Editing Chinese mythology (section)

===Buddhist influences===
[[File:Boxwood statue of Avalokiteshvara (Guan-Yin).jpg|thumb|Boxwood statue of Avalokiteshvara (Guan-Yin)]]
{{Further|Buddhism|Chinese Buddhism}}

Buddhism was historically introduced to China, probably in the first century CE, accompanied by the import of various ideas about deities and supernatural beings including Kṣitigarbha who was renamed [[Ksitigarbha|Dizang]]. the [[Four Heavenly Kings]], the main Buddha himself [[Shakyamuni Buddha]] ({{lang|zh|釋迦牟尼佛}}, Shìjiāmóunífó), Avalokiteśvara who after a few centuries metamorphosized into [[Guanyin]] (also Kuanyin) a [[bodhisattva]] of compassion, and Hotei the [[Budai|Laughing Buddha]]. New Buddhist material continued to enter China, with a big spike in the Tang dynasty, when the monk [[Xuanzang]] brought over 600 texts from India.{{sfn|Schafer|1963|pp=273–275}} Over time, Guanyin also became a Daoist immortal and was the subject of much mythology.

====Guanyin====
[[File:WLA haa Song wood Guanyin.jpg|thumb|Song wood Guanyin]]
{{Main|Guanyin}}

Guanyin is also known as Kwan Yin, Guanshiyin, the Goddess of Mercy and many other names. The mythology around Guanyin is two-fold, one based on the [[Avalokiteśvara|Avalokitasvara/Avalokiteśvara]] tradition from India and one based on an alleged Chinese young woman's life, as appears in the [[Guanyin#Miaoshan|legend of Miaoshan]]. Guanyin is worshiped as a goddess, yet has a most impressive mythological résumé. Many myths and legends exist about Guan Yin. In all of them she is exceptionally compassionate.

====Kṣitigarbha====
Kṣitigarbha was a Buddhist deity from the area of India who was renamed [[Ksitigarbha|Dizang]], In China. He usually appears as a monk with a [[Halo (religious iconography)|halo]] around his shaved head, he carries a [[khakkhara|staff]] to force open the gates of hell and a [[Cintamani|wish-fulfilling jewel]] to light up the darkness.

====Four Heavenly Kings====
There are a group known as the Four Heavenly Kings, one for each cardinal direction. Statues of them can be encountered in the Hall of the Heavenly Kings of many Buddhist temples.

====Laughing Buddha====
[[File:Laughing Buddha statue.jpg|thumb|Laughing Buddha statue]]
The depiction of a fat, laughing Buddha developed in China.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}