Guanyin (Guanshi'yin, Kuan-yin, Kuan-shih Yin) is the bodhisattva of compassion for East Asian Buddhists, also known as the Chinese Bodhisattva of Compassion, and usually in female form. It is believed that Guanyin originated as the Sanskrit Avalokitesvara, her male form. Commonly known in the West as the Goddess of Mercy, she is also revered by Chinese Taoists as an Immortal. Although Guanyin's origin is still debated among scholars, the official Buddhist view is that she originated with the male Avalokiteshvara. It is said that Chinese fishermen used to pray to her to ensure safe voyages.
Buddhist legend presents that Guan Yin vowed to never rest until she freed all sentient beings from samsara, reincarnation. Despite a great deal of effort, she realized that many unhappy beings were still not saved. After struggling to comprehend the needs of all these beings, her head split into 11 pieces. Amitabha Buddha, upon discovering this, gave her eleven different heads to hear the cries of the suffering. Upon hearing all these cries, Avalokitesvara tried to reach out to all who needed aid at once, shattering her two arms into pieces. Amitabnha came to her aid again, appointing her a thousand arms with which to aid the many. Versions of this legend from different regions give varying accounts of the number of arms she was given.
Cold Cast is a modern method of casting sculptures using a mixture of resin and powdered polymer materials. The finished sculpture has a surface which looks very similar to traditionally cast material, but tends to be much lighter.
