Guanyin Bodhisattva image and legends

Author: Liu Qiulin
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-04-01
Features: Buddhism is one of the world's three major religions, alongside Christianity and Islam. It is believed to have been founded by Siddhartha Gautama, a prince from the ancient Indian state of Kapilavastu, around the 6th to 5th centuries BCE. Starting from the 3rd century BCE, Buddhism spread continuously beyond ancient India, engaging in cultural and religious exchanges with various Eastern and Western traditions, eventually evolving into a global religion with distinct national characteristics in many countries. In the first year of Emperor Yuan of the Western Han Dynasty, Buddhism was introduced into the interior of China. It flourished during the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties periods and reached its peak in the Sui and Tang dynasties, giving rise to Chinese Buddhist sects such as the Tiantai, Huayan, and Chan schools. In the early Tang Dynasty, Buddhism also spread to Tibet, forming the unique Tibetan Buddhism. After the two Song dynasties, the trend of Buddhism merging with Confucianism, Taoism, and other three teachings in the interior of China intensified, and its own influence gradually declined, though it remained profoundly influential in all aspects of social life. By the Yuan Dynasty, Tibetan Buddhism flourished nationwide and blended with Han Buddhism. Since modern times, with the advent of the Self-Strengthening Movement and the democratic revolution, the Buddhist community has launched revival and reform movements, marking a new era for Buddhism. There are many folk tales about Guanyin Bodhisattva, and numerous statues of Guanyin have been created. To collect and organize folk culture, showcase traditional sculpture and painting art, and promote traditional Chinese culture, we have compiled this book, hoping for readers' appreciation. The book includes nearly 120,000 words of legends about Guanyin Bodhisattva, telling the story of her family life in previous lives, her determination to become a Buddha, and the various hardships she endured, presented in a chapter-by-chapter narrative with strong readability. There are nearly 100 images of Guanyin Bodhisattva, vividly depicted and accompanied by sources, making them valuable for research.