Kannon is a goddess of the Japanese people who represents empathy and care. She is known by several names and she is part of Japanese, Chinese, and Indian cultures. She is associated with the mountains and in many different pieces of art, you will see her depicted with mountains. She is popular and there are many statues of her, including famous statues in Buddhist temples.
In Western Japan, there are over two dozen temples dedicated to this goddess who is full of love and sympathy. She is a light for people who need help to find their way out of paths that are encompassed in darkness. Within the temples, there are different tales of myths regarding the goddess. Some say that there was a beautiful young woman who transformed into Kannon herself, only after pledging her loyalty to the goddess. Some tell us that the people of Japan went to seek the magical land of Fudaraku which was where the goddess lived, but they would never return from their journey. Kannon, the divine goddess and mother figure allegedly saved a man in the 6th century. His name was Kyushu, and he was rescued by Kannon where she saw he had been shipwrecked. Kyushu built a temple for Kannon: Temple No. 52 Taisanji.
She is a mother like figure and a being of light. She will protect those lost on their paths and help them find their way. She is also associated with the protection of animals and there are sources that do show proof of this. Kannon could easily be compared to Guan Yin or Kuan Yin of Chinese Mythology. She is sometimes seen with multiple arms holding many different tools or weapons that she uses to help those who are in danger.
