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78-624: Linji Temple was first established in 540, namely the 2nd year of Xinghe period in the Eastern Wei (534–550). In 854, in the Dazhong period of the mid– Tang dynasty (618–907), Linji Yixuan came to the temple to promote Buddhism. He created Linji school and Linji Temple became the cradle of Linji school since then. After he died in 867, his disciples built two stupas to house his Śarīra , one in Daming County and

156-467: A householder , a chief minister, a Brahmin , a bhikkhu , a bhikkhunī , a Upāsaka , a Upāsikā , a wife, a young boy, a young girl, a deva , a nāga , a yaksha , a gandharva , an asura , a garuḍa , a kinnara , a Mahoraga , a human, a non-human and Vajrapani . The Śūraṅgama Sūtra also mentions thirty-two manifestations of Guanyin, which follow closely those in the Lotus Sutra , with

234-612: A bodhisattva who can take the form of any type of god including Indra or Brahma ; any type of Buddha , any type of king or Chakravartin or even any kind of Heavenly Guardian including Vajrapani and Vaisravana as well as any gender male or female, adult or child, human or non-human being, in order to teach the Dharma to sentient beings. Local traditions in China and other East Asian countries have added many distinctive characteristics and legends to Guanyin c.q. Avalokiteśvara. Avalokiteśvara

312-543: A bowl or an ingot , which represents the Pearl of Light, whereas Shancai is seen with palms joined and knees slightly bent to show that he was once crippled. In a story first dating to the Ming dynasty, a parrot becomes a disciple of Guanyin. Set during the prosperous Tang dynasty, the story focuses on a family of white parrots who nest in a tree. One young parrot in the family is especially intelligent, and can recite sutras, chant

390-456: A healer. He forced her into hard labour and reduced her food and drink but this did not cause her to yield. Every day she begged to be able to enter a temple and become a nun instead of marrying. Her father eventually allowed her to work in the temple, but asked the monks to give her the toughest chores in order to discourage her. The monks forced Miaoshan to work all day and all night while others slept in order to finish her work. However, she

468-411: A mighty Dragon King, was unable to do anything while his son was on land. Distressed, the son called out to all of Heaven and Earth. Hearing this cry, Guanyin quickly sent Shancai to recover the fish and gave him all the money she had. The fish at this point was about to be sold in the market. It was causing quite a stir as it was alive hours after being caught. This drew a much larger crowd than usual at

546-586: A particular realm of samsara. This grouping originates from the Mohe Zhiguan ( Chinese : 摩訶止観 ; pinyin : Móhē Zhǐguān ) written by the Tiantai patriarch Zhiyi (538–597) and are attested to in various other textual sources, such as the Essential Record of The Efficacy of The Three Jewels ( Chinese : 三寶感應要略錄 ; pinyin : Sānbǎo Gǎnyìng Yàolüèlù ). They are: In China ,

624-578: A pool of water he also discovered that he now had a very handsome face. From that day forth, Guanyin taught Shancai the entire dharma. Many years after Shancai became a disciple of Guanyin, a distressing event happened in the South China Sea . The third son of one of the Dragon Kings was caught by a fisherman while swimming in the form of a fish. Being stuck on land, he was unable to transform back into his dragon form. His father, despite being

702-622: A popular depiction of Guanyin is as a maiden dressed in Tang hanfu carrying a fish basket. A popular image of Guanyin as both Guanyin of the South Sea and Guanyin with a Fish Basket can be seen in late 16th-century Chinese encyclopedias and in prints that accompany the novel Golden Lotus . In Chinese art, Guanyin is often depicted either alone, standing atop a dragon, accompanied by a white cockatoo and flanked by two children or two warriors. The two children are her acolytes who came to her when she

780-600: A thousand arms as well as eleven heads. The mantra associated with this manifestation, the Nīlakaṇṭha Dhāraṇī , is one of the most popular mantras commonly recited in East Asian Buddhism . In Chinese Buddhism, the popularity of the mantra influenced the creation of an esoteric repentance ceremony known as the Ritual of Great Compassion Repentance ( Chinese : 大悲懺法會 ; pinyin : Dàbēi Chànfǎ Huì during

