Guanyin is the female Chinese manifestation of the bodisattva of compassion, Avelokiteshvara.  Representations of Guanyin started out as androgynous figures but over time became more and more feminine.   When Images and figures of the Madonna and child made their way to China, Chinese artists adopted the imagery of the draped garb of the Madonna and began creating Guanyin and Child figurines for export to Europe; Likewise European artists began making sculptures of the Madonna with slanted eyes for export to China.  Thus these two religious icons became interchangeable. 

Chinese women would pray to Guanyin to bless them with a male child.