The Zixiao Palace ( Chinese : 紫霄宮 ; pinyin : Zǐxiāo Gōng ) or Purple Cloud Temple , standing on Zhanqi Peak, is a Taoist temple of the Wudang Mountains Taoist complex in the northwestern part of Hubei , China .
80-756: After being built in 1119–26, it was rebuilt in 1413 and extended in 1803–20. The Purple Cloud Temple consists of several halls and Daoist statues including the Dragon and Tiger Hall, the Purple Sky Hall, the East Hall, the West Hall, the Parent Hall and the Prince Cliff. The Purple Sky Hall is enshrined with statues of Zhen Wu at different stages of his life. Statues of Zhen Wu's parents rest in
160-514: A Chinese religious building or structure is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Taoism -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Xuanwu (god) Xuanwu ( 玄武 ) or Xuandi ( Chinese : 玄帝 ; pinyin : Xuándì ), also known as Zhenwu ( 真武 , lit. ' True Warrior ' or ' Truly Valiant ' ) or Zhenwudadi ( 真武大帝 , lit. ' True Martial Great Emperor ' or ' Truly Valiant Great Emperor ' ),
240-467: 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
320-612: 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
400-543: 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
480-456: 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
560-411: 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
640-590: A number of Taoist monasteries constructed in the Wudang Mountains of Hubei , where Xuanwu allegedly attained immortality. Xuanwu is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations , representing the north and the winter season. It is usually depicted as a turtle entwined together with a snake . One story says that Xuanwu was originally a prince of Jing Le State in northern Hebei during
720-586: 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 ,
800-578: 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
880-622: 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
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#1732776191065960-451: A remote mountain for cultivation of the Tao. One day, after assisting a woman in labor, as he cleaned her blood stained clothes in a river nearby, the words "Dark (or Mysterious) Heavenly Highest Deity" ( 玄天上帝 Xuántiān Shàngdì ) appeared before him. The woman in labor was a manifestation of the goddess Guanyin . To redeem his sins, he dug out his own stomach and intestines and washed them in
1040-600: 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
1120-533: 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")
1200-607: 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
1280-479: 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
1360-540: 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 the 19th day of the sixth lunar month, Guanyin's attainment of Buddhahood
1440-478: Is a revered deity in Chinese religion , one of the higher-ranking deities in Taoism . He is revered as a powerful god, able to control the elements and capable of great magic. He is identified as the god of the north Heidi ( 黑帝 , lit. ' Black Emperor ' ) and is particularly revered by martial artists . He is the patron god of Hebei , Henan , Manchuria and Mongolia . As some Han Chinese (now
1520-521: 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
1600-667: 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
1680-411: 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
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#17327761910651760-413: Is celebrated annually every the 25th day, 2nd month, of Chinese calendar. The worshipers of Chen Fu Zhen Ren , especially at Tik Liong Tian Temple, Rogojampi, Banyuwangi Regency , East Java , believe that Xuantian Shangdi is their patron deity. That's why they put his altar at the right side of Chen Fu Zhen Ren's altar, in the middle room of the temple which is always reserved for the main deity. Xuanwu
1840-449: 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 the "most widely beloved Buddhist Divinity" with miraculous powers to assist all those who pray to her, as
1920-530: Is known among the Thai people as Chao Pho Suea (Tiger God) or Tua Lao Yah ( 大老爷 "Big Deity") according by Teochew dialect . There are many shrines that worship him in the country and the most famous shrine is Bangkok's San Chao Pho Suea near Giant Swing and Sam Phraeng neighbourhood. This shrine has been highly worshipped with both Thais and Chinese, especially in Chinese New Year 's Day. In
2000-513: 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
2080-858: 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
2160-519: 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 ),
2240-497: Is portrayed as a warrior in dark-coloured imperial robes, his left hand holding the "three mountain seal", somewhat similar to Guan Yu 's hand seal, while his right hand is holding a sword, which is said to have belonged to Lü Dongbin , one of the Eight Immortals . Another legend says that he borrowed the sword from Lü Dongbin to subdue a strong demon, and after being successful, he refused to bring it back after witnessing
2320-557: 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
2400-496: 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
2480-539: 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
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2560-486: 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,
2640-492: 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
2720-410: 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 ,
2800-828: 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
2880-567: 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
2960-602: 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
3040-610: 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
3120-662: 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