858-533: A thousand arms to let her reach out to those in need. Many Himalayan versions of the tale include eight arms with which Avalokitesvara skillfully upholds the dharma , each possessing its own particular implement, while more Chinese-specific versions give varying accounts of this number. In Japan, statues of this nature can be found at the Sanjūsangen-dō temple of Kyoto. In both Chinese Buddhism and Japanese Buddhism , Hayagriva Guanyin (lit. "Horse Headed Guanyin")

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936-661: A wealthy but uncaring man. The story is usually ascribed to the research of the Buddhist monk Jiang Zhiqi during the 11th century. The story is likely to have its origin in Taoism. When Jiang penned the work, he believed that the Guanyin we know today was actually a princess called Miaoshan ( 妙善 ), who had a religious following on Fragrant Mountain. Despite this there are many variants of the story in Chinese mythology . According to

1014-479: Is Guānzìzài ( traditional Chinese : 觀自在 ; simplified Chinese : 观自在 ; pinyin : Guānzìzài ), from Sanskrit Avalokiteśvara . It was initially thought that early translators mistook Avalokiteśvara as Avalokitasvara and thus mistranslated Avalokiteśvara as Guānyīn , which explained why Xuanzang translated Avalokiteśvara as Guānzìzài . However, the original form was indeed Avalokitasvara which contained morpheme svara ("sound, noise") and

1092-432: Is 30.47-metre (100.0 ft) high. It is composed of a stupa base, a sumeru throne and a dense-eave body. The sumeru throne and banisters were engraved patterns of various flowers and birds. Eastern Wei Wei ( / w eɪ / ), known in historiography as the Eastern Wei ( simplified Chinese : 东魏 ; traditional Chinese : 東魏 ; pinyin : Dōng Wèi ), was an imperial dynasty of China that followed

1170-521: Is also depicted holding an infant in order to further stress the relationship between the bodhisattva, maternity, and birth. In the modern period, Guanyin is most often represented as a beautiful, white-robed woman, a depiction which derives from the earlier Pandaravasini form. In some Buddhist temples and monasteries, Guanyin's image is occasionally that of a young man dressed in Northern Song Buddhist robes and seated gracefully. He

1248-667: Is also one of the Ten Small Mantras . In China, it is said that fishermen used to pray to her to ensure safe voyages. The titles Guanyin of the Southern Ocean ( 南海觀音 ) and "Guanyin (of/on) the Island" stem from this tradition. Another story from the Precious Scroll of Fragrant Mountain ( 香山寶卷 ) describes an incarnation of Guanyin as the daughter of a cruel king Miaozhuang Wang who wanted her to marry

1326-411: Is an all-seeing, all-hearing being who is called upon by worshipers in times of uncertainty, despair, and fear. Guanyin is originally based on the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. Avalokiteśvara's myth spread throughout China during the advent of Buddhism and mixed with local folklore in a process known as syncretism to become the modern day understanding of Guanyin. According to the twenty-fifth chapter of

1404-513: Is known as Mǎtóu Zūnzhě 馬頭尊者 (lit. "The Venerable Horse Head"). In Taoism , Hayagriva Guanyin was syncretized and incorporated within the Taoist pantheon as the god Mǎ Wáng 馬王 (lit. Horse King), who is associated with fire. In this form, he is usually portrayed with six arms and a third eye on the forehead. Guanyin's Cundī manifestation is an esoteric form of Guanyin that is venerated widely in China and Japan. The first textual source of Cundī and

1482-519: Is often portrayed as having six arms, with his first right hand touches the cheek in a pensive mudra, his second right hand holds a wish granting jewel (cintamani), his third right hand holds prayer beads, his first left hand holds Mount Meru, his second left hand holds a lotus flower and the third left hand holds a Dharma wheel (cakra). Her mantra, the Cintāmaṇicakra Dharani ( Chinese : 如意寶輪王陀羅尼 ; pinyin : Rúyì Bǎolún Wáng Tuóluóní ),

