Kuan Yin of Macau city!
What a beautiful article you must read and share. I read also after Kuan Yin was installed, Macau’s economy improved. Fantastic. Buddha images are known to improve and protect a region. I have heard of this many times.
Tsem Rinpoche
Kuan Yin of Macau
The Kuan Yin statue in Macau at the Guan Yin Ecumenical Centre stands at 20 meters tall (65ft), and the lotus stands at 7m (23ft).
Known as the Buddha of Compassion, Kuan Yin is also known as Chenrezig in Tibetan or Avalokiteshvara (अवलोकितेश्वर) in Sanskrit. This depiction of Kuan Yin is very much similar to Virgin Mary.
It was sculptured by a famed Portuguese artist named Cristina Rocha, created in parts in Nanjing, and inaugurated by the Portuguese president Jorge Sampaio. The statue is clad in bronze and weighs approximately 50 tons.
The lotus is seated just off the island, and within the lotus is a quiet area for people to read up more on Kuan Yin, and perhaps even do some prayers.
As beautiful as Kuan Yin is, there is a powerful purpose behind Kuan Yin’s presence on the shores of this man-made island. Along with Virgin Mary and Tian Hou, Kuan Yin makes up the third virgin trio that maps this peaceful island. The divine trio symbolizes extreme compassion and mercy which also serves to foster tolerance between the cross-cultural attributes of the Portuguese and Chinese. It is for this reason, along with the Virgin Mary, that Kuan Yin stands as a symbol of religious and cultural harmony.
Although there are a minority of Chinese people that find this statue’s iconography a little difficult to accept, Kuan Yin is still visited and loved by all in Macau. This is due to the rich blend between European and Western cultures.
Source:
http://www.macauheritage.net/en/knowledge/vision/vision_053.pdf
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Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this interesting article with us.
This is a beautiful Kuan Yin as an icon of compassion, peace and harmony. This image of Kuan Yin who looks more like the Virgin Mary sends a message that true compassion is universal, borderless and transcends boundaries.As it blends European and Eastern cultures so seamlessly, the Kuan Yin statue appeals to all , both East and West. Indeed, the island of Macau seemed historically to be at the crossroads of different cultures(mainly Chinese and Portugese) and has a beautiful trio of divine beings protecting it – Virgin Mary ,Tian Hou, and Kuan Yin – symbols of immeasurable compassion and mercy, nurturing tolerance and peace. May they continue to bless this island with peace and harmony.
Really love this huge statue of Kuan Yin, she looks so elegant and exudes a soothing feeling; blessing all sentient beings who had the fortune to visit her. For travellers who are planning a trip to Macau, this is one holy sacred site that must not be missed! Thank you for this sharing.
The Kuan Yin statue looks so elegant and majestic, though he’s in a form which I am not very familiar with but it’s pretty interesting. I like what it says here: ‘Along with Virgin Mary and Tian Hou, Kuan Yin makes up the third virgin trio that maps this peaceful island. The divine trio symbolizes extreme compassion and mercy which also serves to foster tolerance between the cross-cultural attributes of the Portuguese and Chinese. It is for this reason, along with the Virgin Mary, that Kuan Yin stands as a symbol of religious and cultural harmony.’
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article and the pictures of the magnificent Guan Yin. _/\_
The sculpture of Kuan Yin in Macau is simple but elegant. Most importantly, this big Kuan Yin in Macau is built to bring peace, harmony and prosperity to the people.
I remember Rinpoche mentioned before a big Buddha statue will have positive impact on the environment and plant the Buddha’s seeds in all sentient beings that not only humans but also including animals and many others. Therefore, the bigger Buddha statue the more beneficial to all sentient beings where they can see and be blessed by this big Buddha statue from far.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article and the pictures of the magnificent Guan Yin. Although the statue is not the same as the traditional Chinese Guan Yin appearance, but I find it very pleasant and beautiful. All the statues are made by artist, whatever image appear in their mind, they will project it out and make a statue. In fact, I find it amazing that Cristina Rocha, a Portuguese artist can produce such a fine art of Guan Yin. If I had a chance to visit Macau, I must visit this Guan Yin and pay homage to him. Thank you Rinpoche _/\_
The Kuan Yin statue of Macau city also known as Chenrezig in Tibetan is so beautiful and amazing. Kuan Yin stands as a symbol of religious and cultural harmony, between the Portuguese and Chinese.With the installation of Kuan Yin statue, Macau’s economy improved tremendously..If i got a chance to visit Macau ,i will like to see this beautiful statue.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article and those amazing photos as well.
