Qwan Yin is the Goddess of compassion. She is the protector of women and children and promotes family values and unity. She often has different objects in her hands or holds her hand in several positions called mudras. She often holds a bottle when she is portrayed with a mudra. The bottle is a vessel like the body is for the soul. If the bottle is pointed up it is to hold the aspect of the mudra within ones self and if it is pointed down it is to pour the aspect of the mudra into the surrounding environment.