1560-557: Is said that she voluntarily took on the massive karmic guilt the executioner generated for killing her, thus leaving him guiltless. It is because of this that she descended into the Hell-like realms. While there, she witnessed first-hand the suffering and horrors that the beings there must endure, and was overwhelmed with grief. Filled with compassion, she released all the good karma she had accumulated through her many lifetimes, thus freeing many suffering souls back into Heaven and Earth. In

1638-496: Is said to frequently becalm the sea when boats are threatened with rocks. After some decades Guanyin returned to Fragrant Mountain to continue her meditation. Legend has it that Shancai (also called Sudhana in Sanskrit ) was a disabled boy from India who was very interested in studying the dharma . When he heard that there was a Buddhist teacher on the rocky island of Putuo, he quickly journeyed there to learn. Upon arriving at

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1716-539: Is the main pilgrimage site in China. There is a 33-temple Guanyin pilgrimage in Korea, which includes Naksansa. In Japan, there are several pilgrimages associated with Guanyin. The oldest one of them is the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage , a pilgrimage through 33 temples with Guanyin shrines. Guanyin is beloved by most Buddhist traditions in a nondenominational way and is found in most Tibetan temples under

1794-486: Is usually depicted looking or glancing down, symbolising that Guanyin continues to watch over the world. In China, Guanyin is generally portrayed as a young woman wearing a flowing white robe, and usually also necklaces symbolic of Indian or Chinese royalty. In her left hand is a jar containing pure water, and the right holds a willow branch. The crown usually depicts the image of Amitābha . There are also regional variations of Guanyin depictions. In Fujian , for example,

1872-492: Is venerated as a guardian protector of travel and transportation, especially for cars. His statue is placed at the entrance and exits of some Chinese Buddhist temples to bless visitors. In certain Chinese Buddhist temples, visitors are also allowed to have their license plates enshrined in front of an image of this deity to invoke his protection over their vehicle. He is also counted as one of the 500 Arhats , where he

1950-410: The Lotus Sutra , one of the most popular sacred texts in the Buddhist canon, describes thirty-three specific manifestations that Guanyin can assume to assist other beings seeking salvation. These forms encompass a Buddha , a pratyekabuddha , an arhat , King Brahma , Sakra ( Indra ), Isvara , Mahesvara ( Shiva ), a great heavenly general , Vaiśravaṇa , a Cakravartin , a minor king, an elder ,

2028-828: The Song dynasty (960–1279) by the Tiantai monk Siming Zhili ( Chinese : 四明知禮 ; pinyin : Sìmíng Zhīlǐ ), which is still regularly performed in modern Chinese Buddhist temples in Mainland China , Hong Kong , Taiwan and overseas Chinese communities . One Chinese Buddhist legend from the Complete Tale of Guanyin and the Southern Seas ( Chinese : 南海觀音全撰 ; pinyin : Nánhǎi Guānyīn Quánzhuàn ) recounts how Guanyin almost emptied hell by reforming almost all of its denizens until sent out from there by

2106-567: The Sui and Tang dynasties. Additionally, Tan Chung notes that according to the doctrines of the Mahāyāna sūtras themselves, it does not matter whether Guanyin is male, female, or genderless, as the ultimate reality is in emptiness (Skt. śūnyatā ). Representations of the bodhisattva in China prior to the Song dynasty (960–1279) were masculine in appearance. Images which later displayed attributes of both genders are believed to be in accordance with

2184-602: The Ten Kings . Despite strenuous effort, she realised that there were still many unhappy beings yet to be saved. After struggling to comprehend the needs of so many, her head split into eleven pieces. The buddha Amitābha, upon seeing her plight, gave her eleven heads to help her hear the cries of those who are suffering. Upon hearing these cries and comprehending them, Avalokiteśvara attempted to reach out to all those who needed aid, but found that her two arms shattered into pieces. Once more, Amitābha came to her aid and appointed her

