This presentation deals with robes worn by Buddhist monks known as Kasaya (Jp. Kesa ) that were produced between the seventh and tenth century and transmitted in Japan.
The form of the Kasaya was devised by Shak yamuni with the purpose of distinguishing the Buddhist monks from practitioners of other religions based on their outer appearance. Because these robes were often a seed of conflict among the monks sharing a communal life, detailed rules dictated the construction, material, and sewing technique for Kasaya. These collected rules are known as ritsu .
Originating in India, the Kasaya were brought to East Asia along with the spread of Buddhism. In East Asia, however, where the climate was quite different, the substance of the ritsu rules was given a new, localized interpretation.
By analyzing Kasaya preserved in Japanese temples, I will discuss the East Asian view of Kasaya during the seventh to tenth centuries.