The Qing dynasty ? (1644-1911) was the
last imperial dynasty in China. It was
founded by the non-Chinese people of the
Manchus who originally lived in the
northeast, a region later called Manchuria.
The Manchus used the disintegration of the
central government of the Ming empire ?
(1368-1644) to conquer China. They
established a political system that
successfully integrated the Chinese
intellectuals into the administration of the
empire. The Manchu people was organised
militarily in the Eight Banners (baqi ??) and
lived in "Manchu cities" in Beijing and most
provincial capitals.
Guanyin is an East Asian bodhisattva
associated with compassion as venerated
by Mahayana Buddhists. She is commonly
known as the "Goddess of Mercy" in
English. The name Guanyin is short for
Guanshiyin, meaning "[The One Who]
Perceives the Sounds of the World". She is
also referred to as Guanyin Bodhisattva
(traditional Chinese: ?????; simplified
Chinese: ????; pinyin: Guan shì Yin Pú
Sà).[1] Some Buddhists believe that when
one of their adherents departs from this
world, they are placed by Guanyin in the
heart of a lotus, and then sent to the
western pure land of Sukhavati.[2] Guanyin
is often referred to as the "most widely
beloved Buddhist Divinity"[3] with
miraculous powers to assist all those who
pray to her as listed in the Lotus Sutra and
Karandavyuha Sutra. Several of the biggest
temples in East Asia are dedicated to
Guanyin including Shitennoji, Sensoji,
Kiyomizu-dera and Sanjusangendo as well
as Shaolin. Guanyin is beloved by all
Buddhist traditions in a non-denominational
way and can be found in some of the most
important centers of Indian Buddhism
including the Mahabodhi Temple, Ajanta
Caves and Nalanda Museum as well as
most Tibetan temples where He is referred
to as Chenrezig. Furthermore, Guanyin can
also be found in some influential Theravada
temples such as Gangaramaya and
Kelaniya of Sri Lanka as well as the Asian
art sections of most museums in the world
as a widely depicted subject of Asian art
and sculpture.
It is generally accepted among East Asian
adherents that Guanyin originated as the
Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. Commonly
known in English as the Mercy Goddess or
Goddess of Mercy but often depicted as
both male and female to show this figure's
limitless transcendence beyond gender[4]
Guanyin is also revered by Taoists as an
immortal. In Chinese folk religion, there are
mythical accounts about Guanyin's origins
that are not associated with the
Avalokitesvara described in Buddhist sutras.
- (LM.66)
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