The Master of Disguise: Legend of Guan Yin (观音)

Discover the 2,000-year-old legend of Guan Yin (观音), the Goddess of Mercy, and the life value of 慈 (kindness) she embodies.

Non-religious and taught in Mandarin.

Date: Sunday 19 May

Time: 1030am - 1230pm

Location: Tea Chapter, a traditional teahouse in a conservation shophouse at 9 Neil Rd, Singapore 088808.

Parents' privileges: 10% discount for parents to dine-in at the teahouse while waiting for their children. Tables will be catered near the workshop space so parents can easily check in on their children. Discount is applicable only to ala carte tea and snacks menu.

For ages: 5-7 (To sign up a sibling outside this age range, please Whatsapp or email us. We will try to accommodate.)

Language of instruction: Chinese

Small teacher-student ratio: 14 students to 2 educators (Estimated)

- An exercise in forgiveness set to meditative music, helping children intentionally experience the sensation of forgiving - and being forgiven.

- A mock pilgrimage in the classroom.

- Understanding the meaning of the name Guan Yin, which literally translates into Seeing Sound. Just how do you see a sound?

- Retelling of Guan Yin’s origin story, whereby she was a princess kicked out of the palace by her father (the king), but returned in disguise to cure him of an illness by sacrificing her hands, an act which moved the heavens. She was given thousands of hands in return.

- Deconstruct the meaning of mercy (慈悲), whereby 慈(ci2) refers to a sincere desire for others to be happy, and 悲(bei1) refers to a wish for others to be rescued from pain.

- Compare the depictions of Guan Yin found in different countries.

- Compare the different poses of Guan Yin, eg. standing, sitting, holding a child, etc.

- Explain how Guan Yin used to be depicted as a male, and why that changed.

- Origami exercise involving the lotus, the flower associated with Guan Yin, and the 4 virtues it embodies.

- Understanding and role-playing the tradition of burning the first incense at midnight on the first day of the Lunar Near Year.

- Understanding and role-playing the tradition of seeking divination lots (求签).

- Appreciating the tradition of 添香油, involving the refilling of oil lamps in temples.

- Retelling the origin story of the white parrot often seen beside Guan Yin, as told in the ancient text 鹦鸽宝撰 (The Precious Scroll of the Parrot)