Material: Bronze, Gilded, Large Buddha Statue.

Dimensions: 110 x 88 cm

Description:

The Thousand-Armed Guanyin, also known as the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin Bodhisattva, is an incarnation of Avalokitesvara in Buddhism. It primarily symbolizes great compassion and unhindered compassion, and is able to save sentient beings with infinite wisdom and supernatural powers. It is often depicted with a thousand arms, each with an eye, symbolizing its ability to simultaneously observe and help countless sentient beings escape suffering. In Chinese Buddhism and folk beliefs, the Thousand-Armed Guanyin is often seen as the embodiment of compassion, and is particularly widely revered in China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia.

Origin

The Thousand-Armed Guanyin's origins can be traced back to the ancient Indian Buddhist belief in Avalokitesvara. Avalokitesvara was originally a male bodhisattva in Indian Buddhism, representing compassion and listening to the suffering of sentient beings. With the introduction of Buddhism into China, particularly during the Tang Dynasty (roughly the 7th-8th centuries), the image of Guanyin gradually became feminized and integrated into local culture, developing a distinctive Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed form. This image primarily derives from the Sutra of the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's Great, Complete, Unhindered, and Greatly Compassionate Heart Dharani (abbreviated as the Thousand-Armed Sutra), translated by the eminent Tang Dynasty monk Jivam Bodhidharma. This text describes the bodhisattva's compassionate vow, which led him to acquire the miraculous powers of a thousand arms and a thousand eyes, which he used to liberate all sentient beings. Furthermore, in Chinese folklore, the Thousand-Armed Guanyin is often associated with the legend of Princess Miaoshan, further localizing the image and blending Buddhist teachings with Confucian filial piety. This image gained popularity during the Sui and Tang dynasties and was widely disseminated through art and literature during the Song and Yuan dynasties, becoming a prominent theme in Buddhist art.

In the broader Buddhist context, the Thousand-Armed Guanyin also draws influences from Tantric Buddhism, particularly in Tibetan Buddhism, where a similar image is known as Chenrezig, emphasizing the bodhisattva's multiplicity of arms and eyes, representing his boundless compassion and wisdom, capable of simultaneously coping with multiple sufferings. Its origins reflect the evolution of Buddhism's spread from India to East Asia, integrating diverse cultural elements.

Story

The most famous story of the Thousand-Armed Guanyin comes from Buddhist scriptures and folklore, emphasizing the bodhisattva's sacrifice and compassion. According to the scriptures, countless kalpas ago, Guanyin Bodhisattva vowed to save all sentient beings from the suffering of the six realms of rebirth. One day, observing the boundless suffering of sentient beings and realizing that no matter how hard he tried, he could not save them all, he was overcome with grief. His head split into eleven pieces, and his body shattered into a thousand fragments. Then, Amitabha Buddha appeared and, through his divine power, reshaped the bodhisattva's shattered form into a thousand-armed, thousand-eyed form. The eleven faces represent his multifaceted observation of the world, and each hand houses an eye, enabling him to see and aid countless sentient beings simultaneously. Thus, the bodhisattva gained vast supernatural powers, enabling him to "respond to prayers wherever they are sought," becoming a symbol of salvation.

Another widely circulated Chinese folk tale is the legend of Princess Miaoshan. Legend has it that during the Tang Dynasty or even earlier, King Miaozhuang of the Northern Que Kingdom had three daughters. The third, Princess Miaoshan, was compassionate by nature and refused the marriage arranged by her father, insisting on becoming a nun. King Miaozhuang was enraged, expelled her from the palace, and even attempted to burn down the temple, but Miaoshan's compassion resolved the situation. Later, King Miaozhuang fell seriously ill, and doctors advised that a relative would need to donate their hands and eyes for medicine. Upon learning of this, Miaoshan volunteered to save her father. After her father recovered, he repented and searched for his daughter, only to discover that Miaoshan had transformed into the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin, with eleven faces and a thousand arms and eyes, in this form continuing to save sentient beings. This story combines Buddhist compassion with Chinese filial piety, emphasizing sacrifice and redemption. This legend was recorded in Guan Daosheng's "Biography of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara" during the Yuan Dynasty and became widely circulated among the people, influencing Guanyin worship in many temples.

Role in Buddhist Ritual

In Buddhist rituals, the Thousand-Armed Guanyin plays the role of a compassionate protector and savior, primarily used to pray for the warding off disasters, prolonging life, healing, and protection. Devotees believe that by worshipping and practicing the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, they can receive the bodhisattva's blessings and resolve life's sufferings. Specifically:

- **Rituals and Practices**: Many temples hold "Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara" ceremonies, where participants collectively recite the Great Compassion Mantra (derived from the Thousand-Armed Sutra), the core mantra of the Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara, believed to ward off disasters, bring blessings, and fulfill wishes. In Tantric Buddhism, or Tibetan Buddhism, the Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara is a prominent deity. Practitioners cultivate compassion by visualizing the bodhisattva's thousand arms and thousand eyes through meditation and mandala rituals.

- **Offerings and Prayers**: Statue of the Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara is often placed in the main hall of a temple or at a family altar. During these rituals, believers offer flowers, incense, and water, praying for the bodhisattva's compassion and blessings. Especially on festivals such as the 19th day of the second lunar month (Avalokitesvara's birthday), the 19th day of the sixth lunar month (Avalokitesvara's enlightenment), and the 19th day of the ninth lunar month (Avalokitesvara's ordination), large-scale ceremonies such as releasing animals, fasting, and chanting are held to emphasize the bodhisattva's universal salvation.

**Symbolism and Inspiration**: In rituals, the Thousand-Armed Guanyin represents boundless wisdom and supernatural powers, encouraging practitioners to cultivate bodhicitta and emulate the bodhisattva's spirit of self-sacrifice. Artistic performances such as the "Thousand-Armed Guanyin Dance" are also frequently included in rituals, symbolizing the bodhisattva's multi-armed assistance to sentient beings. Overall, it serves not only as a focal point of ritual but also as an inspiration for believers to practice compassion in their daily lives.

The Thousand-Armed Guanyin devotion remains vibrant today, embodying the core Buddhist value of compassion.