The name Kwan Yin, also spelled Quan Yin, means "One Who Sees and Hears the Cry from the Human World." The legend speaks of Kwan Yin beginning life as an Indian Bodhisattva, a male, and instead of entering Nirvana chose to stay on earth to help relieve suffering.
Another legend states that Kwan Yin was female and a Buddhist who through her great love of humankind and her personal sacrifice could have entered Nirvana but after hearing all the anguished cries of the world chose to remain and show mercy.
Beginning Life as Avlokiteshvara
The Chinese recognize Kwan Yin as the Goddess of Mercy but believe she may have entered this world in the form of a male called Avolokiteshvara. He was known as a merciful lord and identified with utter enlightenment. Avolkiteshvara belonged to the early 12th century and it is thought that he evolved many times and is today the female version of the Goddess of Mercy.
The Legend of Miao Shan
An ancient tale is told about a beautiful daughter of an Indian Prince called Miao Shan. She decided at an early age to become a Buddhist and to follow the traditional path of self-sacrifice and unreproachable virtue. So devoted to her faith that she earned the right to Buddhahood but refused the honor to remain on earth and help the helpless.
She tried to convert her father to Buddhism and finally succeed when she told him, as a transfigured stranger, to swallow the eyeball of on of his children to cure his blindness. None of the children would give him an eyeball and Miao Shan pointed out to him, through this exercise, the vanity of the world in which his children would not give him the sacrifice.
He joined the Buddhist priesthood. It is also said of Miao Shan that a son of a dragon king was held prisoner as a fish and was to be sold at market. Miao Shan sent a servant to purchase the fish and release the son.
Other Stories of Quan Yin
Another story has Kwan Yin as the daughter of a king in the Chou dynasty who wished his daughter to marry and bear children. She refused wanting instead to become a nun. He was so angry that he demanded she do hard labor in order to humiliate her. This failed and he ordered her to be put to death.
The executioner was a kind man and, with his thoughts, broke the sword in a thousand pieces as it descended toward her neck. She was then stifled, and sent to hell. When she arrived in the fiery pits the flames died away and in there place flowers bloomed. One of the presiding officers sent her back to earth in the heart of a lotus blossom.
Images of Kwan Yin
There are literally thousands of statues created in the image of Kwan Yin. She is depicted generally in white with long flowing robes. Her head is always bowed and she carries many different objects, a small vase, a willow stick, flowers, a bowl, all depending upon the artists interpretation. She is always tall and graceful but sometimes seated on a elephant or standing on a fish. The only thing consistent in the statues are her bare feet. She has been fashioned in white porcelain, or blanc de Chine ware, carved in jade and soapstone, crafted in wood and many other materials.
Kwan Yin's Duties
She is the compassionate protector of women and has the power to give them children. She is the protector of seamen, farmers and those who travel. She has been compared to the Christian image of the Virgin Mary. In temples all over South and sometimes North China she is worshipped by women.
There are many temples in her honor since she is one of the San Ta Shih, or Three Great Beings which have power over nature and the animals of the world.
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