Editing Guanyin (section)

===Iconography===
[[File:Eleven-faced Goddess of Mercy edit.jpg|thumb|upright|Guanyin as a male [[bodhisattva]]. Eleven faced ''Ekādaśamukha'' form. Japan, 12th century.|left]]

Representations of the bodhisattva in China prior to the [[Song dynasty]] (960–1279) were masculine in appearance. Images which later displayed attributes of both genders are believed to be in accordance with the Lotus Sutra, where Avalokitesvara has the supernatural power of assuming any form required to relieve suffering, and also has the power to grant children. Because this bodhisattva is considered the personification of compassion and kindness, a mother goddess and patron of mothers and seamen, the representation in China was further interpreted in an all-female form around the 12th century. On occasion, Guanyin is also depicted holding an infant in order to further stress the relationship between the bodhisattva, maternity, and birth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://library.artstor.org/#/asset/SS36617_36617_32424610;prevRouteTS=1543257931615|title=Artstor|last=Artstor|website=library.artstor.org|language=en|access-date=2018-11-26|archive-date=12 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012055906/http://hcap.artstor.org/cgi-bin/library?a=d&d=p535#/asset/SS36617_36617_32424610;prevRouteTS=1543257931615|url-status=live}}</ref> In the modern period, Guanyin is most often represented as a beautiful, white-robed woman, a depiction which derives from the earlier ''Pandaravasini'' form.

In some Buddhist temples and monasteries, Guanyin's image is occasionally that of a young man dressed in Northern Song [[Kasaya (clothing)#Jiāshā in Chinese Buddhism|Buddhist robes]] and seated gracefully. He is usually depicted looking or glancing down, symbolising that Guanyin continues to watch over the world.

In China, Guanyin is generally portrayed as a young woman wearing a flowing white robe, and usually also necklaces symbolic of Indian or Chinese royalty. In her left hand is a jar containing pure water, and the right holds a [[willow]] branch. The crown usually depicts the image of [[Amitābha]].

There are also regional variations of Guanyin depictions. In [[Fujian]], for example, a popular depiction of Guanyin is as a maiden dressed in Tang [[hanfu]] carrying a fish basket. A popular image of Guanyin as both Guanyin of the South Sea and Guanyin with a Fish Basket can be seen in late 16th-century Chinese encyclopedias and in prints that accompany the novel ''Golden Lotus''.

In Chinese art, Guanyin is often depicted either alone, standing atop a dragon, accompanied by a [[white cockatoo]] and flanked by two children or two warriors. The two children are her acolytes who came to her when she was meditating at [[Mount Putuo]]. The girl is called [[Longnü]] and the boy [[Sudhana|Shancai]]. The two warriors are the historical general [[Guan Yu]] from the late [[Han dynasty]] and the bodhisattva [[Skanda (Buddhism)|Skanda]], who appears in the Chinese classical novel ''[[Fengshen Yanyi]]''. The Buddhist tradition also displays Guanyin, or other buddhas and bodhisattvas, flanked with the above-mentioned warriors, but as bodhisattvas who protect the temple and the faith itself. In [[Pure Land Buddhism|Pure Land Buddhist traditions]], Guanyin is often depicted and venerated with the Buddha [[Amitābha|Amitabha]] and the Bodhisattva [[Mahasthamaprapta]] as part of a trio collective called the "Three Saints of the West" ([[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 西方三聖; [[Pinyin]]: Xīfāng sānshèng).

