• The God/Goddess of Mercy
• The Lord Who Sees/Hears All

General Information

• Kannon is the Bodhisattva associated with compassion as venerated by East Asian Buddhists.
• Kannon is known for assisting all beings residing in all six realms of Karmic rebirth, who are in distress. 
• Kannon is an active emanation of Amida Buddha, and thus occupies a major place in the liturgy of Japan's Pure Land (浄土) sects. 
• New forms of Kannon have emerged in modern Japan to assist those suffering from Alzheimers, abortion, and with caring for deceased pets.
• Kannon has also been the focus of prayers for world peace and to honor the war dead.
  

In Mythology

• In Mahayana Buddhism, Kannon is the more important of Amida's two main attendants (脇侍).
• Kannon is also one of 25 Bodhisattva who descend from heaven with Amida to welcome dying souls into Amida's Pure Land. 
• The Lotus Sutra (Hokekyō 法華経) conveys the message that anyone, whether male or female, has the potential to attain Buddhahood, and also mentions the 33 forms that Kannon assumes when aiding sentient beings.

Origin/Worship

• Worship of Kannon originated in India but has spread throughout Asia and Japan.
• Worship of Kannon began around the 1st or 2nd century AD.
• The sects that include Kannon worship are as followed: Japan's Pure Land Sects, the Nichiren sect, the Zen sect, the Tendai and Shingon sects of Esoteric Buddhism.
  
• Kannon became venerated in Japan in the beginning of the late 6th century.

Translation

• Avalokitesvara us a Sanskrit term which is masculine in gender and translates as "Lord Who Regards All" (avalokita = observe, isvara = unimpeded).
• The Sino-Japanese term, Kannon, 観音,translates to "watchful listening," and is often read as, "one who sees/hears all."
• Another Japanese name for Kannon is Kanzeon, 観世音, "the one who constantly surveys" (kan 観) the world (ze 世) listening for the sounds (on 音) of suffering.

Depictions:

• Although depicted with masculine features in the earliest representations, Kannon later appears with attributes of both genders and eventually has become a symbol of the divine feminine.
• In triad and other artwork, the top of Kannon's crown is often adorned with a small image of Amida, symbolizing Kannon's role as Amida's principle attendant.
• Kannon appears in countless forms throughout Japan, in order to assist with all manner of earthly petitions. 

Ennichi (Holy Day)

• The 18th day of each month is considered Kannon's Ennichi (縁日)
  known as "related day" or "day of connection."
• Saying prayers to Kannon on this day is believed to bring greater merits and results.
  

Pilgrimages

• In modern Japan, Kannon's 33 forms are the basis for several Kannon Pilgrimage Circuits.
• Among these circuits are the Saikoku Pilgrimage to 33 sites (Kansai area), the Bandō Pilgrimage to 33 sites (Kantō area), and the Chichibu Pilgrimage to 34 sites (in Saitama).