Quan Yin and Mythical Animals

Quan Yin is frequently depicted as riding a mythological animal known as the Hou, which somewhat resembles a Buddhist lion, and symbolizes the divine supremacy exercised by Quan Yin over the forces of nature.

Quan Yin may be seated on an elephant, standing on a fish, nursing a baby, holding a basket, having six arms or a thousand and one or eight heads, one atop the next and four, eighteen or forty hands, in-which she strives to alleviate the sufferings of the world.

Quan Yin’s bare feet are the consistent quality. On public altars, Quan Yin is frequently flanked by two acolytes, to her right a barefoot, shirtless youth with his hands clasped in prayer known as Shan-ts'ai (Golden Youth), and on her left a maid demurely holding her hands together inside her sleeves known as Lung-nü (Jade Maiden). 

To see a Tibetan Wood Gilt Quan Yin click on image: 
 Tibetan Wood Gilt Quan Yin on Dragon Throne