The Kuan Yin statue looks so elegant and majestic, though he’s in a form which I am not very familiar with but it’s pretty interesting, and in fact this is the first Kuan Yin statue I have seen in this form.
5 years ago, my family and I traveled to Macau and unfortunately we did not manage to visit this Kuan Yin statue. But what we did manage to go to was Lantau Island. We took a LRT from Macau to Hong Kong, and from Hong Kong we took the cable to Lantau Island.
Awaiting us there was the magnificent Amitabha Buddha, it was raining lightly when we were there. Later what we found out was that, under the big buddha statue, there’s a tablet of the famous Hong Kong singer and actress, Anita Mui who died of cervical cancer in 2003. Up to today, she is still one of my favourite singers, she was strong, bold and kind.
Namastė reader of this question!
For the cover of a booklet with a limited edition in the Netherlands I ask your permission to use a picture of this beautiful statue of Kuan Yin.
Sincerely and with good wises.
MarYam Mildenberg
Wow, this statue is so beautiful and amazing. I love Kuan Yin and the background fits nicely with the statue in my opinion. thank you for sharing Rinpoche.
This Kuan Yin statue is so beautiful and blessed all sentient beings around the place 🙂 Om Mani Padme Hung
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing this post.
Shelly tai on 1 July at 530pm
Such a beautiful statute! As a buddha statute specially Kuan Yin in any form also they amazing and very calm when u look at them. I personally like female buddha like Mother Tara.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this post with us.
Very beautiful Kuan Yin .Om Mane Peme Hum.
Love this place very much. It is a very beautiful place to visit. It will be wonderful and bless to see this, Kuan Yin the Buddha of Compassion, statue in Macau. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
This is such a beautiful statue, mother Kuan Yin looking down on all who come to visit her. From afar, she looks like Mother Mary. The sculptor captured the essence of loving compassion in this structure.
May she always bless the place and its people
It is a very beautiful Kuan Yin statue in Macau, although this statue look slightly different than the Kuan Yin we used to know, but Kuan Yin have many forms, she manifested different forms to benefits the sentient beings, so even she manifest as Virgin Mary also it is possible.
I like what it says here: ‘Along with Virgin Mary and Tian Hou, Kuan Yin makes up the third virgin trio that maps this peaceful island. The divine trio symbolizes extreme compassion and mercy which also serves to foster tolerance between the cross-cultural attributes of the Portuguese and Chinese. It is for this reason, along with the Virgin Mary, that Kuan Yin stands as a symbol of religious and cultural harmony.’
How beautiful it is to see the blend in with 2 different culture and yet both share the same purpose and quality. Peace and harmony, isn’t this just quality that Buddhism representing? I wish one day I can go and visit this Virgin Mary Kuan Yin statue.
This is a very beautiful kuan yin I do wonder why the artist make her tilt her head is it because she tilts her head so she can listen to the suffering of all sentient beings? The blend of eat and west is so wonderful.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the post .The Kuan Yin statue is very very beautiful !! I am always feel happy and peaceful when see Buddha statue.Hopefully one day may visit to Macau to seeing this beautiful Kuan Yin statue !!May Macau continue blessed by Kuan Yin.
wow, this is so beautifully done! modern but yet with radiance of compassion. Feminine power rules!
Kuan Yin is very compassion. I love Kuan Yin since I was young, I love the beauty of her. Macau is really blessed.
Wow that is a very interesting statue of Kuan Yin. A blend of Virgin Mary and Kuan Yin? Either way its still a very beautiful statue of Kuan Yin. I’ve always loved Kuan Yin statues, I grew up with Kuan Yin always listening to Kuan Yin’s mantra every morning in my grand parents house. Om Mani Pedme Hung. Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos Rinpoche.
Kuan Yin is well known that the Buddha of compassion. She is such a beauty to blessed the whole land 🙂 Om Mani Padme Hung! Macau is a truly blessed place!
Wow!! Amazing! Its so beautiful! And too me, this is the perfect size for this statue 🙂 I love the design and shape, truly beautiful Rinpoche. I hope this statue gets many visitors and also that when they come and visit, Kuan Yin will bless them to spread the Dharma even further.
