觀音一般又叫觀世音、觀自在，更早又叫光世音。 雖然多本經典不明示菩薩的性別，但《華嚴經》稱觀音為「勇猛丈夫」，從《法華經》開始，觀音又可以女性形態出現於世。本文通過顯密教的一些主要經典討論此菩薩的名號、性別及地位（是佛還是菩薩）的一些不明的問題，除了經典中討論的宗教信仰外，宗教儀式及實踐、以及藝術史的資料也對此問題有所幫助。最後我比較《法華》及《楞嚴經》中提到的三十三身和中日畫家常畫的三十三觀音，從而探討觀音如何漢化的一些線索。

　　　　　The bodhisattva Kuan-yin is also known as Kuan-shih-yin or Kuan-tzu-tsai, among other nmaes. The bodhisattva is described as princely and heroic in some scriptures, although in the Lotus sutra there is reference to his feminine manifestations. The paper discusses the ambiguies of the bodhisattva's name, gender, and status by examining the main scriptural sources for the cult of Kuan-yin as developed in China. Important sutras such as the Lotus, the Surangama, the Pure Land Kuan ching as well as a few esoteric sutras will be discussed. Distinctive beliefs shall be examined together with ritual practices as well as art historical evidences. A comparison between the popular '33 forms of Kuan-yin." with those mentioned in the scriptures will be made in order to suggest some possible processes through which this originally Indic bodhisattva became transformed into the Chinese "Goddess of Mercy".