觀世音菩薩; 觀音菩薩; The Atmosphere of Confucian Male Chauvinist Society in China; Kuan-yin Gives Help to a Female in Difficulties; Kuan-yin Gives Blessing to Help a Married Woman to Give Born to a Male Infant; The Social Demand for "A Messiah for Women Would Have Been Also A Woman"
Among the Buddhist Bodhisattvas, Avalokite`svaraa (will known to the Chinese as kuan-yin [觀音]) is most believing in and even taking refugee in by the Chinese females. It is because:
Firstly,in the Imperial period,the Chinese society had Long been cover by the Confucian male chauvinist atmosphere. Under this atmosphere,the females used to suffer from unfairness and inequality. As the Buddhist sacred scriptures say that the females would win the blessing from Kun-in after they reciting 'her' name anxiously,then their difficulties would be overcame. Therefore,they follow the instruction of the scriptures as they believe that the blessing from this bodhisattva would be won.
Secondly,under the above-mentioned atmosphere,the Chinese family looking seriously for having a male descendent. In case a man's wife could not give born to him a son,then this man be condemned as an undutiful son of his family by his relatives. In this circumstance,this man should have to keep a concubine,hoping that his new woman would bring him a son. Or even divorces his legal wife and remarried. Therefore,the requirement for a male infant is a serious threat to a woman.
Since the scriptures say that Kuan-yin would blessing an unpregnant woman to carry a son after she reciting she Kuan-yin Ching (觀音經 or Avalokite`svaraasuutra) day and night,the blessing would really be conferred. Therefore,the Chinese females did their recitation faithfully in order to pray for such a blessing.
Thirdly,under the atmosphere that mentioned above,every woman has so many troubles in her mind. As the females believe that Kuan-yin would give hand to them if needed,they used to pour out their reluctances in front of the image of this bodhisattva in order to seek blessing.
According to the scriptures, Avalokite`svaraa is in fact a male bodhisattva. As the scriptures also say that when this bodhisattva intends to peach Buddhism to a certain woman,he transforms himself into a woman's shape before appears in front of this woman,in order to gain access of her in the first place.
Following the description of the scriptures, the Chinese females arose an idea that it would be more helpful if Kuan-yin would have been a real woman. For a female "Messiah" could be more understanding of a woman's ache and pain.
Due to the social demand of the Chinese females, gradually some fictions concerning Kuan-yin composed. These fictions tell that before enfrocked,Kuan-yin was the third princess of a small Indian kingdom.
Influenced by the publication of these fictions, the females being coaxed into believing that their "Messiah" is really a trusted worthy female bodhisattva. Since than,the "sex" of Kuan-yin is being confirmed in the people's minds.