Guanyin ~ Goddess of Mercy & Compassion

Guanyin was the Chinese goddess of mercy and compassion who became the patron of sailors and fishermen. She was originally a deity in India known as Tara who was born of the tears of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (whose name means "One Who Gazes Down Upon the World and Hears the Cries of the People") and was seen as his female counterpart and a goddess of compassion, wisdom, and liberation.

Guanyin came to China from India through trade via the Silk Road during the Han Dynasty. She was so compassionate that she incarnated as the maiden Miaoshan in order to experience life as a human being and offer service to others. She was one of the most popular deities in all of China, and both men and women adored her.

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