2262-604: The Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), abbot Haiyun ( 海云 ) repaired and renovated the temple. Zhao Mengfu , the prominent calligrapher at that time, wrote a tablet inscription for the temple. In 1521, namely the 12th year of Zhengde period in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), monks repaired the temple. At that time, the existing main buildings include the Shanmen , Mahavira Hall , Hall of Guru , Chengling Stupa and monk's dormitory. In

2340-966: The "most widely beloved Buddhist Divinity" with miraculous powers to assist all those who pray to her, as is mentioned in the Pumen chapter of the Lotus Sutra and the Kāraṇḍavyūha Sūtra . Several large temples in East Asia are dedicated to Guanyin, including Shaolin Monastery , Longxing Temple , Puning Temple , Nanhai Guanyin Temple , Dharma Drum Mountain , Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple , Shitennō-ji , Sensō-ji , Kiyomizu-dera , Sanjūsangen-dō , and many others. Guanyin's abode and bodhimaṇḍa in India are recorded as being on Mount Potalaka . With

2418-417: The 19th day of the sixth lunar month, Guanyin's attainment of Buddhahood is celebrated. Guanyin has been appropriated by other religions, including Taoism and Chinese folk religion . Some Buddhists believe that when one of their adherents departs from this world, they are placed by Guanyin in the heart of a lotus and then sent to the western pure land of Sukhāvatī . Guanyin is often referred to as

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2496-539: The Chengling Stupa. The Mahavira Hall , Hall of Guru and monk's dormitory were added to the temple gradually. Zhao Puchu , the then president of the Buddhist Association of China , wrote the plaques of "Linji Temple" and "Mahavira Hall". On May 19, 1986, Benhuan and Makoto Shinohara ( 筱原大雄 ), both eminent descendants of Linji (Rinzai) school in China and Japan, held a canonization ceremony at

2574-610: The Cundī Dhāraṇī is the Kāraṇḍavyūhasūtra , a sūtra centered around the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara that introduced the popular mantra oṃ maṇipadme hūṃ . This text is first dated to around the late 4th century CE to the early 5th century CE. Cundī and the Cundī Dhāraṇī are also featured in the Cundī Dhāraṇī Sūtra , which was translated three times from Sanskrit into Chinese in the late 7th century and early 8th century by

2652-662: The Emerald Buddha , Wat Huay Pla Kang (where the huge statue of her is often mistakenly called the "Big Buddha"), and Myanmar's Shwedagon Pagoda . Statues of Guanyin are a widely depicted subject of Asian art and are found in the Asian art sections of most museums in the world. Guānyīn is a translation from the Sanskrit Avalokitasvara , the name of the Mahāyāna bodhisattva. Another name for this bodhisattva

2730-548: The Indian esoteric masters Divākara (685 CE), Vajrabodhi (723 CE), and Amoghavajra (8th century). In iconographic form, she is depicted with eighteen arms, all wielding different implements and weaponry that symbolize skillful means of the Dharma, sitting on a lotus flower . This manifestation is also referred to as the "Mother of the Seventy Million [Buddhas]" ( Chinese : 七俱胝佛母; pinyin : Qījùzhī fómǔ ). Her mantra,

2808-637: The Lotus Sutra is the first time the Avalokiteśvara is mentioned. Chapter 25 refers to him as Lokeśvara "Lord God of all beings" and Lokanātha "Lord and Protector of all beings" and ascribes extreme attributes of divinity to him. Direct translations from the Sanskrit name Avalokiteśvara include: Due to the devotional popularity of Guanyin in Asia, she is known by many names, most of which are simply

2886-416: The Lotus Sutra, where Avalokitesvara has the supernatural power of assuming any form required to relieve suffering, and also has the power to grant children. Because this bodhisattva is considered the personification of compassion and kindness, a mother goddess and patron of mothers and seamen, the representation in China was further interpreted in an all-female form around the 12th century. On occasion, Guanyin

2964-499: The Mahācundi Dhāraṇī ( Chinese : 準提神咒 ; pinyin : Zhǔntí Shénzhòu ), is one of the Ten Small Mantras ( Chinese : 十小咒 ; pinyin : Shí xiǎo zhòu ), which are a collection of dharanis that are commonly recited in Chinese Buddhist temples during morning liturgical services specifically. Guanyin's Cintāmaṇicakra manifestation is also widely venerated in China and Japan. In iconographic form, this manifestation

