Guanyin (Wade-Giles: kuan-yin) is the bodhisattva of compassion as
venerated by East Asian Buddhists, usually as a female. She is also
known as the Chinese Bodhisattva of Compassion. The name Guanyin is
short for Guanshi'yin (pinyin: guanshì yin, Wade-Giles: kuan-shih
yin) which means "Observing the Sounds (or Cries) of the World".
It is generally accepted that Guanyin originated as the Sanskrit
Avalokitesvara , which is her male form. Commonly known in the West
as the Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin is also revered by Chinese Taoists
as an Immortal. It should be noted that in Taoist mythology, Guan
Yin has other origination stories which are unrelated to
Avalokitesvara.
Guanyin is the Chinese name for the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.
However, folk traditions in China and other East Asian countries
have added many distinctive characteristics and legends.
Avalokitesvara was originally depicted as Buddha when he was still a
prince, and therefore wears chest-revealing clothing and may even
sport a moustache. However, in China, Guanyin is usually depicted as
a woman. Additionally, some people believe that Guanyin is neither
man nor woman.
In China, Guanyin is usually shown in a white flowing robe, and
usually wearing necklaces of Indian/Chinese royalty. In the right
hand is a water jar containing pure water, and in the left, a willow
branch. The crown usually depicts the image of Amitabha Buddha, Guan
Yin's spiritual teacher before she became a Bodhisattva.
In some Buddhist temples and monasteries, Guanyin images are
occasionally depicted as a young man dressed in Northern Song
Buddhist robes sitting gracefully. He is usually depicted looking or
glancing down, symbolizing that Guanyin continues to watch over the
world.
There are also regional variations of Guan Yin depictions. In the
Fukien region of China, for example, a popular depiction of Guan Yin
is as a maiden dressed in Tang dynasty style clothing carrying a
fish basket. A popular image of Guan Yin as both Guan Yin of the
South Sea and Guan Yin With a Fish Basket can be seen in late 1500s
Chinese encyclopedias and in prints that accompany the novel Golden
Lotus.
In Chinese art, Guan Yin is often depicted alone, standing
atop a dragon, accompanied by a bird, flanked by two children, or
flanked by two warriors. The two children are her acolytes who came
to her when she was meditating at Mount Putuo. The girl is called
Long Nü and the boy Shan Tsai. The two warriors are the historical
character Guan Yu who comes from the Three Kingdoms period and the
mythological character Wei Tuo who features in the Chinese classic
Canonization of the Gods. The Buddhist tradition also displays Guan
Yin, or other Buddhas and bodhisattvas, flanked with the two said
warriors, but as bodhisattvas who protect the temple and the faith
itself.
On the following fotos you can see Dr.Lilys Buddhist teacher discussing: Who takes care
of the elderly.
At the end of march there is the birthday of the Kuan Yin.
Enjoy some fotos of the festival in the countryside:
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