Abstract

Compassion plays a central role in the Buddhist tradition. Throughout the development of Buddhist philosophy and its religious practices, the fundamental importance of compassion has remained, regardless of the particular geographical, cultural, or individual differences that may exist between the different branches of the Buddhist world. This is evident in the development of the image of the Chinese bodhisattva Guanyin as it evolved from its original Indian roots in the portrayal of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. ;Guanyin is the primary bodhisattva that embodies the perfection of Buddhist compassion. Her image is the most popular figure in the pan-Asian Mahayana pantheon. Worshipped and invoked in both the masculine and feminine manifestations, Guanyin serves as a vital link between the subtleties of Buddhist thought and the practicalities of everyday living. Her role in the Buddhist world has been celebrated as a savior in times of dire distress, and yet she is ever watchful and attentive to humanity's call for help during periods of, pain and suffering. She is a beacon of hope and salvation to those who do not understand how to implement the Buddhadharma in their moment of distress. And in responding directly and quickly to those who call for help, she demonstrates the proper application of the Dharma in our daily lives, in a manner appropriate to our understanding and beneficial to our moral development. ;This dissertation investigates the historical development of Shuiyue Guanyin iconography in the context of Mahayana Buddhist philosophy and popular Chinese folk religion. Shuiyue Guanyin has evolved in China to become the most celebrated religious image in the Chinese Buddhist tradition. Starting from its iconographical roots in the Gandavuyha portion of the =Avatamsaka Sutra, a definitive iconography is established for Shuiyue Guanyin that explores its scriptural, metaphorical, poetical, and ethical dimensions as the ultimate expression of Buddhist compassion