What is the historical reason why Guanyin changed from a man to a woman?

The great bodhisattva image of Yin Shi Bodhisattva is itself a gentleman image. For example, Hua Yan Jing said: "The brave husband is at home." . Guanyin before the Tang Dynasty was a courageous and resourceful person. Especially since the legend of Princess Miaoshan became popular, the image of Guanyin in Han Dynasty became more and more feminine. For example, the folk image of thirty-three guanyin is basically female.

Buddhism's compassion is similar to some internal characteristics of women. Women's kindness is gentle and shows love in daily behavior. For example, a mother's love for her children is deep and meticulous. Master Yin Shun believes that this is an important reason why Guanyin is shaped into a woman.

Because the special virtue of Guanyin Bodhisattva is compassion, Guanyin Bodhisattva saves all sentient beings, just as a loving mother loves her children. Therefore, Guanyin should be a woman, expand selfless love, and become a bodhisattva with universal love for the equality and compassion of all beings.

Extended data

Guanyin comes from the Normative Fire Classic translated by Zhu Fahu and his disciples in Dunhuang Temple in Chang 'an. Zhu Fahu first translated "Shi Guangyin", and his disciple Nie Daozhen changed it to "Guan". Xuanzang's new translation is Guan Yu, and China is called Guanyin for short.

Guanyin Bodhisattva is a symbol of compassion and wisdom in Buddhism and occupies an extremely important position in Mahayana Buddhism and folk beliefs. The spirit of great compassion led by Guanyin Bodhisattva is regarded as the foundation of Mahayana Buddhism.

It is precisely because of the widespread popularity of Guanyin that China folk novels with Guanyin Bodhisattva as the theme appeared, the most famous of which is a legendary novel named The Way of Guanyin, also known as Daxiangshan.

The content of this novel is that a king of Miao Zhuang gave birth to three princesses. Big princess loves literary talent and has a literary talent son-in-law. The second princess loves martial arts so much that she has recruited a martial arts son-in-law Miao Shan, the third princess, loves to practice, is virtuous and compassionate, and contributes to others. Later, it was completed in Daxiangshan.

This story is not recorded in the orthodox Buddhist classics, and it has not been recognized by Buddhism. Its legend can be traced back to Song Wan's Old Man's Comment on Heaven's Synaesthesia and Monk's Ode to Ancient Congrong Temple, which were recorded by lawyer Tang Daoxuan, and it was mentioned that Guanyin was once a young princess. This legend is completely recorded in the General Theory of Buddhist Chronology in Longxing (volume 13).

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