{| class="wikitable"
|+Chinese Iconography of Guanyin
!Element
!Notes
|-
| colspan="2" style="background: #ffdddd; text-align:center;"|CLOTHING
|-
|style="background: #ffdddd;"|White robes
|style="background: #ffdddd;"|Influenced by tantric sutras and mandalas such as the [[Mandala of the Two Realms]] which frequently depict Guanyin as being clad in white.<ref name=":0"/>
|-
|style="background: #ffdddd;"|Robes sometimes loose or open at chest
|style="background: #ffdddd;"|Recalling Guanyin's androgynous origins as a male bodhisattva and her ability to change forms.{{fact|date=March 2025}} If drawn androgynously, the breasts may, rarely, be wholly exposed, though sometimes jewels may be placed so as to cover the nipples. Very rarely, Guanyin may be shown unambiguously female with breasts fully exposed.{{fact|date=March 2025}}
|-
|style="background: #ffdddd;"|Necklace
|style="background: #ffdddd;"|
|-
|style="background: #ffdddd;"|Crown
|style="background: #ffdddd;"|Usually contains an image of Buddha Amitabha, her teacher.  
|-
| colspan="2" style="background: #ddddff; text-align:center;"|CARRYING
|-
|style="background: #ddddff;"|Vase, often in left hand, often upright though may be shown pouring water.
|style="background: #ddddff;"|One of the Eight Symbols of Good Fortune. Contains pure water capable of relieving suffering. Sometimes when poured may form a bubble and surround a young child.
|-
|style="background: #ddddff;"|Willow branch, often in right hand, sometimes in the vase.
|style="background: #ddddff;"|Used to sprinkle divine water. Willow bends without breaking. Influenced by tantric rites where willow branches were used in offering rituals to esoteric forms of Guanyin.<ref name=":0"/>
|-
|style="background: #ddddff;"|Fly whisk
|style="background: #ddddff;"|
|-
|style="background: #ddddff;"|Lotus bloom
|style="background: #ddddff;"|Common Buddhist symbol of purity.
|-
|style="background: #ddddff;"|Rice sheaths
|style="background: #ddddff;"|Fertility, providing the necessities for life.
|-
|style="background: #ddddff;"|Basket, possibly a fish basket
|style="background: #ddddff;"|Patroness of fishermen
|-
|style="background: #ddddff;"|[[Buddhist prayer beads|Mālā]]
|style="background: #ddddff;"|
|-
| colspan="2" style="background: #ddffdd; text-align:center;"|ANIMALS AND PEOPLE
|-
|style="background: #ddffdd;"|Infant
|style="background: #ddffdd;"|Specifically in the Songzi Guanyin manifestation (See below). Association with maternity. (See also [[Songzi Niangniang]].) May be a representation of her disciple Hui'an / [[Muzha (deity)|Muzha]] as an infant.
|-
|style="background: #ddffdd;"|[[Qilin]]
|style="background: #ddffdd;"|Symbol of fertility and a wholly vegetarian creature dedicated strongly to avoiding harm, though will punish the wicked.
|-
|style="background: #ddffdd;"|[[Chinese dragon|Dragon]]
|style="background: #ddffdd;"|Guanyin may be standing on the dragon which swims in the sea, showing her spiritual powers as well as her status of a patroness of fishermen. The dragon may also be flying and is shown surrounded by clouds.
|-
|style="background: #ddffdd;"|Sea-turtle
|style="background: #ddffdd;"|Guanyin will be shown standing on the large turtle which swims in the sea as patroness of fishermen.
|-
| style="background: #ddffdd;" |[[Sudhana|Shancai]] (Sanskrit: ''Sudhana'')
| style="background: #ddffdd;" |Translated as "boy skilled in wealth". His presence in Guanyin's iconography was influenced by the [[Gandavyuha|Gaṇḍavyūha Sutra]] within the [[Avatamsaka Sutra]] which mention him as seeking out 53 spiritual masters in his quest for enlightenment, with Guanyin being the 28th master. Shancai may sometimes also be shown with bent legs to indicate his former status as crippled.
|-
| style="background: #ddffdd;" |[[Longnü]] (Sanskrit: ''nāgakanyā'') 
| style="background: #ddffdd;" |Translated as "dragon girl". Is the daughter of a [[Dragon King]]. Her presence in Guanyin's iconography was influenced by tantric sutras celebrating the esoteric Amoghapāśa and Thousand-armed forms of Guanyin, which mention Longnü offering Guanyin a priceless pearl in gratitude for the latter visiting the Dragon King's palace at the bottom of the ocean to teach the inhabitants her salvific [[dharani]].<ref name=":0"/>
|-
| style="background: #ddffdd;" |Two warriors
| style="background: #ddffdd;" |[[Guan Yu]] and [[Skanda (Buddhism)|Weituo]] (Skanda), two [[dharmapala]]s who protect the Buddha-dharma.
|-
|style="background: #ddffdd;"|[[White cockatoo|White parrot]]
|style="background: #ddffdd;"|A faithful disciple, see below.
|-
| colspan="2" style="background: #ffffdd; text-align:center;"|OTHER
|-
|style="background: #ffffdd;"|Standing or seated on a large lotus bloom
|style="background: #ffffdd;"|A common posture for buddhas and boddhisattvas. The lotus bloom is commonly shown floating on the sea. 
|-
|style="background: #ffffdd;"|[[Halo (religious iconography)|Halo]]
|style="background: #ffffdd;"|To indicate her sacredness or spiritual elevation.
|}

In Chinese mythology, Guanyin (觀音) is the goddess of mercy and considered to be the physical embodiment of compassion. She is an all-seeing, all-hearing being who is called upon by worshipers in times of uncertainty, despair, and fear. Guanyin is originally based on the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. Avalokiteśvara's myth spread throughout China during the advent of Buddhism and mixed with local folklore in a process known as [[syncretism]] to become the modern day understanding of Guanyin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mythopedia.com/chinese-mythology/gods/guanyin/|title=Guanyin|access-date=1 May 2021|archive-date=18 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118062521/https://mythopedia.com/chinese-mythology/gods/guanyin/|url-status=live}}</ref>