Kanzeon Bosatsu

Kanzeon Bosatsu Merciful Goddess (観世音菩薩) is one of the five great Bodhisattva who live in Heaven, one who administers mercy and compassion and she is hermaphrodite. She's the person who ordered the Sanzo Ikkou to go to the west. She's the aunt of Konzen Douji and the one responsible for bringing Goku and Konzen together.

Appearance
Kanzeon Bosatsu appears is mostly that of a woman. She is portrayed as a intersex in the manga, while in the anime it gives no indication of her being anything other than a female. She is tall, with with some masculine traits; even her face is a mixture of male and female. Like most gods, she has a red chakra. Her hair is typically a black-silver color, though it has also been seen with a tinted blue hue to it. She wears their hair in a high yet long, ponytail and has violet eyes not unlike Sanzo's (i.e. Konzen's).

She wears a long white dress-like robe that allows her legs to be plainly seen. In the original manga, the top part of the robes was is transparent showing her nipples, but in the anime opaque. The dress has a gold metal belt around her middle as well as golden choker around her neck, golden armlets, and golden anklets. There is a sun or lotus like pendant with a reflective surface that is held by a chain and lays to rest between her rather larges breast. Depending on the series, her earrings change style, but are usually made of gold all the same. Sometimes she appears wearing a shawl draped over her arms.

Personality
She is a straightforward, broad-minded, self-righteous goddess. Kanzeon has a very presumptuous side and gets bored easily. When addressing herself in the Japanese version, she uses "ore" (俺), the masculine version of "I", that is often tied with arrogance. It may seem like she enjoys sending various trials to Sanzo and the others, but ever since 500 years ago, she puts her heart and soul into watching over the way Goku and the others live their lives. She believes that things that never change are boring. She doesn’t want to interfere in other fights and has always liked to observe entertaining performances. However, while watching Konzen's group fight to escape Heaven and protect Goku, it becomes apparent that simply watching and not doing anything can also be hard. Another instance was when Sanzo was about to die due to blood loss, where she descended from Heaven alongside Jiroushin to save him from grave danger.

Despite of her masculine and arrogant side, she still possess a soft side as well. For an instance, she embraced Goku after Konzen's death and told him that it was all her fault for causing him so much pain. She is actually very conscious of everything and it weighs heavily on her mind. Later, when Jiroushin comes to find her, she was smoking. She states that she is actually very selfish, for she couldn't bring herself to seal away Goku's name along with the rest of his memories.

Powers/Abilities
Enhanced Strength: She displays enough natural power to knock out Goku after he’d changed into his Seiten Taisei form. This implies that she may be one of the strongest people introduced thus far.

Limiter Manifestation: Like Konzen and Sanzo, Kanzeon can manifest and replace Goku's Limiter, something she states that only gods can do.

Blood Transfusion: After Sanzo sustains massive blood loss from Rikudo's attack, Kanzeon replaces Sanzo's lost blood from a wound he sustained with some of Gojyo's blood that she stole--and gave--through a kiss. Not to mention that she managed this magical blood transfusion between an AB blood type and an A, which otherwise would have killed Sanzo under normal circumstance.

Saiyuki Gaiden
Kanzeon Bosatsu's life in heaven kills her in boredom, as well as her nephew Konzen Douji, until the day a heretical being, "the Seiten Taisei" was brought to her. The creature walked right up to Konzen, taking a lock of his hair and was amazed how shiny it is, like the sun. Since then, Kanzeon decided that they are going to look after the interesting creature and leave everything to her nephew, Konzen. She also stated that the creature's compliment was the best compliment that her nephew received. The boy later received the name, Goku.

Later on, ever since Goku came along, Kanzeon noticed some changes in her nephew, Konzen. Also, she noticed that heaven was getting interesting that made her boredom go away as she started to like the four of them, Konzen, Goku, Tenpou and Kenren (Even in their present lives).