3042-649: The Northern Wei, however these campaigns were not successful. In 547 Gao Huan died. His sons Gao Cheng and Gao Yang were able to pursue his policy of controlling the emperor, but in 550 Gao Yang deposed Yuan Shanjian and founded his own dynasty, the Northern Qi . The Buddhist art of the Eastern Wei displays a combination of Greco-Buddhist influences from Gandhara and Central Asia (representations of flying figures holding wreaths, Greek-style folds of

3120-558: The Thousand-Armed manifestation of Guanyin is the most popular among her different esoteric forms. In the Karandavyuha Sutra , the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin ( Chinese : 千手千眼觀音 ; pinyin : Qiānshǒu Qiānyǎn Guānyīn ) is described as being superior to all gods and buddhas of the Indian pantheon. The Sutra also states that "it is easier to count all the leaves of every tree of every forest and all

3198-647: The disintegration of the Northern Wei dynasty. One of the Northern dynasties during the Northern and Southern dynasties period, the Eastern Wei ruled the eastern part of northern China from 534 to 550. As with the Northern Wei, the ruling family of the Eastern Wei were members of the Tuoba clan of the Xianbei . Gao Huan was the potentate of the eastern half of what was Northern Wei territory. In 534, following

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3276-453: The disintegration of the Northern Wei dynasty, he installed Yuan Shanjian as ruler of Eastern Wei. Yuan Shanjian was a descendant of the Northern Wei. Yuan Shanjian was a puppet ruler, as the real power lay in the hands of Gao Huan. Several military campaigns, such as the Battle of Shayuan , were launched against the neighboring Western Wei in an attempt to reunify the territory once held by

3354-652: The drapery), together with Chinese artistic influences. Guanyin Guanyin ( Chinese : 觀音 ; pinyin : Guānyīn ) is a common Chinese name of the bodhisattva associated with compassion known as Avalokiteśvara ( Sanskrit : अवलोकितेश्वर ). Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin , which means "[The One Who] Perceives the Sounds of the World". Due to sociogeographical factors, Guanyin can be historically depicted as genderless or adorning an androgynous apprentice. On

3432-409: The eastern Dhṛtarāṣṭra , the southern Virūḍhaka , the western Virūpākṣa , and the northern Vaiśravaṇa . Portraits of Skanda and Lord Guan hang on the south wall. The Chengling Stupa ( 澄灵塔 ) also known as "Green Stupa" ( 青塔 ), was built in 867 and has been rebuilt numerous times since then. the stupa is multi-eaves style brick stupa with 9 stories. It has an octahedral shaped hollow tiers and

3510-430: The executioner tried to carry out her father's orders, his axe shattered into a thousand pieces. He then tried a sword which likewise shattered. He tried to shoot Miaoshan down with arrows but they all veered off. Finally in desperation he used his hands. Miaoshan, realising the fate that the executioner would meet at her father's hand should she fail to let herself die, forgave the executioner for attempting to kill her. It

3588-460: The fifth century. The original meaning of the name "Avalokitasvara" fits the Buddhist understanding of the role of a bodhisattva. While some of those who revered Avalokiteśvara upheld the Buddhist rejection of the doctrine of any creator god, Encyclopædia Britannica does cite Avalokiteśvara as the creator god of the world. This position is taken in the widely used Kāraṇḍavyūha Sūtra with its well-known mantra oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ . In addition,

3666-484: The fish back to Guanyin, who promptly returned it to the sea. There the fish transformed back to a dragon and returned home. Paintings of Guanyin today sometimes portray her holding a fish basket, which represents the aforementioned tale. As a reward for Guanyin saving his son, the Dragon King sent his granddaughter, a girl called Longnü ("dragon girl"), to present Guanyin with the Pearl of Light. The Pearl of Light

