20Oct13 - GuanYin Renunciation Day

This Wed, 23rd Oct is GuanYin Renunciation Day, the day he renounced and become a monk.

( Xuan Zang,玄奘, the Tang pilgrim monk who sought Guan Yin’s protection and help as he journeyed to India, had proposed Guan Zi Zai, 观自在, as the correct Chinese translation of Guan Yin’s name.

However, it seems like Guan Shi Yin, 观世音, hearer of all sufferings, was a more popular version. When the second Tang Emperor Li Shi Min, 李世民, ascended the throne, Guan Shi Yin was “renamed” as Guan Yin due to the Chinese custom of avoiding characters similar to an Emperor’s name; Shi , 世, in this case.

By the Song dynasty, Guan Yin evolved into a female bodhisattva in white robes that we see today. The male Guan Yin continues to be depicted albeit less frequently. The bodhisattva’s gender is unproblematic to devotees as Guan Yin will manifest in any form to reach out or to help suffering beings.)   

Many devotees turn vegetarian for at least a day as an act of devotion and compassion.

Some of the temples in Singapore