Kuanyin
Kuanyin, also known as Guanyin, Kuan Yin, or Guan Yin, is a bodhisattva of compassion in East Asian Buddhism. In Sanskrit, the figure is Avalokitesvara, the embodiment of mercy whose compassion is believed to hear the cries of beings in distress. While the historical Avalokitesvara was presented as male in some early sources, East Asian art and practice increasingly portray Guanyin as female, though some depictions remain genderless or androgynous.
Iconography and forms vary. Guanyin is commonly shown as a serene figure in white robes, sometimes holding
Role and worship. Guanyin is revered as the personification of compassion and the savior who hears the
Cultural influence. Guanyin’s imagery and stories have influenced literature, art, and everyday religious life across East