Kuan-Yin is part of the Chinese pantheon. Known as the Goddess of Mercy and Friend of Mankind, she reaches out to console and soothe all beings with her boundless compassion and mercy. She has been likened by some as similar to the West's Virgin Mary, because she is the most approachable figure in a male dominated religion. Her name, also spelled Quan-Yin, means She Who Always Listens or One Who Sees and Hears the Cries from the Human World. She's also referred to as the Hearer of Prayers.  She is the Divine Mother, looking in every direction at once, sensing the problems of all humanity.

People who follow her trust her saving grace and healing powers to such an extent that they believe the mere mention of her name calls her to their sides. One of the most famous texts associated with the bodhisattva, (or lord as she was sometimes referred to in the masculine), is the ancient Lotus Sutra whose twenty-fifth chapter is dedicated to Kuan Yin. It is known as the "Kuan Yin Sutra". Since that text outlines some 13 specific disasters that may befall a person, and details how a person may be rescued from them if his thoughts should dwell on the goddess, followers often believe that reciting the text over and over will free them from their own woes. She is embraced by Taoists and Buddhists and many others who find resonance with her.

She's usually depicted as a slender, young, and beautiful woman. Symbols associated with her are the white horse and the sacred lotus. It is said that her compassion for humanity is so great that she rejected transcendency to retain human form. She is also known in Japan, Korea and Tibet, really all around the world.

Images of her abound like this one outside the Buddhist temple of Kek Lok Si near the village of Air Itam in Malaysia. People all over the world have statues and images of her and she's found, as noted above, in temples, shrines and wherever she's needed. One site I visited pointed out that "Of all the world's great gods, she is undoubtedly the kindest and most giving." You might also try The Goddess Gallery for a better idea of how this goddess is often depicted.

Statues and images of her vary according to what she's holding in her arms or hands. These items take on meaning such as a scroll or book becoming the symbol of truth. In others, she might have a vase of amrita, the dew of immortality, in one hand while in the other she carries willow branches. She uses these to sprinkle compassion on her devotees. She may be seen with children (in her lap or at her feet) or in meditation. Regardless of her pose, it is said the very likeness of her presence touches the heart. She reminds us all of the spiritualness of unselfish deeds.

There are many books devoted to Kuan-Yin, for example:


Additionally, you might enjoy this site from a Sunset Magazine article published by Theosophical University Press. A very informative site, Infinite Goddess, which lists a number of goddesses and their attributes also has detailed information about Kuan Yin. Statuary and artwork of the goddess can be found in abundance at your local pagan  shop or on the web. Just Google your way. For example, Pamela Matthews created a beautiful piece of artwork that can be seen here among her works of goddess art, all of which I'm still drooling over!

There are several interesting stories about Kuan-Yi not the least of which is about her origins. It is said that Kuan-Yin whose mortal name was Miau Chan showed extraordinary gifts for the mysteries of the Universe and exhibited great compassion. Her father, however, was blind to his daughter's gifts and desired only to marry her off to a proper man who might sire his daughter one day with a future king. Miau Chan wanted nothing to do with marriage and refused. She wished to join a nunnery. Finally, her father issued his permission but he demanded that she be given the most difficult and degrading tasks to do.

Miau Chan was not weakened by these tasks, instead she become stronger through her great determination to pursue a spiritual path. Some stories include a "Snow White" type of relationship with the animals around the temple. Tigers and snakes would bring her food and water. Other animals would help her or bolster her spirits. Her father, angry and frustrated, ordered his daughter killed. When the executioner struck however, his sword broke into a thousand pieces. Seeing this, the father ordered her strangled and in this, succeeded in the death of his daughter.

Miau Chan descended into Hell but because of her goodness transformed Hell into a paradise! Yama, the king of Hell, didn't want his realm "destroyed" and immediately sent her back on the petals of a lotus flower to an island where she lived for the next nine years healing people and perfecting herself.

Soon, she heard of her father being struck by a terrible illness that could only be cured by the hand and eye of the "Never Angry One". Maiu, upon hearing of this, immediately allowed her hand to be cut off and her eye gouged out. Both were then made into ointments and used to cure her father. Upon learning that his cure came from his (he thought) long dead daughter, the man left his kingdom to a minister and adopted Buddhism.

Other stories disagree. Some profess a different mortal name. Some profess she went, in fact, not to Hell but to Heaven. There, her purity of heart and mercy towards others transformed her into the Goddess Kuan Yin. But, just as she was about to cross the threshold into Heaven, she heard a cry from someone suffering down on Earth. Kuan Yin asked to be sent back to Earth to help everyone in need. She vowed never to leave until the last human being (some say all beings) was free from pain. Many of the stories I found prefer this ending. It is stated that this decision to return to earth elevated her to the state of a bodhisattva or rather the Goddess she is known as today.

I feel we can all learn something from Kuan-Yin and her infinite compassion. Everything I've read about her was beautifully inpiring and uplifting. She guides her followers with a gentle touch, but with endless strength and mercy. People leave her offerings not out of fear, for there is nothing to fear with this goddess, but because they feel such a deep connection and love for her. In fact, I'm inspired to seek out a statue for my own self!