| Guanyin Hall | |||||||
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| Simplified Chinese | 观音殿 | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 觀音殿 | ||||||
| Literal meaning | Hall of Guanyin | ||||||
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TheGuanyin Hall (simplified Chinese:观音殿;traditional Chinese:觀音殿;pinyin:Guānyīndiàn is the most important annex hall inChinese Buddhist temples and is mainly for enshrining the BodhisattvaGuanyin (Avalokiteśvara).[1] Guanyin, also called "Guanshiyin" (觀世音), "Guanshizizai" (觀世自在), "Guanzizai" (觀自在), etc., is the attendant of Amitabha and one of the "Western Three Saints" (西方三聖).[1] Guanyin is the bodhisattva most associated with the Buddhist principle ofcompassion and mercy.[1] According toChapter of the Universal Gate of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva (《觀世音菩薩普門品》), if people are in danger, they just need to call his name and he will hear them and go to save them.[1] Since he has many manifestations, different places enshrine different statues of Sheng Guanyin (圣觀音), Guanzizai (觀自在), and Thousand-armed and eyed Guanyin (千手千眼觀音菩薩).[1][2][3]
In certain temples, the hall is also alternatively called theGuanyin Pavilion (simplified Chinese:观音阁;traditional Chinese:觀音閣;pinyin:Guānyīn gé), theHall of Great Compassion (Chinese:大悲殿;pinyin:Dàbēi diàn) or thePavilion of Great Compassion (simplified Chinese:大悲阁;traditional Chinese:大悲閣;pinyin:Dàbēi gè).
Sheng Guanyin (Traditional Chinese: 聖觀音,pinyin: Shèng Guānyīndiàn) (lit: “Holy Guanyin”) is the primary manifestation of the Bodhisattva Guanyin. Statues of this manifestation often portrays her sitting in the lotus posture with a lotus or theYujingping in hand, wearing Keyura, necklaces and decorations and a precious crown on the head.[1] There is a sitting statue ofAmitabha (阿彌陀佛) on the crown, which is the main symbol of Guanyin.[1]
Statue of Guanzizai sits with on leg crossing and one leg dropping.[1] The Yujingping full of sweet dew and a willow branch is placed near him, representing his mercy and sympathy to spread to all the people.[1] A boy and a girl serve as his attendants on his two sides.[1] The boy isSudhana (善財童子;Shàncái Tóngzǐ) and the girl isLongnü (龍女).[1]
Thousand-armed and eyed Guanyin, has thousands of arms on both sides of the body.[1] For statues, there are often 42 hands with one eye in each to symbolize the thousand hands.[1] The middle two hands are in closing palm posture and other hands are holdingVajras, sutra scrolls Dharma seals and other weapons.[1] Guanyin's thousand hands mean to protect all living creatures and the eyes mean to view over the world.[1]
