Construction of the original Lingyun Temple, sometimes known as the Giant Buddha Temple, began during the Tianbao Era (742 - 756 CE) of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 CE). The Leshan Giant Buddha (L?sh?n D?f?) was built during the Tang Dynasty (618907 CE). It is carved out of a cliff face that lies at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers in the southern part of Sichuan province in China, near the city of Leshan. The stone sculpture faces Mount Emei, with the rivers flowing below his feet. It is the largest carved stone Buddha in the world and at the time of its construction was the tallest statue in the world.