Kuan Yin, originally know as Avalokiteswara (the Lord who regards'), is a highly revered manifestation of the Buddha who appears in Chinese scriptures around 400AD. Kuan Yin means one who hears the cries of the world' and personifies the compassion of the Buddha for the needy. She is the embodiment of the yin principle. She is usually represented as a young female deity but she has the power to assume whatever form necessary in order to carry out her vow which is to appeal in any way necessary to lead beings out of suffering.