3744-496: The grains of sand in the universe than to count the blessings and power of Avalokiteshvara". This version of Guanyin with a thousand arms depicting the power of all gods also shows various buddhas in the crown depicting the wisdom of all buddhas. In temples and monasteries in China , iconographic depictions of this manifestation of Guanyin is often combined with iconographic depiction of her Eleven-Headed manifestation to form statues with

3822-410: The island, he managed to find Guanyin despite his severe disability. Guanyin, after having a discussion with Shancai, decided to test the boy's resolve to fully study the Buddhist teachings. She conjured the illusion of three sword-wielding pirates running up the hill to attack her. Guanyin took off and dashed to the edge of a cliff, the three illusions still chasing her. Shancai, seeing that his teacher

3900-525: The late Ming and early Qing dynasties, the temple was devastated by flames of war. In 1734, during the period of the Yongzheng Emperor of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Yongzheng Emperor granted Lingji Yixuan the title "Chan Master Zhenchang Huizhao" and gave a stone tablet to the temple. In 1830, during the reign of Daoguang Emperor , General Shu Tong'a ( 舒通阿 ) donated property to renovate

3978-458: The localised pronunciations of "Guanyin" or "Guanshiyin": In these same countries, the variant Guanzizai "Lord of Contemplation" and its equivalents are also used, such as in the Heart Sutra , among other sources. The Lotus Sūtra (Sanskrit Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra ) is generally accepted to be the earliest literature teaching about the doctrines of Avalokiteśvara. These are found in

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4056-607: The localization of the belief in Guanyin, each area adopted its own Potalaka. In Chinese Buddhism , Mount Putuo is considered the bodhimaṇḍa of Guanyin. Naksansa is considered to be the Potalaka of Guanyin in Korea. Japan's Potalaka is located at Fudarakusan-ji . Tibet's is the Potala Palace . Vietnam's Potalaka is the Hương Temple . There are several pilgrimage centers for Guanyin in East Asia. Putuoshan (Mount Putuo)

4134-601: The market. Many people decided that this prodigious situation meant that eating the fish would grant them immortality, and so all present wanted to buy the fish. Soon a bidding war started, and Shancai was easily outbid. Shancai begged the fish seller to spare the life of the fish. The crowd, now angry at someone so daring, was about to pry him away from the fish when Guanyin projected her voice from far away, saying "A life should definitely belong to one who tries to save it, not one who tries to take it." The crowd, realising their shameful actions and desire, dispersed. Shancai brought

4212-578: The minds of various beings. Chapter 25 consists of both a prose and a verse section. This earliest source often circulates separately as its own sūtra, called the Avalokitasvara Sūtra (Ch. 觀世音經 ), and is commonly recited or chanted at Buddhist temples in East Asia. The Lotus Sutra and its thirty-three manifestations of Guanyin, of which seven are female manifestations, is known to have been very popular in Chinese Buddhism as early as in

4290-435: The more hell-like realms of the dead. However, instead of being punished like the other spirits of the dead, Guanyin played music, and flowers blossomed around her. This completely surprised the hell guardian. The story says that Guanyin, by merely being in that Naraka (hell), turned it into a paradise. A variant of the legend says that Miaoshan allowed herself to die at the hand of the executioner. According to this legend, as

4368-723: The name Chenrézik ( Wylie : Spyan ras gzigs ). Guanyin is also beloved and worshipped in the temples in Nepal. The Hiranya Varna Mahavihar , located in Patan , is one example. Guanyin is also found in some influential Theravada temples, such as Gangaramaya Temple , Kelaniya , and Natha Devale , near the Temple of the Tooth in Sri Lanka . Guanyin can also be found in Thailand's Temple of

4446-415: The name of Amitābha, and in some versions is even able to compose poetry. One day, the father parrot is killed by hunters. When the mother parrot goes to see what happened, she is blinded by the hunters. When the intelligent young parrot goes to find cherries (sometimes specified as lychees) to feed its mother, it is captured by the same hunters. By the time it escapes, its mother has died. After it has mourned

