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Kwan, Kuan (Chinese) Taoist term equivalent to the Sanskrit dhyana (meditation). "Kuan means originally to 'watch' for omens, and in the dictionaries it is defined as 'looking at unusual things,' as opposed to ordinary seeing or looking. Hence, in accordance with the general 'inward-turning' of Chinese thought and vocabulary, it comes to mean 'what one sees when one in is an abnormal state'; and in Taoist literature it is often practically equivalent to our own mystic world 'Vision.' The root from which dhyana comes has however nothing to do with 'seeing' but means simply 'pondering, meditating'; and it was only because kuan already possessed a technical sense closely akin to that of dhyana that it was chosen as an equivalent, in preference to some such word as nien, or ssu, which are the natural equivalents" (Waley, The Way and Its Power 119-20).

The Chinese manifestation of Avalokiteshvara , the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Although originally depicted as male, he gradually became represented as female. She appears to all who need her help, especially those threatened by water, demons, sword or fire. Childless women often turn to her for help.

Pinyin: kuan
Wade-Giles: k'uan
Zhuyin:
Hanzi:

Pinyin: guan
Wade-Giles: kuan
Zhuyin:
Hanzi:

See more at Wikipedia.org...

Kwan, Kuan (Chinese) Taoist term equivalent to the Sanskrit dhyana (meditation). "Kuan means originally to 'watch' for omens, and in the dictionaries it is defined as 'looking at unusual things,' as opposed to ordinary seeing or looking. Hence, in accordance with the general 'inward-turning' of Chinese thought and vocabulary, it comes to mean 'what one sees when one in is an abnormal state'; and in Taoist literature it is often practically equivalent to our own mystic world 'Vision.' The root from which dhyana comes has however nothing to do with 'seeing' but means simply 'pondering, meditating'; and it was only because kuan already possessed a technical sense closely akin to that of dhyana that it was chosen as an equivalent, in preference to some such word as nien, or ssu, which are the natural equivalents" (Waley, The Way and Its Power 119-20).

The Chinese manifestation of Avalokiteshvara , the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Although originally depicted as male, he gradually became represented as female. She appears to all who need her help, especially those threatened by water, demons, sword or fire. Childless women often turn to her for help.

Pinyin: kuan
Wade-Giles: k'uan
Zhuyin:
Hanzi:

Pinyin: guan
Wade-Giles: kuan
Zhuyin:
Hanzi: