Dusting my mom's display area of Chinese porcelain statues was one of my childhood household chores. When it was time to clean the Kwan Yin, I always quietly asked the statue if everything was okay and to let me know if I was ever hurting her. Yah, kids do the craziest things. The girl in this story did some crazy things, but all for a very good reason.

Over 4000 years ago, there lived a Miao Chuang. He was the king of a small island off the coast of China. This king had three beautiful daughters: Miao Yen, Miao Yin, and the youngest was Miao Shan.

While Miao Shan was growing up in the palace, she dressed plainly and ate simple foods. She was so gentle to her family, her servants, even to the animals in the field. She never had an evil thought or did anything cruel to anyone. Her servants knew her as The Heart of Buddha.

It was traditional to have arranged marriages to strengthen the king's kingdom and to increase the king's assets at that time, so King Miao Chuang has his first two daughters married off to neighboring kingdoms. When it was time for Miao Shan to marry, she calmly and with great wisdom told her father that if she were to marry, nothing good would become of her. Gold and material things could not buy entrance into Heaven. She wanted to continue work and live the simple life to fulfill the goodness in her heart. Angrily, he banished Miao Shan to a nunnery at the top of the mountain.

The nuns reported to the king often, telling him of how diligently Miao Shan worked. The nuns were afraid of the king and did as they were told. Since Miao Shan was there to be punished, she was to have the hardest jobs. She fetched water from the river, cleaned the prayer rooms, tended the garden, and worked in the kitchen. She even rang the morning and evening bell for prayer. She never complained nor was resentful of her father. She worked hard everyday while praising Buddha with each step she took. Heaven smiled upon Miao Shan and blessed her by helping with her chores. A well sprouted closer to the nunnery so she didn't need to carry the water from the river afar. Wind blew through the building, which helped with her sweeping. The garden vegetables grew quickly and more abundant. And, the kitchen god watched over the fire so nothing was burnt.

As each miracle appeared, the King became more and more angry. In his old age and his body filled with repressed anger and hatred, he became very sick. He was losing all feeling in his right arm and losing his eyesight in both eyes. Miao Shan heard of this terrible tragedy and walked from the top of the mountain to the palace where she was banished from earlier. When she saw the king, she cried tears of compassion. She told the monks to cut off her right arm and take her eyes so that the King could use them. When her arm and eyes were removed, Miao Shan died instantly.

At Heaven's door, Miao Shan arrived. The angels dressed her in a beautiful white gown before she was presented to the Lord of Heaven. Enlightened by Heaven, her name was changed forever to Kwan Yin and she became the Goddess of Compassion and Mercy.

When I moved out on my own, my mom gave me her Kwan Yin statue. She said she would give me good luck. Maybe, because when I see the porcelain statue, I'm sure someone is watching over me.