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 N.S. Gill Ancient History Expert M.A., Linguistics, University of Minnesota B.A., Latin, University of Minnesota N.S. Gill is a Latinist and freelance writer with a longtime focus on the classical world, who has taught Latin and assisted in history classes. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 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 Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Gill, N.S. "Guanyin - the Goddess of Mercy." Learn Religions, Dec. 6, 2021, learnreligions.com/guanyin-the-goddess-of-mercy-118473. Gill, N.S. (2021, December 6). Guanyin - the Goddess of Mercy. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/guanyin-the-goddess-of-mercy-118473 Gill, N.S. "Guanyin - the Goddess of Mercy." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/guanyin-the-goddess-of-mercy-118473 (accessed March 25, 2023). copy citation