Buddhist Deities
Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and the Buddhist pantheon in Chinese worship
5 articles
Guanyin: The Goddess of Mercy Who Hears Every Cry
The most worshipped deity in East Asia — how an Indian male bodhisattva became China's beloved goddess of compassion.
Buddha in China: How Buddhism Was Transformed by Chinese Culture
When Buddhism traveled from India to China, both were transformed forever. The story of how Chinese culture absorbed and reinvented Buddhism.
Buddhist Deities in Chinese Culture: How India's Gods Became Chinese
Guanyin started as a male Indian bodhisattva. The Monkey King's nemesis Buddha was an Indian prince.
Dizang Bodhisattva: The Buddha Who Chose Hell
He made a vow that most would call insane: he would not become a Buddha until every soul in hell was saved. Thousands of years later, hell is still full.
The Four Heavenly Kings: Guardians at Every Temple Gate
The fierce guardian statues at the entrance of every Chinese Buddhist temple — who are they, what do they protect, and why do they look so angry?