Buddhism in the Classic Chinese Novel Journey to the West: Teaching Two Episodes
Roberta E. Adams

The Major Characters
Guanyin

The Bodhisattva Guanyin (Wade-Giles: Kuan-yin; Sanskrit: Avalokitésvara) plays a central role in Journey. A bodhisattva is one who has obtained enlightenment but decides to forgo nirvana in order to help aid humans on earth attain enlightenment. In addition to her obvious bodhisattva qualities of compassion, mercy, helpfulness, and supernatural power, she is clever and diplomatic, providing advice to the Jade Emperor and others, and she has a great sense of humor. Guanyin selects Tripitaka and his disciples, monitors their journey, and provides help along the way. Yu notes that Guanyin’s promise to the disciples that they will have their divine status restored and will reach a higher plane of attainment is “consistent with a long established tradition, which venerates Avalokitesvara as one who enlightens and who delivers her followers from all kinds of perils and pains” (Yu, 56).

Works Cited:

Plaks, Andrew. The Four Masterworks of the Ming Novel. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1987.

Yu, Anthony C., trans. and ed. The Journey to the West. 4 vols. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1977.