The White-robed Guanyin mantra is a popular chant in Chinese Buddhist practice. It is a short ritual text designed to revere Guanyin, and ask her help in daily troubles. As a folk-religious practice, the aim of this mantra is not necessarily the far-away goal of Awakening and becoming a Buddha, but the everyday concerns of healing, safety, and security.
This mantra first became popular in China during the Tang dynasty, when general interest in mantras and similar esoteric Buddhist practices became mainstream. Today this practice is a staple of Buddhist temples and home altars, especially among the devotees of Guanyin. It is believed that the mantra was taught by the White-robed Guanyin — a manifestation of the Bodhisattva, whose pure white robes represent the purity of mind, which is the aim of all Buddhist practice.