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觀音/観音 is the Buddhist deity known as the Goddess of Mercy or Bodhisattva of Compassion.
In Chinese, the proper name of this being is Guan Yin. There is some debate as to whether Guan Yin is female. The argument comes from some scripture that suggests Buddhist deities take on the male form. Others say that Guan Yin has no sex. And still, others are okay with the female representation of Guan Yin.
This bodhisattva is also known or Romanized in the following ways:
Mandarin Chinese: Guan Yin, Kuan Yin, Kwan Yin.
Japanese: Kannon, Kwannon.
Sanskrit: Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.
Korean: Gwan-eum.
Vietnamese: Quan Âm.
Thai: Kuan Eim.
English: Bodhisattva of Mercy and Salvation, Goddess of Compassion, Buddha of Mercy, et al.
Note: The first character has a slight variation in Japanese. If your audience is specifically Japanese, you may want to select that version.
See Also: Buddhism | Goddess | Namo Amitabha | Bodhisattva
観音 is the specifically Japanese version of Bodhisattva of Compassion or Guan Yin.
In Japanese, this is pronounced Kannon and occasionally spelled Kwannon. The Chinese version is a bit more commonly seen in Asia. However, in Japanese, there is a slight variation with the first character.
Some time ago, a camera company in Japan named their company after this Buddhist deity. That camera company is still known as Canon (they chose a “C” instead of a “K” when they Romanized this name).
Long or more formal Japanese version of this title
観世音 is the more extended and more formal Japanese version of Bodhisattva of Compassion or Guan Yin.
In Japanese, this is pronounced Kanzeon. The Chinese version is a bit more common in Asia, but in Japanese, they use a slight variation of the first character. Choose this version only if your intended audience is specifically Japanese.
Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your kannon search...
Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
観音 see styles |
mine みね |
More info & calligraphy: Goddess of Compassion |
観世音 see styles |
kanzenon かんぜのん |
More info & calligraphy: Goddess of Compassion |
觀世音 观世音 see styles |
guān shì yīn guan1 shi4 yin1 kuan shih yin Kanzeon かんぜおん |
More info & calligraphy: Guan Shi Yin: Protector Of Life(out-dated kanji) Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva); Avalokitesvara; Kannon; Kwannon; Guanyin; Buddhist deity of compassion 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. |
千手観音 see styles |
senjukannon せんじゅかんのん |
More info & calligraphy: Senju Kannon |
西国 see styles |
saigoku; saikoku さいごく; さいこく |
(1) western part of Japan (esp. Kyushu, but ranging as far east as Kinki); (2) western nations (esp. India or Europe); (3) (See 西国三十三所) thirty-three temples in the Kinki area containing statues of Kannon (Avalokitesvara); (4) (See 西国巡礼) pilgrimage to the thirty-three temples sacred to Kannon; (place-name, surname) Saigoku |
觀音 观音 see styles |
guān yīn guan1 yin1 kuan yin kanon かんおん |
Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion or Goddess of Mercy (Sanskrit Avalokiteśvara) (out-dated kanji) Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva); Avalokitesvara; Kannon; Kwannon; Guanyin; Buddhist deity of compassion; (personal name) Kan'on Guanyin |
七觀音 七观音 see styles |
qī guān yīn qi1 guan1 yin1 ch`i kuan yin chi kuan yin Shichi Kannon |
seven forms of Avalokitêśvara |
普門品 普门品 see styles |
pǔ mén pǐn pu3 men2 pin3 p`u men p`in pu men pin fumonbon ふもんぼん |
(abbreviation) (abbr. of 観世音菩薩普門品) Avalokitesvara Sutra; Kannon Sutra Chapter of the Universal Gate |
聖觀音 圣观音 see styles |
shèng guān yīn sheng4 guan1 yin1 sheng kuan yin Shō Kannon |
Noble Avalokitêśvara |
観自在 see styles |
kanjizai かんじざい |
(Buddhist term) Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva); Avalokitesvara; Kannon; Kwannon; Guanyin; Buddhist deity of compassion |
観音堂 see styles |
kannondou / kannondo かんのんどう |
temple dedicated to Kannon; (place-name) Kannondou |
観音山 see styles |
kannonyama かんのんやま |
(place-name) Kannon'yama |
