Kannon

See also: kannon

English

Kannon, the bodhisattva of mercy and compassion.

Alternative forms

• Kwannon (dated)

Etymology

From Japanese 観音 (Kannon), from Middle Chinese 觀音 (MC kwan 'im), a translation of Sanskrit अवलोकितेश्वर (avalokiteśvara).

Proper noun

Kannon

1. (religion, Buddhism) Kannon, the Japanese version of Guanyin, the Chinese translation of Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva of mercy and compassion.
   • 2021, Ruth Ozeki, The Book of Form and Emptiness, Canongate Books (2022), page 413:

     “A long time ago, Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, made a deep vow to free all beings and help us wake up to our true and luminous nature.”

Further reading

• Guanyin on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Japanese

Romanization

Kannon

1. Rōmaji transcription of かんのん