Manuscript ID: OPENSUTRA_ORG_0000023

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Kangxi-period edition printed by Dai Wangying (Qing dynasty)

“The Fifty-Three Compassionate Manifestations of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara” is an ancient illustrated text related to Avalokiteśvara devotion. The title presents an iconographic system of the Bodhisattva’s responsive manifestations according to circumstances, appearing to save beings from suffering. This item is a printed edition by Dai Wangying from the Kangxi period of the Qing dynasty.

In Chinese Buddhism, Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara is renowned for great compassion, rescuing beings from suffering and responding to cries for help. The devotion is closely connected with scriptures such as the “Universal Gate Chapter of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara” in the Lotus Sutra and the Great Compassion Dharani Sutra of the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokiteśvara. Iconography of the “Fifty-Three Manifestations” type emphasizes the Bodhisattva appearing in different forms according to the capacities, circumstances, and identities of sentient beings, skillfully guiding and protecting them. This item, titled “The Fifty-Three Compassionate Manifestations of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara,” is identified as a printed edition by Dai Wangying from the Kangxi period of the Qing dynasty, and holds research value for Avalokiteśvara devotion, Buddhist woodblock prints, and the dissemination of religious imagery in the early Qing period. Its imagery may be compared with the thirty-three manifestations in the Universal Gate Chapter, Thousand-Hand Avalokiteśvara, devotion to the Great Compassion Mantra, and popular miracle tales of Avalokiteśvara.
Published: May 21, 2026
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The Fifty-Three Compassionate Manifestations of Bodhisattva AvalokiteśvaraComplete

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Manuscript Information

Image Info

Contains various manifestation images of Avalokiteśvara; belongs to Buddhist iconography and responsive-salvation themed woodblock print data.

Responsibility Info

Printed by Dai Wangying; the image carving and specific participants await further verification from inscriptions within the book.

Format & Dimensions

PDF, 55 pages in total; images of a Qing Kangxi-period Buddhist pictorial edition.

Colophon

Title, date, and printer information were recorded based on the file name and page images.

Provenance & Source

OpenSutra Compiled and released based on ancient book image data; title and edition information were recorded from the page images.

License

The ancient book images are for browsing, research, and compilation/display; please follow the originating holding institution or rights statement when using.

References

Wikipedia "Avalokiteśvara (Guanyin)": https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%A7%80%E4%B8%96%E9%9F%B3%E8%8F%A9%E8%96%A9 Wikisource "Lotus Sutra — Universal Gate Chapter (Guan Shi Yin Pusa Pu Men Pin)": https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E5%A6%99%E6%B3%95%E8%93%AE%E8%8F%AF%E7%B6%93%E8%A7%80%E4%B8%96%E9%9F%B3%E8%8F%A9%E8%96%A9%E6%99%AE%E9%96%80%E5%93%81 CBETA "Greatly Complete and Unobstructed Great Compassion Dharani of the Thousand-Hand Thousand-Eye Avalokiteśvara" T1060: https://cbetaonline.dila.edu.tw/zh/T1060

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