Guanyin’s Connections

About Guanyin →

Allied with

• Jade Emperor

  In Journey to the West, Guanyin acts as intermediary between the Jade Emperor's celestial court and the Buddhist mission, recommending Erlang Shen to capture Sun Wukong and selecting Tang Sanzang for the pilgrimage.

Guards

• Bai Longma

  Guanyin saved Bai Long Ma from execution and arranged for him to serve as Xuanzang's steed on the Journey to the West.

• Hong Hai'er

  Guanyin subdued Red Boy with the golden hoop and converted him into her acolyte Sudhana (Shancai Tongzi).

• Longnu

  Lóngnǔ, the dragon king's daughter who proved a child could attain buddhahood, stands eternally at Guanyin's side as her devoted attendant, pearl in hand.

• Sun Wukong

  Guanyin arranged Sun Wukong's release from Five Elements Mountain, gave Xuanzang the golden headband to control him, and guided the pilgrims throughout the Journey to the West.

• Xuanzang

  Guanyin chose Xuánzàng for the scripture pilgrimage, shielded him from demons across eighty-one tribulations, and appeared in disguise whenever the monk's faith or life hung in the balance.

Member of

• Four Great Bodhisattvas

  The Four Great Bodhisattvas of Chinese Buddhism comprise Guanyin, Wenshu, Puxian, and Dìzàng, each presiding over one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains.

• Three Saints of the West

  The Three Saints of the West stand together in the Western Pure Land — Amituofo, the Buddha of Infinite Light, flanked by Guanyin bearing compassion and Dashizhi bearing wisdom, the triad who greet the faithful at the moment of death and escort them to paradise.

Equivalent to

• Avalokiteshvara(Buddhist),Chenrezig(Tibetan),Kannon(Japanese)

  Avalokiteshvara, Guanyin, Kannon, and Chenrezig are the Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and Tibetan forms of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, transmitted through the spread of Mahayana Buddhism across Asia.

Associated with

• Rulai Fozu

  Rulai Fozu dispatched Guanyin to the Eastern Lands to find a pilgrim worthy of retrieving the Buddhist scriptures, initiating the events of the Journey to the West.

• Sha Wujing

  Guanyin converted the exiled Curtain-Lifting General into Sha Wujing and assigned him to serve as Xuanzang's disciple on the pilgrimage to atone for his heavenly offense.

• Zhu Bajie

  Guanyin converted the exiled Marshal Tianpeng into Zhu Bajie and assigned him to serve as Xuanzang's disciple on the pilgrimage as penance for his transgressions in Heaven.