Walk down the streets of Chinatown in any American or western European city and look around. She is there. Walk through the downtown streets, look in a shop window. She is there. Go to any city in China and open your eyes. She is there, too. Kuan Yin is the most ubiquitous Chinese deity - and the most loved. She is the living expression of compassion, whose gentle face and elegant figure form the centre of devotion in most Chinese homes and workplaces. Until relatively recently, she was barely known in the West and few studies had been made of her. This book, originally published as Kuan Yin by Thorsons in 1995, has been revised by Palmer. It falls into three sections: 1. The origins and evolutions of Kuan Yin in ancient China in early Buddhism, Taoism, and shamanism. 2. The Kuan Yin myths and stories. 3. Fresh translations of 100 Kuan Yin poems that function both as literature and divination tools.
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About the Author
Martin Palmer, the Director of the International Consultancy on Religion, Education and Culture, is an expert on interfaith work, author of many books, and translator of numerous Chinese texts. He lives in England. Jay Ramsay is an acclaimed poet, teacher, and therapist. He lives in London.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Tami Brady
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Kuan Yin has a special place in the hearts of many people. She is unique in her compassionate, unconditional loving ways and that she is the only female bodhisattva to date. She is also equally popular in not just modern Chinese schools of Buddhism but also a variety of other eastern belief systems.
The Kuan Yin Chronicles looks at the goddess of compassion from the spiritual, historical, and mythological perspective. It details her beginnings as the clearly male Avalokitesvara and then her transformation to female in the eight century. The book also looks at her place in eastern beliefs and mythology. Finally, the work ends with the poems of Kuan Yin and explains how thye can be used for divination purposes.
Whether you are interested in Kuan Yin the women of myth, the goddess, the bodhisattva, or the role model, Kuan Yin Chronicles is an important resource to read.
The Kuan Yin Chronicles looks at the goddess of compassion from the spiritual, historical, and mythological perspective. It details her beginnings as the clearly male Avalokitesvara and then her transformation to female in the eight century. The book also looks at her place in eastern beliefs and mythology. Finally, the work ends with the poems of Kuan Yin and explains how thye can be used for divination purposes.
Whether you are interested in Kuan Yin the women of myth, the goddess, the bodhisattva, or the role model, Kuan Yin Chronicles is an important resource to read.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book offers history, mythology, and divination, each in its own section. I was fascinated to learn of Kuan Yin's roots in Buddhist history, the reasons for her transformation from a male bodhisattva to a goddess in China, her links in myth to the Virgin Mary, and her ecumenical appeal to people of Daoist, Confucianist, and Shinto traditions. Of course the book is also testimony to Kuan Yin's rising appeal in the West, which I suspect is a momentous development. As Cristina Leira's great statue in the harbor of Macau melds the West's Virgin Mary with the East's goddess of universal compassion, so a new figure of feminine spirituality may inspire future generations across the world.
--author of A Galaxy of Immortal Women: The Yin Side of Chinese Civilization
--author of A Galaxy of Immortal Women: The Yin Side of Chinese Civilization
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars
12 reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Goddess Worth Watching
24 May 2010
By Brian Griffith
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
This book offers history, mythology, and divination, each in its own section. I was fascinated to learn of Kuan Yin's roots in Buddhist history, the reasons for her transformation from a male bodhisattva to a goddess in China, her links in myth to the Virgin Mary, and her ecumenical appeal to people of Daoist, Confucianist, and Shinto traditions. Of course the book is also testimony to Kuan Yin's rising appeal in the West, which I suspect is a momentous development. As Cristina Leira's great statue in the harbor of Macau melds the West's Virgin Mary with the East's goddess of universal compassion, so a new figure of feminine spirituality may inspire future generations across the world.
--author of A Galaxy of Immortal Women: The Yin Side of Chinese Civilization
--author of A Galaxy of Immortal Women: The Yin Side of Chinese Civilization
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating History of the Goddess of Compassion
7 Jun 2010
By Moonstone Star White
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
From the moment I first saw an image of Kwan Yin, over 25 years ago, I was attracted to her energy. Since then I've collected statues of her that I keep around the home and office, not really knowing much about her, other than that she was considered the Goddess of Compassion.
This book is the first thing I've found that clearly describes the history and energy of Kwan Yin, both as a female and as a male spirit helper. The book is easy to read, informative and very interesting for anyone who has interest in not only Kwan Yin, but the history of Eastern spirituality in general.
"The Kwan Yin Chronicles" describes not only her history, but her versatility as a spiritual helper and her use as an oracle to aide in spiritual and personal insight. I love the way her essence and popularity has transcended all religions. Reading this book has made me love her even more.
This book is the first thing I've found that clearly describes the history and energy of Kwan Yin, both as a female and as a male spirit helper. The book is easy to read, informative and very interesting for anyone who has interest in not only Kwan Yin, but the history of Eastern spirituality in general.
"The Kwan Yin Chronicles" describes not only her history, but her versatility as a spiritual helper and her use as an oracle to aide in spiritual and personal insight. I love the way her essence and popularity has transcended all religions. Reading this book has made me love her even more.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kwan Yin Chronicles
17 Jun 2010
By Robert Puryear
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
For those spiritual seekers/individuals that are drawn to Kwan Yin, this is the best book I've found. The first part, the story and history of him/her is interesting. However the second part of the book, the 100 quatrains, is what I really love about this book. Read sequentially, or used as a devination tool, this is great material. It's the only book on my reading table at this time.
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4.2 out of 5 stars
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