観音岩 see styles |
kannoniwa かんのんいわ |
(personal name) Kannon'iwa |
観音様 see styles |
kannonsama かんのんさま |
(1) Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva); Avalokitesvara; Kannon; Kwannon; Guanyin; Buddhist deity of compassion; (2) (slang) clitoris |
観音池 see styles |
kannonike かんのんいけ |
(place-name) Kannon'ike |
観音浦 see styles |
kannonura かんのんうら |
(place-name) Kannon'ura |
観音経 see styles |
kannongyou / kannongyo かんのんぎょう |
Avalokitesvara Sutra; Kannon Sutra |
観音駅 see styles |
kannoneki かんのんえき |
(st) Kannon Station |
觀自在 观自在 see styles |
guān zì zài guan1 zi4 zai4 kuan tzu tsai Kanjizai かんじざい |
(out-dated kanji) (Buddhist term) Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva); Avalokitesvara; Kannon; Kwannon; Guanyin; Buddhist deity of compassion Avalokitêśvara Bodhisattva |
觀音様 see styles |
kannonsama かんのんさま |
(out-dated kanji) (1) Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva); Avalokitesvara; Kannon; Kwannon; Guanyin; Buddhist deity of compassion; (2) (slang) clitoris |
觀音觀 观音观 see styles |
guān yīn guān guan1 yin1 guan1 kuan yin kuan Kannon kan |
meditation on Avalokitêśvara's true form |
觀音院 观音院 see styles |
guān yīn yuàn guan1 yin1 yuan4 kuan yin yüan Kannon in |
Avalokitêśvara Hall |
一如觀音 一如观音 see styles |
yī rú guān yīn yi1 ru2 guan1 yin1 i ju kuan yin Ichinyo Kannon |
One of the 33 representations of Guanyin ascending on the clouds. |
一葉觀音 一叶观音 see styles |
yī shě guān yīn yi1 she3 guan1 yin1 i she kuan yin Ichiyō Kannon |
One of the 33 forms of Guanyin, standing on a lotus leaf. |
三十三所 see styles |
sanjuusansho / sanjusansho さんじゅうさんしょ |
(See 西国三十三所) thirty-three temples sacred to Kannon (Avalokitesvara) |
八大觀音 八大观音 see styles |
bā dà guān yīn ba1 da4 guan1 yin1 pa ta kuan yin Hachi Dai Kannon |
The eight Shingon representations of Guanyin: as one of the above 八大明王, as the white-robed one, as a rākṣasī, as with four faces, as with a horse's head, as Mahāsthāmaprāpta 大勢至, and as Tārā 陀羅. |
千手觀音 千手观音 see styles |
qiān shǒu guān yīn qian1 shou3 guan1 yin1 ch`ien shou kuan yin chien shou kuan yin Senshu Kannon せんじゅかんのん |
(out-dated kanji) thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara; thousand-armed Kannon Sahasrabhuja-sahasranetra. One of the six forms of Kuanyin with a thousand arms and a thousand eyes. |
大悲観音 see styles |
daihikannon だいひかんのん |
{Buddh} (See 観音様・かんのんさま・1) Kannon of Great Mercy (alt. name for Avalokiteshvara); Greatly Compassionate Kannon; Daihi Kannon |
大悲觀音 大悲观音 see styles |
dà bēi guān yīn da4 bei1 guan1 yin1 ta pei kuan yin Daihi Kannon |
greatly compassionate Avalokitêśvara |
救苦觀音 救苦观音 see styles |
jiù kǔ guān yīn jiu4 ku3 guan1 yin1 chiu k`u kuan yin chiu ku kuan yin kuku Kannon |
Avalokitêśvara who saves world from suffering |
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Goddess of Mercy and Compassion | 觀音 / 観音 观音 | kan non / kannon | guān yīn / guan1 yin1 / guan yin / guanyin | kuan yin / kuanyin |
Goddess of Compassion | 観音 | kan non / kannon | guān yīn / guan1 yin1 / guan yin / guanyin | kuan yin / kuanyin |
Goddess of Compassion | 観世音 | kan ze on / kanzeon | guān shì yīn guan1 shi4 yin1 guan shi yin guanshiyin | kuan shih yin kuanshihyin |
Namo Guanyin Pusa | 南無觀音菩薩 南无观音菩萨 | namu kannon bosatsu namukannonbosatsu | nán wú guàn yīn pú sà nan2 wu2 guan4 yin1 pu2 sa4 nan wu guan yin pu sa nanwuguanyinpusa | nan wu kuan yin p`u sa nanwukuanyinpusa nan wu kuan yin pu sa |
Senju Kannon | 千手観音 | senju kannon senjukannon | ||
In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. |
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Some people may refer to this entry as Kannon Kanji, Kannon Characters, Kannon in Mandarin Chinese, Kannon Characters, Kannon in Chinese Writing, Kannon in Japanese Writing, Kannon in Asian Writing, Kannon Ideograms, Chinese Kannon symbols, Kannon Hieroglyphics, Kannon Glyphs, Kannon in Chinese Letters, Kannon Hanzi, Kannon in Japanese Kanji, Kannon Pictograms, Kannon in the Chinese Written-Language, or Kannon in the Japanese Written-Language.
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