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Long or more formal Japanese version of this title
観世音 is the more extended and more formal Japanese version of Bodhisattva of Compassion or Guan Yin.
In Japanese, this is pronounced Kanzeon. The Chinese version is a bit more common in Asia, but in Japanese, they use a slight variation of the first character. Choose this version only if your intended audience is specifically Japanese.
This is the long or more formal version of this title
觀世音 is the longer and perhaps more formal title for the Buddhist deity known as the Goddess of Mercy or Bodhisattva of Compassion.
The longer title of this bodhisattva is Romanized in the following ways:
Mandarin Chinese: Guanshi Yin, Kuan-shih Yin.
Japanese: Kanzeon.
Sanskrit: Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.
Korean: Gwan-se-eum.
Vietnamese: Quan Thế Âm.
Thai: Prah Mae Kuan Eim.
English: Bodhisattva of Mercy and Salvation, Goddess of Compassion, Buddha of Mercy, et al.
Please view our more common and shorter version, “Guan Yin” before you make a decision. Also, note that the first character has a slight variation in Japanese. If your audience is specifically Japanese, you may want to select that version.
Below are some entries from our dictionary that may match your kanzeon search...
Characters If shown, 2nd row is Simp. Chinese |
Pronunciation Romanization |
Simple Dictionary Definition |
觀世音 观世音 see styles |
guān shì yīn guan1 shi4 yin1 kuan shih yin Kanzeon かんぜおん |
More info & calligraphy: Guan Shi Yin: Protector Of Life(out-dated kanji) Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva); Avalokitesvara; Kannon; Kwannon; Guanyin; Buddhist deity of compassion Regarder of the world's sounds, or cries, the so-called Goddess of Mercy; also known as 觀音; 觀世音善薩; 觀自在 (觀世自在); 觀尹; 光世音 (the last being the older form). Avalokiteśvara, v. 阿 8. Originally represented as a male, the images are now generally those of a female figure. The meaning of the term is in doubt; it is intp. as above, but the term 觀自在 (觀世自在) accords with the idea of Sovereign Regarder and is not associated with sounds or cries. Guanyin is one of the triad of Amida, is represented on his left, and is also represented as crowned with Amida; but there are as many as thirty-three different forms of Guanyin, sometimes with a bird, a vase, a willow wand, a pearl, a 'thousand' eyes and hands, etc., and, when as bestower of children, carrying a child. The island of Putuo (Potala) is the chief centre of Guanyin worship, where she is the protector of all in distress, especially of those who go to sea. There are many sūtras, etc., devoted to the cult, but its provenance and the date of its introduction to China are still in doubt. Chapter 25 of the Lotus Sūtra is devoted to Guanyin, and is the principal scripture of the cult; its date is uncertain. Guanyin is sometimes confounded with Amitābha and Maitreya. She is said to be the daughter of king Śubhavyūha 妙莊王, who had her killed by 'stifling because the sword of the executioner broke without hurting her. Her spirit went to hell; but hell changed into paradise. Yama sent her back to life to save his hell, when she was miraculously transported on a Lotus flower to the island of Poo-too'. Eitel. |
南無觀世音菩薩 南无观世音菩萨 see styles |
nán wú guān shì yīn pú sà nan2 wu2 guan1 shi4 yin1 pu2 sa4 nan wu kuan shih yin p`u sa nan wu kuan shih yin pu sa namu Kanzeon bosatsu |
More info & calligraphy: Namo Guanshiyin Pusa |
懺法 忏法 see styles |
chàn fǎ chan4 fa3 ch`an fa chan fa senbou / senbo せんぼう |