4524-734: The omission of Vajrapani , and the substitution of Vaiśravaṇa (Heavenly King of the North) with the Four Heavenly Kings . These manifestations of Guanyin have been nativized in China and Japan to form a traditional list of iconographic forms corresponding to each manifestation. Guanyin is also venerated in various other forms. In the Chinese Tiantai and Tangmi and the Japanese Shingon and Tendai traditions, Guanyin can take on six forms, each corresponding to

4602-500: The other in Lingji Temple. Emperor Yizong named the stupa of Lingji Temple "Chengling Stupa" ( 澄灵塔 ). From 1125 to 1234, a protracted war between the two countries of the Song Empire (960–1276) and Jin Empire (1115–1234). Linji Temple was completely destroyed with only the stupa remaining. In 1183, namely the 23rd year of Dading period in the Jin dynasty, Emperor Shizong ordered local government to restore Lingji Temple with Liao and Jin dynasties architectural style. In

4680-415: The people of the world. Filled with compassion, she returned to Earth, vowing never to leave till such time as all suffering has ended. After her return to Earth, Guanyin was said to have stayed for a few years on the island of Mount Putuo where she practised meditation and helped the sailors and fishermen who got stranded. Guanyin is frequently worshipped as patron of sailors and fishermen due to this. She

4758-511: The process, that Hell-like realm became a paradise. It is said that Yama , the ruler of hell, sent her back to Earth to prevent the utter destruction of his realm, and that upon her return she appeared on Fragrant Mountain. Another tale says that Miaoshan never died, but was in fact transported by a supernatural tiger, believed to be the Deity of the Mountain, to Fragrant Mountain. The legend of Miaoshan usually ends with Miaozhuang Wang, Miaoshan's father, falling ill with jaundice . No physician

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4836-405: The sacrifice, he begged for forgiveness. The story concludes with Miaoshan being transformed into the Thousand Armed Guanyin, and the king, queen and her two sisters building a temple on the mountain for her. She began her journey to a pure land and was about to cross over into heaven when she heard a cry of suffering from the world below. She turned around and saw the massive suffering endured by

4914-425: The southeast, Manjushri stands in the north and Samantabhadra stands in the west. The Faru Hall enshrining the gurus of Buddhism. In the middle is Bodhidharma , statues of Huineng and Linji Yixuan stand on the left and right sides of Sakyamuni's statue. The statue of Maitreya Buddha is enshrined in the Hall of Four Heavenly Kings . Four Heavenly Kings ' portraits hang on the east and west walls, they are

4992-420: The story, after the king asked his daughter Miaoshan to marry the wealthy man, she told him that she would obey his command, so long as the marriage eased three misfortunes. The king asked his daughter what were the three misfortunes that the marriage should ease. Miaoshan explained that the first misfortune the marriage should ease was the suffering people endure as they age. The second misfortune it should ease

5070-412: The temple and the faith itself. In Pure Land Buddhist traditions , Guanyin is often depicted and venerated with the Buddha Amitabha and the Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta as part of a trio collective called the "Three Saints of the West" ( Chinese : 西方三聖; Pinyin : Xīfāng sānshèng). In Chinese mythology, Guanyin (觀音) is the goddess of mercy and considered to be the physical embodiment of compassion. She

5148-415: The temple. During the Second Sino-Japanese War , there were still 6 buildings in the temple. After the Chinese Civil War , the temple only had the Chengling Stupa. After the founding of PRC, the communist government confiscated the sacred temple lands and forcefully disrobed the monastic members . In 1982, Shi Youming ( 释有明 ) took up the post of abbot in the ruins of Linji Temple. In 1983, Linji Temple

5226-429: The temple. In 2001, Yuantong Hall, Hall of Bhaisajyaguru and monk's dormitory were add to the temple. The Mahavira Hall was rebuilt in 1987. In the center of the hall enshrines the statue of Shakyamuni with Kassapa Buddha standing on the left and Ananda on the right. At the back of Sakyamuni's statue are statue of Guanyin . The statues of Eighteen Arhats stand on both sides of the hall. Ksitigarbha stands in

