In one of many legends of Quan Yin, it is said she was the daughter of a sovereign of the Chou dynasty, who strenuously opposed her wish to be a nun and was so irritated by her refusal to marry that he put her to humiliating tasks in the convent. This form of coercion failed and Quan Yin’s father then ordered her to be executed for disobedience to his wishes. The executioner, a man of tender heart and some forethought, brought it about that the sword, which was to descend upon Quan Yin should break into a thousand pieces. Quan Yin’s father then ordered her to be stifled. As the story goes, Quan Yin went to Hell, but upon her arrival the flames were quenched and flowers burst into bloom. Yama, the presiding officer, looked on in dismay at what seemed to be the summary abolition of his post and in order to keep his position he sent Quan Yin back to life again. Carried in the fragrant heart of a lotus flower Quan Yin went to the island of Putuo, near Ningbo.
One day Quan Yin’s father fell ill and according to a Chinese custom, she cut flesh from her arms and made it into medicine. The cure was effective and in his gratitude, Quan Yin’s father ordered her statue to be made "with completely-formed arms and eyes." Due to a misunderstanding of the order, the sculptor carved the statue with many heads and many arms, and so it remains to this day.
