 |
| Maria Kannon in Gilsangsa Temple, Seoul, South Korea |
Most representations
of Guanyin in the modern period
depict her as a beautiful, white-robed woman, with necklaces symbolic of Indian
or Chinese royalty. In one hand she frequently carries a jar containing pure water,
while the other holds a willow branch. The jar and willow branch are symbols of
a ritual blessing similar to the Catholic rite of “asperges” in which holy
water is sprinkled as a blessing and sign of healing. But some of the legends about Guanyin are quite fanciful and clearly
set her apart from the Blessed Mother.
For example, in The Complete Tale of Guanyin and the Southern Seas the Goddess of Mercy promises to free all sentient beings from the endless cycle of suffering, death and rebirth. This task proved so overwhelming that Guanyin evolved multiple heads in order to hear the cries of all the suffering and she grew a thousand arms to enable her to reach out to all who needed her help.
For example, in The Complete Tale of Guanyin and the Southern Seas the Goddess of Mercy promises to free all sentient beings from the endless cycle of suffering, death and rebirth. This task proved so overwhelming that Guanyin evolved multiple heads in order to hear the cries of all the suffering and she grew a thousand arms to enable her to reach out to all who needed her help.
As a consequence of their belief in her supernatural ability to hear and respond, many Chinese versions of Guanyin depict her with multiple faces and arms. This attribute also belongs to the Hindu god Shiva who, like Avalokitasvara, may be depicted as male or female.
