水月观音 shuǐ yuè guān yīn Water Moon Guanyin

Explanation

水月观音是观音菩萨的三十二应身之一，形象通常描绘为观音菩萨坐在莲台上，观照水中月影，象征着清净无染、超脱尘世。

Water Moon Guanyin is one of the thirty-two manifestations of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. The image usually depicts Avalokiteshvara sitting on a lotus throne, observing the moon's reflection in the water, symbolizing purity, unstainedness, and transcendence of the mundane world.

Origin Story

传说中，南海有一座普陀山，山顶上有一座观音庙。庙中供奉着一尊水月观音像，形态端庄，面容慈祥，仿佛是从水中月影中走出来的仙子。一日，一位年轻的书生路过此地，被观音像的清丽脱俗所吸引，久久不愿离去。他仿佛看到观音菩萨慈悲的目光注视着自己，心中顿生敬意，便虔诚地跪拜祈祷，祈求观音菩萨保佑自己金榜题名。后来，书生果然如愿以偿，高中状元，光宗耀祖。从此，水月观音便成为人们心中美好、纯洁的象征。

chuán shuō zhōng, nán hǎi yǒu yī zuò pǔ tuó shān, shān dǐng shàng yǒu yī zuò guān yīn miào. miào zhōng gōng fèng zhe yī zūn shuǐ yuè guān yīn xiàng, xíng tài duān zhuāng, miàn róng cí xiáng, fǎng fú shì cóng shuǐ zhōng yuè yǐng zhōng zǒu chū lái de xiān zi. yī rì, yī wèi nián qīng de shū shēng lù guò cǐ dì, bèi guān yīn xiàng de qīng lì tuō sú suǒ xī yǐn, jiǔ jiǔ bù yuàn lí qù. tā fǎng fú kàn dào guān yīn pú sá cí bēi de mù guāng zhù shì zì jǐ, xīn zhōng dùn shēng jìng yì, biàn qián chéng de guì bài qí dǎo, qí qiú guān yīn pú sá bǎo yòu zì jǐ jīn bǎng tí míng. hòu lái, shū shēng guǒ rán rú yuàn yǐ cháng, gāo zhōng zhuàng yuán, guāng zōng yào zǔ. cóng cǐ, shuǐ yuè guān yīn biàn chéng wéi rén men xīn zhōng měi hǎo, chún jié de xiàng zhēng.

Legend has it that there is a Putuo Mountain in the South China Sea, with a Guanyin temple on its peak. In the temple is enshrined a Water Moon Guanyin statue, dignified in form and benevolent in expression, as if a fairy emerging from the moon's reflection in the water. One day, a young scholar passed by and was captivated by the statue's ethereal beauty, lingering for a long time. He seemed to see the compassionate gaze of Guanyin Bodhisattva upon him, filling his heart with reverence. He devoutly knelt and prayed, seeking the Bodhisattva's blessing to achieve success in the imperial examination. Later, the scholar fulfilled his wish, becoming the top-ranking scholar and bringing honor to his ancestors. Since then, Water Moon Guanyin has become a symbol of beauty and purity in people's hearts.

Usage

用于形容人或事物美丽、清净、超凡脱俗。

yòng yú xíng róng rén huò shì wù měi lì, qīng jìng, chāo fán tuō sú

Used to describe a person or thing as beautiful, pure, extraordinary, and detached from the mundane world.

Examples

• 那尊水月观音像，端庄秀丽，令人心生敬畏。

  nà zūn shuǐ yuè guān yīn xiàng, duān zhuāng xiù lì, lìng rén xīn shēng jìng wèi.

  That Water Moon Guanyin statue is dignified and beautiful, inspiring awe.

• 她气质脱俗，宛如水月观音一般清雅。

  tā qì zhì tuó sú, wǎn rú shuǐ yuè guān yīn yī bān qīng yǎ

  She has a refined temperament, as elegant as a Water Moon Guanyin.

Related Idioms

• 观音菩萨

• 三十三观音

Opposite Idioms

• 俗气

• 庸俗