3200-548: 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,
3280-637: 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
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3360-416: 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
3440-499: 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
3520-624: The Parent Hall. On the left side is the Chinese deity Guanyin , and on the right is the Shouzi Mother to whom couples traditionally pray for sons. The hall also houses cultural relics, some of which date back as far as the 7th century, including the Green Dragon Crescent Blade . 32°25′36″N 111°01′22″E / 32.42661°N 111.02289°E / 32.42661; 111.02289 This article about
3600-558: 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
3680-621: The classic novel Journey to the West , Xuanwu was a king of the north who had two generals serving under him, a "Tortoise General" and a "Snake General" . This king had a temple at Wudang Mountains in Hubei , thus there is a Tortoise Mountain and a Snake Mountain on the opposite sides of a river in Wuhan , the capital of Hubei. Guanyin Guanyin ( Chinese : 觀音 ; pinyin : Guānyīn )
3760-556: The essence of the earth. His viscera transformed into a demonic turtle and a demonic snake, who started to hurt people. No one could subdue the demonic animals. Eventually, Xuanwu returned to earth to subdue them. After defeating them, he later used them as his subordinates. Xuanwu is sometimes portrayed with two generals standing besides him, General Wan Gong ( 萬公 ) and General Wan Ma ( 萬媽 ). The two generals are deities that handle many local issues from children's birth, medication, family matters as well as fengshui consultation. Xuanwu
3840-430: 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
3920-460: 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,
4000-484: 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
4080-496: 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
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#17327761910654160-410: 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
4240-458: 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
4320-607: 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)
4400-601: 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
4480-578: 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
4560-587: The modern-day Cantonese and Fujianese peoples) migrated into the south from Hebei and Henan during the Tang - Song era, Xuanwu is also widely revered in the Guangdong , Guangxi and Fujian provinces, as well as among the overseas diaspora . Since the usurping Yongle Emperor of the Ming dynasty claimed to receive the divine assistance of Xuanwu during his successful Jingnan Campaign against his nephew, he had
4640-435: 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
4720-723: 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
4800-415: 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
4880-480: 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
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#17327761910654960-415: 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
5040-511: 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
5120-401: The river. The river then became dark and murky. After a while, the river flowed clear and pure once again. Xuanwu lost his stomach and intestines while he was washing them in the river. The Jade Emperor was moved by his sincerity and determination to clear his sins, and made him an immortal with the title of Xuántiān Shàngdì . After he became an immortal, his stomach and intestines absorbed
5200-405: 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
5280-420: 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
5360-435: The sword's power. The sword itself would magically return to its owner if Xuanwu released it, so it is said that he always holds his sword tightly and is unable to release it. However, not only does he outrank Lü in terms of divinity, Xuanwu also dates back longer in history than Lü Dongbin, putting this claim in suspect. He is usually seated on a throne with the right foot stepping on the snake and left leg extended stepping on
5440-412: 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
5520-404: The time of the Yellow Emperor . As he grew up, he felt the sorrow and pain of the life of ordinary people and wanted to retire to a remote mountain for cultivation of the Tao . Another says that Xuanwu was originally a butcher who had killed many animals mercilessly. Yet as time passed, his conscience grew and he felt remorse for his actions. Upon repenting, he abandoned butchery and retired to
5600-457: The turtle. His face is usually red with bulging eyes. His birthday is celebrated on the third day of the third lunar month. In Indonesia, almost every Taoist temple provides an altar for Xuantian Shangdi. The story states that the first temple that worshiped him was a temple at Welahan Town, Jepara, Central Java . And the temples that were built in honor of him are the temples at Gerajen and Bugangan, Semarang City, Central Java . His festival
5680-642: 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
5760-417: 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
5840-404: 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
5920-515: 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
6000-409: 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
6080-414: 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
6160-510: 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
6240-404: 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
6320-422: 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
6400-430: 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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