![]() Kannon arrived in Japan with Buddhism from Korea by at least the seventh century. Avalokitesvara answers any prayers, protects people from harm such as fires, and grants salvation in his endless mercy.Īvalokitesvara’s attributes are also defined in the Kāraṇḍavyūha Sutra, which extols his virtues and mission. Avalokitesvara is a compassionate bodhisattva, who answers all those who hear his cries and can take any form needed, regardless of divinity or sex. It is not until he crosses the Himalayas that he becomes commonly depicted as the female Guanyin. Kannon first appears as Avalokitesvara, a male bodhisattva, described in the Lotus Sutra. The Buddha told Inexhaustible Intention Bodhisattva, ‘Good man, if any of the limitless hundreds of thousands of myriads of kotis of living beings who are undergoing all kinds of sufferings hear of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva and recite his name single-mindedly, Guanshiyin Bodhisattva will immediately hear their voices and rescue them.’ - Lotus Sutra, Chapter 25. Many of Kannon’s stories came with her from Asia, while others originated in Japan after her arrival. She is said to reside in Fudaraku, a mountainous island paradise from which she descends to welcome those who seek her salvation. In Shingon Buddhism, she is one of the Thirteen Buddhas. ![]() Kannon provides compassion and mercy for those who believe in her, relieving the pain of those who need it and granting mercy and protection. Though she manifests in different forms of Buddhism, her traits are fairly similar in each. In the Lotus Sutra (one of the most influential sacred texts of Buddhism), she can take the form of any god or bodhisattva in India. In total, Kannon can take on thirty-three different forms, included a thousand-armed form and a horse-headed form, in which she protects pets in the afterlife. At times she has a multi-armed form, holding many symbols of Buddhism, including weapons, and is depicted with as many as eleven heads, drawing on imagery of naga (mythical serpent beings). In Japan, she is commonly shown holding a magic jewel, a nyoihoju, on which she makes wishes for the world. Kannon’s appearance varies across Asia, but in almost all contexts she is feminine. Many Japanese believe that anyone who cries out to Kannon with earnest, honest faith will feel her love and find salvation. She can help women become pregnant, end droughts, and is associated with vegetarianism through her compassion. ![]() Kannon is the bodhisattva of compassion and mercy, the keeper of peace and reliever of troubles. Early European travelers to East Asia called her the “Goddess of Mercy” as they observed her in Southeast Asia and China. ![]() Kannon is widely regarded as the most popular bodhisattva in Japan, worshiped as a goddess in some places but always as a Buddhist entity. Her full name in Japanese is 観音菩薩 (Kannon Bosatsu), 観世音菩薩 (Kanzeon Bosatsu), or 観自在菩薩 (Kanjizai Bosatsu), which mean “The Buddha Kannon.” When depicted with her nyoihoju jewel, she is known as Nyoirin Kannon, 如意輪 観音, or “Kannon, the One Who Wishes.” Other names include Senju Kannon (千手觀音, “Thousand-armed Kannon”), Juichimen Kannon (十一面観音, “Eleven-faced Kannon”), Sho Kannon (聖観音, sometimes 正観音, “holy or righteous Kannon”), and Bato Kannon (馬頭観音, “Horse-faced Kannon”). Guanyin was originally Guanshiyin, which translated to “One who Perceives the Sounds of the World.” This is a direct rendering of Kannon’s original Indian name, Avalokiteśvara (अवलोकितेश्वर), or “One Who Perceives All.”īased on previous pronunciations, Kannon has been rendered as Kwannon in English. Kannon is the modern Japanese rendering of Guanyin, or 観音. ![]()
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