(1) {Buddh} penitence by chanting sutras; confession (of sins); Tendai ritual of chanting Lotus Sutra or to Kanzeon, Amida, or Kichijoten for forgiveness of sins performed unknowingly; (n,n-suf) (2) {Buddh} penitence sutra; (3) {Buddh} guidebook to penitence The mode of action, or ritual, at the confessional; also the various types of confessional, e.g. that of Guanyin, Amitābha, etc. |
六觀世音 六观世音 see styles |
liù guān shì yīn liu4 guan1 shi4 yin1 liu kuan shih yin Roku Kanzeon |
six [incarnations of] Avalokitêśvara |
觀世音母 观世音母 see styles |
guān shì yīn mǔ guan1 shi4 yin1 mu3 kuan shih yin mu Kanzeon mo |
Tara, the śakti, or female energy of the masculine Avalokiteśvara. |
大悲觀世音 大悲观世音 see styles |
dà bēi guān shì yīn da4 bei1 guan1 shi4 yin1 ta pei kuan shih yin Daihi Kanzeon |
Avalokitêśvara as Great Compassion |
小觀世音經 小观世音经 see styles |
xiǎo guān shì yīn jīng xiao3 guan1 shi4 yin1 jing1 hsiao kuan shih yin ching Shō Kanzeon kyō |
Small Avalokitêśvara Sūtra |
觀世音菩薩 观世音菩萨 see styles |
guān shì yīn pú sà guan1 shi4 yin1 pu2 sa4 kuan shih yin p`u sa kuan shih yin pu sa Kanzeon Bosatsu |
Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion or Goddess of Mercy (Sanskrit Avalokiteśvara) Avalokitêśvara-bodhisattva |
觀世音三昧經 观世音三昧经 see styles |
guān shì yīn sān mèi jīng guan1 shi4 yin1 san1 mei4 jing1 kuan shih yin san mei ching Kanzeon zanmai kyō |
Avalokitêśvara Samādhi-sūtra |
大悲觀世音菩薩 大悲观世音菩萨 see styles |
dà bēi guān shì yīn pú sà da4 bei1 guan1 shi4 yin1 pu2 sa4 ta pei kuan shih yin p`u sa ta pei kuan shih yin pu sa Daihi Kanzeon Bosatsu |
Avalokitêśvara Bodhisattva, of great compassion |
繫觀世音應驗記 系观世音应验记 see styles |
xì guān shì yīn yìng yàn jì xi4 guan1 shi4 yin1 ying4 yan4 ji4 hsi kuan shih yin ying yen chi Ke Kanzeon ōken ki |
Xi guanshiyin yingyan ji |
佛說觀世音三昧經 佛说观世音三昧经 see styles |
fó shuō guān shì yīn sān mèi jīng fo2 shuo1 guan1 shi4 yin1 san1 mei4 jing1 fo shuo kuan shih yin san mei ching Bussetsu Kanzeon sanmaikyō |
Avalokitêśvara Samādhi Sūtra Spoken by the Buddha |
觀世音折刀除罪經 观世音折刀除罪经 see styles |
guān shì yīn zhé dāo chú zuì jīng guan1 shi4 yin1 zhe2 dao1 chu2 zui4 jing1 kuan shih yin che tao ch`u tsui ching kuan shih yin che tao chu tsui ching Kanzeon settō jozai kyō |
Sūtra of Avalokitêśvara Cutting and Removing Wrongs |
觀世音菩薩普門品 观世音菩萨普门品 see styles |
guān shì yīn pú sà pǔ mén pǐn guan1 shi4 yin1 pu2 sa4 pu3 men2 pin3 kuan shih yin p`u sa p`u men p`in kuan shih yin pu sa pu men pin Kanzeon Bosatsu fumon bon |
Guanshiyin pusa pumen pin |
十一面觀世音神呪經 十一面观世音神呪经 see styles |
shí yī miàn guān shì yīn shén zhòu jīng shi2 yi1 mian4 guan1 shi4 yin1 shen2 zhou4 jing1 shih i mien kuan shih yin shen chou ching Jūichimen kanzeon shinjukyō |
Avalokitêśvara-ekadaśamukha-dhāraṇī |
妙法蓮華經觀世音門品 妙法莲华经观世音门品 see styles |
miào fǎ lián huá jīng guān shì yīn mén pǐn miao4 fa3 lian2 hua2 jing1 guan1 shi4 yin1 men2 pin3 miao fa lien hua ching kuan shih yin men p`in miao fa lien hua ching kuan shih yin men pin Myōhō renge kyō Kanzeon fumon bon |
Avalokitêśvara Universal Gate Chapter of Sūtra of the Lotus of the Wonderful Dharma |
千轉陀羅尼觀世音菩薩呪 千转陀罗尼观世音菩萨呪 see styles |
qiān zhuàn tuó luó ní guān shì yīn pú sà zhòu qian1 zhuan4 tuo2 luo2 ni2 guan1 shi4 yin1 pu2 sa4 zhou4 ch`ien chuan t`o lo ni kuan shih yin p`u sa chou chien chuan to lo ni kuan shih yin pu sa chou Senten darani kanzeon bosatsu ju |
Dhāraṇī of a Thousand Turns [A Spell of the Bodhisattva who Heeds the Sounds of the World] |
Variations: |
kanzeon かんぜおん |
(See 観音) Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva); Avalokitesvara; Kannon; Kwannon; Guanyin; Buddhist deity of compassion |
千手千眼觀世音菩薩治病合藥經 千手千眼观世音菩萨治病合药经 see styles |
