Quan Yin is also known as Kuan Yin. She is the Goddess embodiment of compassionate loving kindness and hears cries of all beings. She has a strong resonance of Mother Mary and the Tibetan Goddess Tara - often depicted carrying the pearls of illumination and pouring a stream of healing water, the "Water of Life".  The healing water blessed devotees and all living things with physical and spiritual peace.  She was also depicted holding a sheaf of ripe rice or a bowl of rice seed as a metaphor for fertility and sustenance.