Kuan Yin

Kuan Yin (also written as Guan Yin, Kwan Yin etc.) is the bodhisattva of compassion as venerated by East Asian Buddhists. Commonly known as the Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin is also reverenced by Chinese Taoists as an Immortal. The name Kuan Yin is short for Kuan Shih Yin (py: Guan Shi Yin) which means "Observing the Sounds of the World".

Related Topics:
Bodhisattva - Venerated - East Asia - Buddhist - Chinese - Taoists - Immortal - World

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In Japanese, Kuan Yin is called Kannon or more formally Kanzeon; the spelling Kwannon, based on a pre-modern pronunciation, is sometimes seen. In Korean, she is called Kwan-um or Kwan-se-um. In Vietnamese, she is called Quan Âm or Quan Thế Âm Bồ Tát.

Related Topics:
Japanese - Korean - Vietnamese

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Kuan Yin 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. Most notably, while Avalokitesvara can be depicted as either male or female, Kuan Yin is usually depicted as a woman, whereas Avalokitesvara in other countries is usually depicted as a man.

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