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Kuan-Yin is venerated as the goddess (or god) who bestows children,
protects women, and anyone who calls on her when in mortal peril.
Originally Kuan-Yin was the male deity of compassion,
Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, of Indian Buddhism who was sometimes represented
with a thousand arms and eyes.
The Chinese simplified the sacred form of Bodhisattva
Avalokitesvara into an elegant female deity, often wearing a white dress
and holding the white lotus of purity.
Kuan-Yin is also represented with a child and seated on a lotus, and
sometimes covered by a white veil.
Because of her complete lack of malice and limitless
benevolence and purity, Kuan-Yin is one of the most popular Chinese
deities.
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