guanyin

Guanyin, also spelled Guan Yin, is the East Asian manifestation of Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion in Mahayana Buddhism. The name guānyīn is commonly interpreted as “Perceiver of Sounds” or “Observing the Cries of the World,” reflecting the vow to aid those in distress. In Chinese tradition Guanyin is frequently depicted as a female figure, though earlier art sometimes shows a male or androgynous form. In Japan she is known as Kannon, in Korea as Gwan-eum, and in Vietnam as Quan Am, with similar associations of mercy and protection.

Guanyin is widely venerated across East Asia and appears in temples, shrines, and households. The bodhisattva embodies mercy and compassion, and is invoked for protection, healing, safe childbirth, and relief from suffering. Iconography varies: she may be seated or standing, and in some depictions she has many arms (Guanyin of the Thousand Arms) to aid numerous beings; common attributes include a vase of pure water and a willow branch. The figure features prominently in several sutras, notably those highlighting Avalokiteshvara’s compassion, such as the Heart Sutra.

Regional worship and cultural influence: in China Guanyin's practice blends Buddhist devotion with local folk and Daoist symbolism; in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, she remains a central figure of mercy. Today Guanyin continues as a major symbol of compassion in East Asian Buddhism, appearing in art, literature, and daily devotional life.