During the five dynasties period in China, an official name Sun Jing-De was on death-row because of his brother's crime (guilt by association).

While in prison awaiting execution, he recited the 25th chapter of the Saddharmapundarika Sutra (the Avalokiteshvara chapter) non-stop.

One night, he saw a monk in a dream.  The monk instructed him that he cannot avoid death by reciting the Avalokiteshvara chapter.  The monk suggested Sun to recite another Avalokiteshvara Sutra one thousand times, then the conviction would be commuted.  Sun replied, "How can I obtain this sutra while being imprisoned?"  The monk said, "I will teach it to you orally.  Recite it now while you are sleeping.  So, you can memorize it."

After Sun had piously recited the sutra 900 times, the execution order was given.  King of Gao Huan ordered Sun to be carted to the market for execution.

Sun was frighten, he inquired the transport supervisor about how far it was to the market. The supervisor asked Sun the reason for the inquiry.  Sun said, "I was instructed by a monk in a dream to recite an Avalokiteshvara Sutra one thousand times to avoid death.  I still need to recite it one hundred more times.  Please go slowly."  Sun chanted quickly along the way and finished the remaining one hundred recitations.

After reaching the market, the charges against Sun was read and the ax fell.  Sun was unharmed but the ax broke into three pieces.

The broken ax was presented to the King.  Startled, the King summoned Sun and demanded to know the sorcery that Sun used to break the ax into three pieces.  Sun replied, "This was not sorcery.  While imprisoned and fearing death, I recited Avalokiteshvara Chapter from the Saddharmapundarika Sutra non-stop.  A monk came to me in a dream and instructed me to recite another Avalokiteshvara Sutra one thousand times.  The recitation enabled  me to receive this blessing."  The King said, "You have more merits than me.  You are the same as the buddha."

The King ordered the prison's warden to write down this Avalokiteshvara Sutra.  Then, the King decreed many prisoners and death-row prisoners to recite this Avalokiteshvara Sutra one thousand times.  After the prisoners finished recitation, the King ordered them to be beheaded to verify Sun's claim.  The prisoners were unharmed and Sun's claims were proved to be true.

King of Gao Huan ordered the all people of his kingdom to recite this sutra, so the people can benefit from this sutra.  Consequently, this sutra became known as Gao [Huan] King's Avalokiteshvara Sutra (This sutra name is commonly translated into English as High King Avalokiteshvara Sutra because the character "Gao" also means High in Chinese).

Pious recitation is the reason for the miracles described above and this concludes the brief description of this sutra's origin.