Quan Yin (Kuan Yin) is the Chinese bodhisattva (Buddhistic prophet, a true Enlightened One) to whom childless women turn for help. Kuan-yin, whose name means "Who Contemplates the [Supplicating] Sound of the World", along with Samantabhadra, Kshitigarbha (Di-cang) and Manjushri (Wen-shu), is one of the four great bodishattvas of Buddhism. Kuan-yin is identified as the male bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, also known as Chenresi in Tibetan, "One Who Hears the Cries of the World."

In more recent representation, Kuan-yin is often depicted with distinct feminine features, an effect of Taoistic and Tantric influences from the 8th to 10th century. She is often rendered as the Thousand Armed, Thousand Eyed bodhisattva, and in a form inspired by the Virgin Mary (the mother of Jesus), and the Tibetan goddess Tara.

One of the most universally beloved of deities in the Buddhist tradition, Quan Yin is also known as Kuan Yin, Quan'Am (Vietnam), Kannon (Japan), and Kanin (Bali), She is the embodiment of compassionate loving kindness. As the Bodhisattva of Compassion, She hears the cries of all beings and manifests in any conceivable form wherever a being needs help, especially when someone is menaced by water, demons, fire, or sword.

Quan Yin vowed to remain in the earthly realms and not enter the heavenly worlds until all other living things have completed their own enlightenment and thus become liberated from the pain-filled cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara).

There are numerous legends that recount the miracles that Quan Yin performs to help those who call on Her. The many stories and anecdotes featuring this Goddess serve to convey the idea of an enlightened being who embodies the attributes of an all pervasive, all consuming, unwavering loving compassion and who is accessible to everyone.

Meditating on the Goddess of Mercy involves little dogma or ritual. The simplicity of this gentle being and Her standards leads Her devotees to be more compassionate and loving. According to folk belief of eastern China, Quan-yin dwells on the island Pu-tuo-shan, which is the boddhisattva's sacred place.