequently suffering from floods in rainy season when the torrents would sweep over the farmlands as well as the river boats. To bring the river under control and benefit the local folks, Hai Tong was resolved to carve a huge statue of Buddha against the evil river monster. He began to invite needed fund, to the extreme joy of all the expecting folks. On the first day of construction, however, an avaricious official had his eye on the money and tried to blackmail Hai Tong. Hai Tong defied him and would gouge out his eyes but not give away any of the money. Hai Tong died before the completion of the project, but his disciples continued the work. After 90 years’ effort, the Buddha was finally completed in 803
To commemorate monk Hai Tong, folks later erected a statue of him, about 2m high, sitting there cross-legged, holding in his hand the tray with his gouged eyes, looking resolute and undaunted.