Popular Deities of Chinese Buddhism (Illustrated)

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e reasons for these female emanations are because of the then
Confucianist influence on the attitude, customs and social sys-
tems which discouraged the female population from seeking
comfort and solace from male deities especially in their requests
for off-spring.

Kuan Yin, in fact, manifested into 33 forms with which to reach

the people and the most popular ones being:

Kuan Yin of Complete Light

Dragon-head Kuan Yin

Kuan Yin Who Views Waterfalls

Child-giving Kuan Yin

Kuan Yin of the Fish Basket

Kuan Yin of the Rock Cave

Kuan Yin of Universal Compassion

Kuan Yin Holding a Lotus

It should also be mentioned that even before Buddhism was

introduced into China, the women folk there were already wor-

shipping several female Taoist Deities, in the forms of ‘Niang-

Niang’ seeking their blessings for safety, happiness, children,

mercy, compassion and salvation. us when Kuan Shih Yin

responded to the urgent and distressful calls of the Chinese peo-

ple in the female forms, they were also given the ‘Niang-Niang’

titles so that Kuan Shih Yin P’usa which is the proper Buddhist

term, became known as Kuan Yin Niang Niang or e Goddess

of Mercy. In this way, Avalokitesvara became the most popular