Few days later on, after Kenren’s punishment for objecting to heaven sending Nataku on missions again and Tenpou confronting Li Touten. Kanzeon tells everything to Konzen what he doesn’t know, realizing that he is the only one who doesn’t know everything making his blood boil. Kanzeon later tells to her nephew that there are things he'll never find out if he doesn't look around. She asked this to Konzen, "Will you be able to continue to be that little kid's sun?"

Meanwhile, Goku's other relationships with Konzen, Kenren, and Tenpou only grow deeper. Later on the start of the battle started when Nataku was ordered by his father to kill Goku. Kanzeon smiled and said that she won't interfere or save anyone of them since the battle belongs to the four them. Kenren and Tenpou try to step in, but it is only Goku's words that are able to halt Nataku's blade. Nataku can't disobey his father so in his only able act of rebellion, he turns his blade on himself. Goku becomes so upset that the mental stress forces his power limiter to break and he takes on his true form for the first time, the Seiten Taisen.

When the diadem was destroyed, Goku killed many celestial beings in his craze. Kanzeon later came and knocked out the Seiten Taisei, but later she was punched by Konzen as she punched her own nephew back telling him not to regret it. So the four then decided to live in exile in the world below.

In the end, Kenren and Tenpou died in protecting Goku. Konzen got in the Dimension Gate in the Lower World, but died also, but not before he made sure Goku got to earth. Kanzeon confronts Goku who was just curled up like a rock, immovable. She shouted at Goku if he will waste the sacrifices and wishes of Konzen, Kenren and Tenpou. She was injured by Goku, but gave him a warm embrace as she tells him how she made him suffer as she creates a new power limiter (becoming the second divine being to be able to do that), in the place of his nephew and companions to have met Goku she thanks him for being able to know him. She erases the memories of Goku, but there’s only one thing she can’t erase, Goku's name. This was just for the Merciful Goddess's own selfishness and her one true act of mercy.

Background
Ever since 500 years ago later in the lower world, Kanzeon Bosatsu put her heart and soul into watching over Goku and the others live their lives. Later on, there was an incident happened in the lower world. There is negative aura called minus wave was sweaping in the world and youkais went berserk across Shangri-la due of Gyumaoh’s resurrection experiment using forbidden science and magic. Under Kanzeon Bosatsu's and Three Aspects' orders, Sanzo with Goku was sent on a mission to team up with their old companion Gojyo and Hakkai to stop the resurrection of Gyumaoh. Kanzeon didn't stop watching the Sanzo Ikkou's interesting journey and even refers to the Sanzo Ikkou that they haven't changed one bit in five hundred years.

Rikudo Arc
During the Rikudo Arc, after Sanzo was striked by Rikudo. Sanzo was bleeding and fading from consciousness while Goku's horror and rage are so intense that his power-limiting coronet shatters reverting to his true form, the Seiten Taisei. Gojyo gives his best shot to stop the Seiten Taisei, but he has no fight for him, and things look bad until from a golden tiara of light descends and settles around the Goku's head. It solidifies into his coronet, and he instantly morphs back into his wide-eyed-kid self and slumps into Gojyo's arms, unconscious.

The Merciful Goddess along with his assistant, Jiroushin descended from the sky. In surprised, Gojyo asked her if who is she. Jiroushin introduced her that she is the symbol of mercy and affection, the Great Merciful Goddess with additional information that she's hermaphrodite. Another thing is, Kanzeon Bosatsu mentioned to Hakkai and Gojyo that Goku was living in the upperworld making Hakkai surprised. After some rude talk from Gojyo and Hakkai and seeing what's the problem, she steals a kiss from Gojyo and suck his blood to replace Sanzo's lost of blood. Before she kisses Sanzo, Kanzeon Bosatsu called him "Konzen Douji", but realizing that he's already Genjo Sanzo. After performing her own form of a blood transfusion, she barely avoids getting reflect triggered slap a cross the face by Sanzo. Afterwards she tells her true objective that she didn't help because of morality, but for their mission to stop Gyumaoh's revival. However, deep inside her, it's wouldn't be fun for her if the Sanzo Party will die.