5304-642: The twenty fifth chapter of the Lotus Sūtra. This chapter is devoted to Avalokitesvara, describing him as a compassionate bodhisattva who hears the cries of sentient beings, and who works tirelessly to help those who call upon his name. The Buddha answered Bodhisattva Akṣayamati, saying: “O son of a virtuous family! If innumerable hundreds of thousands of myriads of koṭis of sentient beings who experience suffering hear of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara and wholeheartedly chant his name, Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara will immediately perceive their voices and free them from their suffering" The Lotus Sutra describes Avalokiteśvara as

5382-417: Was a compound meaning "sound perceiver", literally "he who looks down upon sound" (i.e., the cries of sentient beings who need help). This is the exact equivalent of the Chinese translation Guānyīn . This etymology was furthered in the Chinese by the tendency of some Chinese translators, notably Kumārajīva , to use the variant Guānshìyīn , literally " One who perceives the world's lamentations"—wherein lok

5460-404: Was a precious jewel owned by the Dragon King that constantly shone. Longnü, overwhelmed by the presence of Guanyin, asked to be her disciple so that she might study the dharma. Guanyin accepted her offer with just one request: that Longnü be the new owner of the Pearl of Light. In popular iconography, Longnü and Shancai are often seen alongside Guanyin as two children. Longnü is seen either holding

5538-447: Was able to cure him. Then a monk appeared saying that the jaundice could be cured by making a medicine out of the arm and eye of one without anger. The monk further suggested that such a person could be found on Fragrant Mountain. When asked, Miaoshan willingly offered up her eyes and arms. Miaozhuang Wang was cured of his illness and went to the Fragrant Mountain to give thanks to the person. When he discovered that his own daughter had made

5616-409: Was in danger, hobbled uphill. Guanyin then jumped over the edge of the cliff, and soon after this the three bandits followed. Shancai, still wanting to save his teacher, managed to crawl his way over the cliff edge. Shancai fell down the cliff but was halted in midair by Guanyin, who now asked him to walk. Shancai found that he could walk normally and that he was no longer crippled. When he looked into

5694-840: Was listed among the first group of the National Key Buddhist Temple in Han Chinese Area by the State Council of China . After the 3rd plenary session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party , according to the national policy of free religious belief, Linji Temple was returned to the Buddhist community and officially reopened to the public in 1984. In 1985, the Japanese Buddhist orders of Rinzai and Ōbaku schools provided financial support to restore

5772-469: Was meditating at Mount Putuo . The girl is called Longnü and the boy Shancai . The two warriors are the historical general Guan Yu from the late Han dynasty and the bodhisattva Skanda , who appears in the Chinese classical novel Fengshen Yanyi . The Buddhist tradition also displays Guanyin, or other buddhas and bodhisattvas, flanked with the above-mentioned warriors, but as bodhisattvas who protect

5850-510: Was originally depicted as a male bodhisattva, and therefore wears chest-revealing clothing and may even sport a light moustache. Although this depiction still exists in the Far East, Guanyin is more often depicted as a woman in modern times. Additionally, some people believe that Guanyin is androgynous or perhaps without gender. A total of 33 different manifestations of Avalokitasvara are described, including female manifestations, all to suit

5928-404: Was read as simultaneously meaning both "to look" and "world" (Skt. loka ; Ch. 世, shì ). Direct translations from the Sanskrit name Avalokitasvara include: The name Avalokitasvara was later supplanted by the Avalokiteśvara form containing the ending -īśvara , which does not occur in Sanskrit before the seventh century. The original form Avalokitasvara appears in Sanskrit fragments of

6006-422: Was such a good person that the animals living around the temple began to help her with her chores. Her father, seeing this, became so frustrated that he attempted to burn down the temple. Miaoshan put out the fire with her bare hands and suffered no burns. Now struck with fear, her father ordered her to be put to death. In one version of this legend, when Guanyin was executed, a supernatural tiger took her to one of

6084-430: Was the suffering people endure when they fall ill. The third misfortune it should ease was the suffering caused by death. If the marriage could not ease any of the above, then she would rather retire to a life of religion forever. When her father asked who could ease all the above, Miaoshan pointed out that a doctor was able to do all of these. Her father grew angry as he wanted her to marry a person of power and wealth, not

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