Other Religions Alternative Religions Guanyin - the Goddess of Mercy Share Flipboard Email Print Guanyin - a Buddhist deity China, Song Dynasty, wood AD 960-1278 Musée d'ethnographie, Dahlem, Berlin. CC Flickr User dalbera Alternative Religions Beliefs Overview Mythological Figures Satanic Beliefs and Creeds By N.S. Gill Ancient History and Latin Expert M.A., Linguistics, University of Minnesota B.A., Latin, University of Minnesota N.S. Gill is a Latinist, writer, and teacher of ancient history and Latin. She has been featured by NPR and National Geographic for her ancient history expertise. our editorial process N.S. Gill Updated March 08, 2017 Definition: The Bodhisattva Guanyin is a Chinese comforting and mother goddess, although sometimes she is a he. Maria Reis-Habito says the name means: One who listens to the cries of the world. Pure Land Sutra References: "The Bodhisattva Guanyin and the Virgin Mary," by Maria Reis-Habito; Buddhist-Christian Studies (1993)"Review: Kuan-yin: The Development and Transformation of a Chinese Goddess," by Daniel L. Overmyer; The Journal of Religion (Jul., 2002)"The Development of Kuan Yin: Chinese Goddess of Mercy," by John H. Chamberlayne Numen (Jan., 1962)"Guanyin" The Oxford Companion to World mythology. David Leeming. Oxford University Press, 2004 Also Known As: Kannon (Japan), Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, (India), Chenrezig, Kanzeon, Buddhist Madonna Alternate Spellings: Kuan-yin, Kuan-shih-yin