Domestication of Avalokiteśvara,Guanyin

Miracle talesTell people about Guanyin’s

salvific abilities and deeds Validate the scriptures’ claim

about what Guanyin can doReinforce common

understanding and application of the pre-Buddhist Chinese concept of “stimulus and response” (gan’ying) or “efficacious response” (ling-ying)

Earlier Collections of Miracle Tales about Guanyin

A series of “Guanyin’s Responsive Manifestations” stories emerged:A Record of Guanshiyin’s Responsive Manifestations

(late 4th c)—7 storiesContinued Records of Guanshiyin’s Responsive

Manifestations (mid 5th c)—10 storiesMore Records of Guanshiyin’s Responsive

Manifestations (late 5th c)—69 stories

Followed by later collectionsRecord of Manifestations [Resulting] from Recitation

of Guanshiyin Sutra and Mantras (17th c)Compassionate Grove of Guanyin (17th c)Record of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva’s Efficacious

Responses (20th c)

Stories in the Earlier Collections

The faithful can benefit from chanting the Guanyin Sutracalling Guanyin’s nameCombination of invocation of and meditation

on GuanyinBeing a filial sonBeing a devout Buddhist

Types of rewards or benefits

Escape from fire and other disasters such as “peril of the water”—drown because of shipwreckgain a new and good voice to chant and recite sutrasDeliverance from being killed and from other life-threatening situationsRelease from shacklesDiseases curedHave vision of Guanyin and is helped, saved, or rescued

Rewards indicated in the Lotus Sutra

Rewards come from Hearing, calling, chanting, reciting Guanyin’s name Deliverance from all kinds of trials and dangers

fireocean windweaponsdemons imprisonmentrobbers

Stories in the Later CollectionsGuanyin in a wide array of

manifestations appeared in female form, known as

Wife of Mr. Ma and Guanyin with a fish-basket

image revealed in an opened clam: “clam-dwelling Guanyin”

Benefits of hearing, calling, chanting, reciting Guanyin’s name

Benefits/rewards indicated in later collections

Relieved from various diseases: eye, foot, throat, leprosy, possession, skin, stomach and

intestinal, fever, madness, smallpoxRescued from water and fireRescued from imprisonment and other dangersObtain sons and blessingsObtain wisdom, lengthening lifespan, and resurrectionReceive reward of filial piety and good rebirthRelieved from natural disasters: drought, rainfall, locusts

Domestication of Guanyin through Indigenous Iconographies

Chinese creation of new iconographies of GuanyinThe Water-Moon

GuanyinThe White-robed

GuanyinSong Dynasty, wood sculpture

Closer look

Water-Moon. Wall Painting, by fifteen court painters, Ming Dynasty

Liao Dynasty, Wood Scupture

Thousand-armed Thousand-eyed Guanyin

Left: By an unknown modern painter

Right: by Zhang Daqian in 1973

By a modern painter

White-robed Guanyin, stone sculpture, Southern Song, 1142-1146, now in Dazu Cave, Sichuan

Regional diversity of indigenous icons

Great Compassionate GuanyinGreat Compassionate Eleven-faced Guanyin Eleven-faced Guanyin, Stone

sculpture, probably Tang Dynasty

Great Sage Wish-fulfilling Guanyin

Guanyin Who Prolongs Life and Saves [One] from Suffering

Great Merciful and Compassionate Guanyin Who Saves One from Suffering

Guanyin Who Manifests in Response

Pure Vase GuanyinPrecious Basket GuanyinPrecious Sutra GuanyinPrecious Fan GuanyinWillow Branch GuanyinPrecious Jewel GuanyinPrecious Mirror GuanyinLotus Hand GuanyinWish-fulfilling Wheel GuanyinRosary Hand Guanyin

Guanyin of “The Universal Gateway Chapter”Guanyin Who Protects One from Bad Karmic

RetributionGuanyin Who Removes Dangers from ElephantsGuanyin Who Removes Dangers from WaterGuanyin Who Removes Dangers from FireGuanyin Who Subdues Ghosts and Evil SpiritsGuanyin Who Removes Dangers from BeastsGuanyin Who Saves [One] from Suffering by

Seeking Out VoicesMt. Potalaka GuanyinGuanyin of the Desolate Ocean Coast