Detailed illustrations lift this family-focused introduction to the bodhisattva of compassion.
A retelling of Buddhist saint Kuan Yin’s life through the lens of sisterhood.
Princess Ling wakes one morning surprised to see her older sister, Princess Miao Shan, slipping away into the dense forest. Where Miao Shan typically meditates, her “calming presence fill[ing] the room with the sweet scent of a lotus flower,” this morning is filled with the bustle of princely suitors hoping to marry Ling’s sister. Wishing not to marry and instead to dedicate her life “to eas[ing] the pain of others [rather] than rul[ing] over them,” Miao Shan incites the king’s ire. Ling tries to help her sister in her journey to “fully realize the power of love” and compassion. Ultimately, paths must diverge. The support, though, stays. While Miao Shan’s deeds and piety dominate the story, the focus of this modern primer is less the goddess’s spiritual journey toward enlightenment and more her journey out of the worldy. Van der Meer uses the familiarity of princess tales and the bonds of family to connect readers to this story of Kuan Yin. Hsu’s illustrations are expressive. Spreads are full of movement—fabrics flow, trees bend, a golden dragon swoops, and fragrances wisp through the air. Deep jewel tones transition into pastels as Miao Shan transforms into Kuan Yin. The combination of linework and color creates visual and narrative layers.
Detailed illustrations lift this family-focused introduction to the bodhisattva of compassion.