Saiyuki Reload
To be updated...

Saiyuki Reload Blast
To be updated...

Relationships
Konzen - He is the nephew of Kanzeon Bostasu. Both of them were dying in boredom in heaven, but ever since the heretic child came, Kanzeon took the child in and left him under Konzen;s care. She seems to be fond of the child calling Konzen a sun. Konzen seems doesn't get along with her (even after 500 years ago) and seems to share an odd relationship, but Konzen used to talk to her when it comes how corrupt heaven is. She even gave him a favor and asked if he can continue to be Goku's sun. Later, Konzen punched his own aunt when she was knocking out the Seiten Taisei, Goku, but kicked Konzen in the stomach in retaliation, telling him not to regret saving Goku's life, to which Konzen responded that he won't. In the end of Saiyuki Gaiden, Kanzeon’s care to her nephew was shown by confronting Goku and asking him if he was going to waste Konzen’s effort and sacrifice. After 500 years, when Konzen was reincarnated as Genjo Sanzo, she sometimes refers to him as Konzen since he still reminds her of her nephew, and might feel some connection to him.

Jiroushin - He is the loyal assistant of Kanzeon Bosatsu and most likely someone she considers as her closest friend. He’s the man who always reminds Kanzeon’s paper works; attitude and the right thing to do though Kanzeon ignore it most of the time because she is bored in heaven. He is always seen beside Kanzeon’s side and playing Shogi with her. Kenren refers to both of them as an “old married in a sitcom” when Goku asked about her hobby and was about to response, Jiroushin covered her mouth telling to her not to tell it to a kid. It was hinted that they have a sexual relationship. He refers calling Kanzeon Bosatsu in her full name and sometimes Bosatsu or Bosatsu-sama ---sama is used to address people ranking higher on the social ladder---.

Anime and Manga Difference

 * Kanzeon Bosatsu is portrayed as a hemaphrodite in the manga and Saiyuki Gaiden OVA, but in the anime season 1, 2 & 3, she's portrayed as a woman. This portrayal correlates to the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, who, depending on the region, is seen as a man or woman.  In the East, Avalokitesvara is primarily portrayed as a woman.
 * Kanzeon Bosatsu showed herself to the Sanzo party a lot of times in the anime including Kibou no Zaika, but in the manga, she only showed herself once.

Other Appearance
to be updated

Gallery

 *  Main article: Kanzeon Bosatsu gallery

Trivia

 * In the fist episode of Saiyuki, Goku is seen in a tree eating peaches and being scolded by monks. The tree is somewhere in the center of the Keiun Temple compound. The monks mention that the peach tree is an offering to the Merciful Goddess.
 * She is based off of Guanyin, the great merciful Bodhisattva who is tasked with recruiting the four main characters of Journey to the West and overseeing their journey herself. She carries gold bands with her, one later used for the Monkey King Sun Wukong to ensure his obedience.
 * In Saiyuki Gaiden: Koubana no Shou, Kanzeon Bosatsu found Goku's drawing of him with Tenpou, Konzen and Kenren under the cherry blossoms. The drawing was later shown framed in her office.
 * It seems Kanzeon Bosatsu only smokes cigarettes once in a blue moon, as witnessed in the last part of Saiyuki Gaiden.
 * At first Goku called Kanzeon ‘Aunty’, but Kanzeon tickled him so much he had difficulty breathing. That became a small trauma of Goku’s, and ever time since he would run away from Kanzeon when he saw her.
 * Kanzeon Bosatsu both likes both men and women since she is the symbol of "mercy and compassion".
 * Kanzeon Bosatsu used to play tricks to Konzen Douji like putting makeup and even changed his hairstyle.