Kannon

Meaning

Proper Noun

• Kannon, the Japanese version of Guanyin, the Chinese translation of Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva of mercy and compassion.

Origin

• From Japanese 観音, from Middle Chinese 觀音 (kwan-ʔim) (compare Mandarin Guānyīn 观音), an abbreviation of 觀世音 (kwan-ʃjèj-ʔim "Observer of the world's cries") (compare Mandarin Guān-shì-yīn 观世音), from 觀 ("observe") + 世 ("world") + 音 ("sounds", "cries"), a translation of Sanskrit अवलोकितेश्वर (Avalokiteśvara).