Statue of Acuoye Avalokiteshvara 阿嵯耶观音
The final and most important hall here in the Chongsheng Temple is the Acuoye Avalokiteshvara Pavilion 阿嵯耶观音阁. This mouthful of a name houses the figure of Acuoye Avalokiteshvara or Acuoye Guanyin who is the most venerated figure from the Nanzhao Kingdom and subsequently by the Kingdom of Dali. The pavilion is feel almost like a palace as it is built on a platform unlike the others. The water feature in front of the pavilion also gives and indication on the importance of the structure.
Acuoye Avalokiteshvara Pavilion 阿嵯耶观音阁
Surprisingly, it is allowed to take photographs inside the pavilion, which houses a multi-story statue of Acuoye Guanyin, who is commonly depicted as a man with feminine features. As a result, the Guanyin has come to have several other names such as the Slim Waist Avalokiteshvara 细腰观音, the Dali Avalokiteshvara 大理观音 and the Lucky Star of Yunnan 云南瑞星. The myriad of names only proves the importance of Acuoye Avalokiteshvara to the people of Dali and of Yunnan.
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