Chinese Life in the Tibetan Foothills/Book 5/Goddess of Mercy
The Goddess of Mercy (觀音), Kuan Yin.
Kuan Yin, the goddess of mercy, is said to have been the third daughter of Miao Chuang wang (妙莊王), she and her sisters being styled as follows:
Ta chieh Wên Shu (大姊文殊), Erh chieh P‘u Hsien (二姊普普賢), San chieh Kuan Yin (三姊觀音).
Miao Chuang wang is of aboriginal origin, and legend has it that he migrated from the Indian border to Ssŭch‘uan and settled in Sui-ling hsien at a temple called Pei ch‘ŭeh ssŭ, where his daughters became nuns. The temple where they lived was burned down; probably by their father, because of the lewd lives they were living; but legend says that the three nuns were unharmed. The worship and deification of lust is not unknown in Ssŭch‘uan even now. The presence of the harlots' quarters in the city of Kuan hsien is said to preserve the good luck of the city. A few years ago when the police pulled down their houses and drove them away, several things happened which were reckoned unlucky and all was put down to the disturbing of these bad places. In some temples obscene pictures are still to be found; and the worship of the tribesmen in the Wa si region is still a worship of evil passions.
The goddess holds in her left hand a small bottle of dry dew, containing the elixir of life, which carries people over the sea to the bliss beyond, while in her right hand she holds a willow twig. In all probability this goddess is none other than the Queen of Heaven, worshipped by the tribesmen and Tibetans. There are among the Chinese many forms of this goddess, a few of which are herewith given.
Shui Kuan Yin, the water goddess. This image is put up in wells and by river sides. The idea is that she purifies the water and makes it fit for food. Sometimes the priests make her devotees throw cash at the image till they strike the same spot as their own pain is situated in; after the devotees have gone the priests fish up the money for their own use.
Kao Wang (高王) Kuan Yin; this form of the goddess is said to be derived from Kao huan kuo wang (高歡國王), who is said to have been condemned to death, but he invited the goddess to chant a thousand pages of the Chiu k'u ching or Save from suffering classic; and when the day of execution came, the sword broke in two, and from that time onward the goddess claimed this name among her many others.
Ch'ien shou Kuan Yin, the thousand-hand goddess, the omnipotent one. The origin of this form of the goddess is said to have been with a certain princess whose father's hand was diseased (probably cancer); she poulticed it with meat daily; but not content with this, she went to the goddess and begged her to heal the hand, which she did; this princess was afterward made into the "thousand-hand goddess," whose image is covered all over with hands, which are believed to be extended in all directions for the saving of people from suffering.
Ch'ien yen Kuan Yin. The thousand-eye goddess, able to see everywhere; the omniscient one.
Sung tzŭ Kuan Yin, the son-giving goddess. To her shrine crowds of women resort every year. She is depicted holding a child in each arm and many more clinging about her.
Nan Kuan Yin, the male god of mercy. That is, by a process of divination she may be changed into a male. This god is also called the ts'ŭ hang tao jên (慈航道人) and is believed to have charge of the boat of compassion which ferries people over the difficulties of life.
Fêng po-lang Kuan Yin, the goddess of the winds and waves, and of the boatmen, who stills the turbulent waters.
Chin kang shan huo Kuan Yin, the diamond hill fire goddess. She saves people from burning houses.
Pai i Kuan Yin, the white-robed goddess. She is believed to be willing to visit the very poorest of homes and help people in their poverty.
P'iao hai Kuan Yin, the cross-sea goddess.
Wu lei fa wang (法王) Kuan Yin, the goddess of the five thunders, which issue from each of the points of the compass and one from overhead.
Tzŭ chu lin chung Kuan Yin, the goddess of the red bamboo grove.