Guanyin

Goddess of Mercy

Bodhisattva of compassion who hears the cries of the world, central to Chinese Buddhism.

Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, hears the cries of the world and answers them in countless forms. In China the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara gradually took a female guise as the merciful “Goddess of Mercy,” becoming the most beloved deity in the land. From her sacred mountain Putuo she protects sailors, mothers and all who call her name.