The Guan Yin statue is really magnificent! I wasn’t able to visit the statue when I was there in Macau with my family 3 years ago, such a waste! But we visited Lantau Island, where there is a really huge Amitabha statue, it was a really blessed day.
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
I saw the Kuan Yin statue when I visited Macau. It was really beautiful! It was like She was floating in the sea. How Blessed Macau is to have Her bring peace and good economy to the country. May she continue to bring love and peace to all that see Her there.
What a magnificent statue of the compassionate Chenrezig! I truly believe that having a large Buddha statue would bless and protect the area that the Buddha was built on. I would very much like to visit this place one day! hehe
We would have large Buddha statues in KFR too! hehe We already have Lord Manjushri on our Manjushri hill! =) the rest will be coming soon! yay
Thank you for sharing, Rinpoche!
What a lovely modern interpretation of Kuan Yin…. this statue is beautiful as an object of homage as it is a work of art! I did wonder how a Portugese artist would interpret the Goddess of Mercy when I first started reading this blog post and the photos at the end of the post did not fail to enthrall! Very beautiful!
Very beautiful Kuan Yin and so compassion, must be attract a lot of tourists to pay a visit so different Kuan Yin statue. 🙂 But i wish KFR can be completed soon and can bring my family to visit beautiful Kechara Forest Retreat 🙂
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
Macau people are So Blessed. Wish we have one in Malaysia too. 🙂
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing the post to us.
Best Regards : Eric kksiow
Beautiful Kuan Yin,it always bring peace to me.
Wow! This Kuan Yin is soooo beautiful. It does look like a Spanish painting/rendition of Kuan Yin. There’s an earthy and flowing look to this image. It’s beautiful that she had allowed her blessings to pervade this little island.
I do hope she will bless and purify the negative livelihood of many of the island’s inhabitants that are engaging in gambling. Macau is known to be one of the top places for gambling and it is the main place for people from Hong Kong and China who go there to gamble. That also means a lot of money goes through this island along with vice that is associated with gambling.
Kuan Yin Pusa, one of the most universally beloved dieties in the World, is the embodiment of compassionate loving-kindness. Kuan Yin, whose name means “one who countemplates the sound of the World”, is said to be worshipped by everyone, especially childless women, who consider her to be their Goddess of Fecundity as well as mercy. She cares for, and comforts the troubled, the sick, the lost ones and the unfortunate. She is also said to care for the souls in the underworld too, and is invoked during post-rituals to free the soul of the deceased from the torments of purgatory. Her popularity has grown such that throughout the centuries thar she is regarded as the protector of the seafarers, farmers, travellers and amongst so many asian families World-wide. Her name itself embraces the qualities of compassion and motherly love, because in many Buddhist scriptures, it is stated that one can invoke Kuan Yin’s assitance just by simply calling out her name, which makes her so approachable! OM MANI PADME HUM.
The structure of this Chenrizig statue is different than others Chenrizig statues. The difference are the body and the face, this structure of Chenrizig looked a lot slimmer and I have no idea how to describe the face but is just different. This Chenrizig only have two hands and at the middle of the lotus there a place where people can go inside and take a look. Which is very smart and creative.
Dear Rinpoche,
What a nice and breathtaking statue that there is in Macau!
It would be nice if I had the wonderful chance to go to Macau to see this statue.
It’s amazing how problems such as Macau’s economy has been miraculously saved by none other then the glorious One Kuan Yin.
To me not only will Kuan Yin prevent huge obstacles from hitting Macau but I am also pretty sure that Kuan Yin will also attract more and more tourist to come to Macau to visit and pay respects to Kuan Yin.
May the team that crafted this amazing piece of art always be blessed and protected by Kuan Yin.
Thank you Rinpoche for Sharing!
Love
Jutika
This statue is so beautifully crafted. This statue when built creates the causes for many blessings to spread across the land.
OM MANI PADME HUM
The people who crafted this masterpiece may have a wonderful life 😀
Wow! She’s really beautiful! I remember seeing her when I went to Macau a few years ago.
Thank you for sharing! Its good to know the reason why this Kuan Yin statue looks a little westernized compared to the ones in Mainland China. Strange thing is, no matter how one depicts Kuan Yin, She always looks beautiful.
Om Mane Peme Hum… Kuan Yin in Macau is so nice, we will feel peace and calm after seeing the picture.
May all sentient beings around blessed by Kuan Yin…