| v> | | | | Buddhists everywhere, due to her unconditional love, |
| Kwan Yin is venerated by most Asian religions as a | | | | compassion and mercy. |
| savior and the Goddess of Mercy. For thousands of | | | | She is generally regarded by many as the protector |
| years, in one way or another, | | | | of women and children. By this association she is also |
| Eastern cultures have been worshipping Kwan Yin, | | | | seen as a fertility goddess capable of granting |
| Kuan Yin, Quan Yin, Kannon, and Guan Yin, as the | | | | children. She is also seen as the champion of the |
| Most Compassionate Goddess of Mercy. | | | | unfortunate, the sick, the disabled, the poor, and |
| She was immediately connected to the worship of | | | | those in trouble. |
| Virgin Mary (when Christianity was introduced into | | | | The maritime people of China regard her as the |
| Asia), as she is the embodiment of Compassion, a | | | | protector of fisherman, sailors and generally people |
| motherly figure said to bestow children on the | | | | who are out at sea. Recently she has been called a |
| faithful, protect those at sea, protect all children and | | | | sort of Asian St. Christopher, as the protector of air |
| be there for anyone in need of her compassion and | | | | travellers. |
| love. | | | | Chinese business people and traders venerate her as |
| Kwan Yin is said to hear all prayers. The name Kuan | | | | a Goddess of Luck and Fortune, as well as anyone |
| Shih Yin literally means "The one who observes, | | | | who believes in her. |
| watches and hears the cries of the world". | | | | Centuries ago, enlightened Buddhist monks wrote 100 |
| Legend says Kuan Yin was originally a princess who | | | | verses that they attribute to their meditations on |
| forsook marriage, and lived her saintly life in a | | | | Kwan Yin, and believe these actually came from her |
| convent, against her father (the King's) will. | | | | by inspiration. |
| She became a Buddhist Bodhisattva (a mortal who | | | | These form the basis of an oracle that is consulted |
| has achieved enlightenment and earned the right to | | | | with great regularity in Asian culture. In a bamboo |
| enter Heaven or Nirvana). | | | | cup, 100 numbered slivers of bamboo are shaken until |
| It is said that as she approached the gates of | | | | one falls out. This number corresponds to one of the |
| Heaven, she heard a cry for help, turned immediately | | | | 100 poems of Kwan Yin, and reveals wise counsel |
| back, and vowed that she would stay on Earth to do | | | | and advice on your problems and necessary action |
| all she could to ease our suffering. | | | | you should take. |
| She vowed she would not enter Heaven until | | | | A Buddhist priest can interpret them for you, or as |
| everyone all could go with her. | | | | the poems are so exact, you can interpret them for |
| In sheer numbers of humanity, Kwan Yin is the most | | | | yourself. The experience is quite calming and |
| venerated Goddess of all. She is revered by all | | | | reassuring. |
| Chinese (over 2 billion people), most Japanese, and all | | | | |