Newsletter

Quan Yin Article

April 15, 2004

Welcome to FengShuiZ newsletter.

The Legend of Quan Yin

There are many stories of Kuan Shih Yin (also spelled Quan
Yin, Kuan Yin and Kwan Yin). In one popular story is
believed that she is the reincarnation of Avalokitesvara
(Tibetan God of Compassion).

Quan Yin (in Chinese translates as "The One Who Hears the
Crys of the World") is a Bodhisattva, one who stays on the
earth to help enlighten others, even though they have
earned the right to leave the suffering of the world and
enter Nirvana.

The most popular legend is the from the 7th century. She
was born the third daughter of a King of China. Her name
was Miao Shan. When she was born, flowers blossomed and
sprang up with a wonderful fragrance all over the land.

When Miao Shan is older her father wants to marry her off.
She says the only way she will marry someone, is if by
marrying it would help alleviate the suffering of all of
mankind. But what she really wants is to be a Buddhist
nun. Her father finally agrees, but orders her life to be
as difficult as possible, so she will change her mind.
This doesn't affect Miao Shan, and her father in anger
sends his army to have her killed and the buildings of the
nunnery burned down.

Miao Shan is saved, and the Gods whisk her away and take
her to a sacred mountain where she meditates, and pursues
her dedication to religion. This is the island of
Putuoshan.

Years later, her father becomes deathly ill. He is told
the only cure is to grind up the eyes and arms of a person
without anger. He sends out a messenger to find this
person. It is Miao Shan, and she gives her eyes and arms
for the King. When he is well, he goes to thank the
bodhisattva, and finds his daughter. Clouds form around
Miao Shan, the earth trembles, flowers rain down and the
holy manifestation of the Thousand-Eyes and Thousand Arms
appear in the air. Suddenly Miao Shan is gone. She has
ascended to Heaven as the Goddess Quan Yin. Her family
builds a shrine on the spot where this happened, called
Fragrant Mountain.

The Island of Putuoshan (originally named "the Small White
Flower Mountain") is believed to be the mystical island of
Quan Yin, Potalaka. The 8th century translation of the
sutra of the "Thousand-Hands and Thousand-Eyes Kuan Yin"
depicts Sakyamuni Buddha teaching at the palace of Kuan Yin
on the Potalaka island.(Prince Siddharta)

In the 9th century a monk translates the sutra
Buddhavatamaska. It describes a young man advised by
Manjushri to travel the world and find friends that will
help enlighten him. The young man, Sudhana, encounters
Quan Yin on the Potalaka island in the East China Sea.

© Copyright Brenni Larson 2002