Avalokiteshvara; Kannon; Guanyin; Bodhisattva of Compassion
Buddhist term referring to the bodhisattva who embodies compassion. In Japanese Buddhism, commonly known as 観音 (Kannon). 観自在 is a less common alternative name, often encountered in sutras or scholarly contexts.
See also: 観音 (かんのん)
The phrase 'Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara' appears in the Heart Sutra.
観自在は、観音菩薩の別名として知られている。
Kanjizai is known as another name for Kannon Bodhisattva.
観音 is the far more common Japanese name for the same bodhisattva. 観自在 is a rarer, more formal or scriptural variant.
Standard modern kanji spelling for this Buddhist term.
Out-dated kanji form (舊字體); rarely used outside historical or traditional contexts.
From the Chinese translation of the Sanskrit name Avalokiteśvara. The characters 観 (observe) and 自在 (freely, at ease) reflect the bodhisattva's ability to perceive the world with unimpeded compassion.