Guanyin Bodhisattva of Compassion & Mercy

Paying homage to the the legend of Tieguanyin, this print features Wei’s teapot, carefully fused together with Kintsugi, brewing whole sprigs of Tieguanyin tea as a tribute to Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of compassion and mercy, who’s visage appears as a shadow on the wall in acceptance of the offering.    

Wei’s legend is told differently depending on where the storyteller hails from, much like all tea lore. This version is just one of many, but all tell a story of dedication, faith, compassion, and of course, tea.  

Wei was a poor farmer, forced to give much of his crop to overlords, leaving little to feed his family. A dedicated father and buddhist, he would pray to Guanyin every night before he would wander the bamboo forests, foraging for food and medicine for his family. 

One night, he stumbled upon a fallen iron shrine to Guanyin, the same goddess of mercy and compassion he prayed to every night. The shrine was in disrepair. Toppled, rusty, overgrown, yet still beautiful. He vowed to restore her to her rightful glory. 

Night after night, task by task, Wei would return to the shrine for nearly a year, working to right the neglect that was bestowed upon the Bodhisattva. Upon finishing, Wei and his family returned to the shrine to pray for mercy and take in her rediscovered beauty. When they returned home, they were left with a feeling of contentment, as they had done their community a great service. 

That night, he dreamed of Guanyin, who reached out her hand to touch his. He was overcome with a sense of joy and happiness. When Wei opened his hand, inside it he found one brilliant jade green leaf, with a sweet lotus flower like aroma. He woke with a start, only to find his wife was also startled awake, had the same vision of the Bodhisattva.

He felt compelled like never before to return to the shrine. He dropped everything and ran towards the temple. Upon arriving, a brilliant ray of morning sunshine beamed down at the base of the shrine, kissing seedlings that he had never seen there in his hundreds of days of repair work. Inspecting them further, the aroma and color and shape all became immediately unmistakeable. This was the plant that both he and his wife had seen in their visions. He recognized it as a tea plant, but it was unlike any he had seen before. Sweet and fragrant, these weren’t like the bitter teas that he has come to know. He plucked a few leaves and returned home to brew some for his family. Thick like cream with an aroma like fields of wildflowers, Wei recognized he had just been given a great gift.

Wei cultivated the tea, which grew voraciously in the soil that proved most difficult for the farmers. Soon, he and his fellow villagers were allowed to send small tea harvests for their annual tax, and keep their food crops for themselves. When the officials asked what to call the tea, the farmers told them it was Tie Guanyin, or Iron Goddess of Mercy. They wanted the tea to carry the name of the goddess that had brought them such a miracle.

The lore of Tieguanyin tells a story of hardship, but also one of beauty and perseverance, compassion, and family. While the story has simple and ancient roots, its values still ring true to this day.  

Available in ready-to-frame poster print (frame not included). Grab your copy of this inspirational piece today.  

Available Sizes:

12 in x 12 in

16 in x 16 in

20 in x 20 in 

About this item:

-Poster-

Free Shipping - All Sizes

Printed on premium white fine art paper with a matte finish 

Precision cut for framing

Shipped with care from the USA in a protective tube

Frame not included

Please note - This is a reproduction print and not the original painting. There may be small variations in color due to display settings and the handmade nature of the product.