qiān shǒu qiān yǎn guān shì yīn pú sà zhì bìng hé yào jīng qian1 shou3 qian1 yan3 guan1 shi4 yin1 pu2 sa4 zhi4 bing4 he2 yao4 jing1 ch`ien shou ch`ien yen kuan shih yin p`u sa chih ping ho yao ching chien shou chien yen kuan shih yin pu sa chih ping ho yao ching Senshu sengen kanzeon bosatsu jibyō gōyaku kyō |
Sūtra on the Use of Medicinal Herbs for Healing by the Thousand-eyed, Thousand-hands Avalokitêśvara |
千手千眼觀世音菩薩大悲心陀羅尼 千手千眼观世音菩萨大悲心陀罗尼 see styles |
qiān shǒu qiān yǎn guān shì yīn pú sà dà bēi xīn tuó luó ní qian1 shou3 qian1 yan3 guan1 shi4 yin1 pu2 sa4 da4 bei1 xin1 tuo2 luo2 ni2 ch`ien shou ch`ien yen kuan shih yin p`u sa ta pei hsin t`o lo ni chien shou chien yen kuan shih yin pu sa ta pei hsin to lo ni Senju sengen kanzeon bosatsu daihishin darani |
Dhāraṇī of the Bodhisattva With a Thousand Hands and Eyes Who Regards the World's Sounds with Great Compassion |
The following table may be helpful for those studying Chinese or Japanese...
Title | Characters | Romaji (Romanized Japanese) | Various forms of Romanized Chinese | |
Goddess of Compassion | 観世音 | kan ze on / kanzeon | guān shì yīn guan1 shi4 yin1 guan shi yin guanshiyin | kuan shih yin kuanshihyin |
Goddess of Mercy and Compassion | 觀世音 观世音 | guān shì yīn guan1 shi4 yin1 guan shi yin guanshiyin | kuan shih yin kuanshihyin |
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In some entries above you will see that characters have different versions above and below a line. In these cases, the characters above the line are Traditional Chinese, while the ones below are Simplified Chinese. |
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When the calligrapher finishes creating your artwork, it is taken to my art mounting workshop in Beijing where a wall scroll is made by hand from a combination of silk, rice paper, and wood.
After we create your wall scroll, it takes at least two weeks for air mail delivery from Beijing to you.
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The wall scroll that Sandy is holding in this picture is a "large size"
single-character wall scroll.
We also offer custom wall scrolls in small, medium, and an even-larger jumbo size.
Professional calligraphers are getting to be hard to find these days.
Instead of drawing characters by hand, the new generation in China merely type roman letters into their computer keyboards and pick the character that they want from a list that pops up.
There is some fear that true Chinese calligraphy may become a lost art in the coming years. Many art institutes in China are now promoting calligraphy programs in hopes of keeping this unique form
of art alive.
Even with the teachings of a top-ranked calligrapher in China, my calligraphy will never be good enough to sell. I will leave that to the experts.
The same calligrapher who gave me those lessons also attracted a crowd of thousands and a TV crew as he created characters over 6-feet high. He happens to be ranked as one of the top 100 calligraphers in all of China. He is also one of very few that would actually attempt such a feat.
Check out my lists of Japanese Kanji Calligraphy Wall Scrolls and Old Korean Hanja Calligraphy Wall Scrolls.
Some people may refer to this entry as Kanzeon Kanji, Kanzeon Characters, Kanzeon in Mandarin Chinese, Kanzeon Characters, Kanzeon in Chinese Writing, Kanzeon in Japanese Writing, Kanzeon in Asian Writing, Kanzeon Ideograms, Chinese Kanzeon symbols, Kanzeon Hieroglyphics, Kanzeon Glyphs, Kanzeon in Chinese Letters, Kanzeon Hanzi, Kanzeon in Japanese Kanji, Kanzeon Pictograms, Kanzeon in the Chinese Written-Language, or Kanzeon in the Japanese Written-Language.
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