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觀世音

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Definition^[1]

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觀世音 The bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, whose name is interpreted as "The One who Observes the Sounds of the World." This particular Chinese rendering is that done by Kumārajīva, most importantly in his translation of the Lotus Sutra 〔法華經 T 262.9.2a8〕. Dharmapāla translated the name as guangshiyin 光世音 and Xuanzang translated as guanzizai 觀自在. Also commonly written as 觀音 and 觀世自在. Avalokiteśvara is one of the most important Bodhisattvas in the Mahāyāna tradition, considered the embodiment of the Buddhist virtue of compassion. He/she is interpreted to be the power of the buddha Amitābha manifested as a bodhisattva, and is therefore often depicted as the helper of the buddha of the Pure Land 淨土. Since Avalokiteśvara is capable of manifesting 33 forms of incarnation to save people according to their capacities, he/she is depicted iconographically in 33 different ways, which are distinguished by the number of heads and arms as well as by the attributes held in the hands. One of the most important loci classicus for the description of Avalokiteśvara is the chapter on the Universal Gate of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva 觀世音菩薩普門品 in the Lotus Sutra 法華經, where the rationale for his/her naming is given.〔法華經、T 262.9.56a〕
Regarding the difference in the Chinese renderings: When Xuanzang rendered the name as 觀自在, he was reading the original Sanksrit as avalokita ("observe") + iśvara ("unimpeded"), which accords with the Tibetan rendering of spyan ras gzigs dbaṅ phyug. Kumārajīva's rendering interprets the original name to be Avalokitasvara, meaning a compassionate buddha or bodhisattva who is sensitive to, and responds to the suffering of sentient beings.

Definition^[2]

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Regarder of the world's sounds, or cries, the so-called Goddess of Mercy; also known as 觀音; 觀世音善薩; 觀自在 (觀世自在); 觀尹; 光世音 (the last being the older form). Avalokiteśvara, v. 阿 8. Originally represented as a male, the images are now generally those of a female figure. The meaning of the term is in doubt; it is intp. as above, but the term 觀自在 (觀世自在) accords with the idea of Sovereign Regarder and is not associated with sounds or cries. Guanyin is one of the triad of Amida, is represented on his left, and is also represented as crowned with Amida; but there are as many as thirty-three different forms of Guanyin, sometimes with a bird, a vase, a willow wand, a pearl, a 'thousand' eyes and hands, etc., and, when as bestower of children, carrying a child. The island of Putuo (Potala) is the chief centre of Guanyin worship, where she is the protector of all in distress, especially of those who go to sea. There are many sūtras, etc., devoted to the cult, but its provenance and the date of its introduction to China are still in doubt. Chapter 25 of the Lotus Sūtra is devoted to Guanyin, and is the principal scripture of the cult; its date is uncertain. Guanyin is sometimes confounded with Amitābha and Maitreya. She is said to be the daughter of king Śubhavyūha 妙莊王, who had her killed by 'stifling because the sword of the executioner broke without hurting her. Her spirit went to hell; but hell changed into paradise. Yama sent her back to life to save his hell, when she was miraculously transported on a Lotus flower to the island of Poo-too'. Eitel.