佛制比丘六物圖 1.90

1.90

二、釋名。梵云「尼師壇」，此云「隨座衣」，亦云「座具」，如此方隥褥之類。愚者迷名，云因尼師故制。又不識中間貼，故呼為「壇子」。因合召為「尼師壇」者，取笑於時，不學故也。

Second, explaining the name. In Sanskrit it is called niṣīdana, which here means "seat-following robe," and is also called "seat-mat," resembling the padded cushions of this land. Foolish people are confused by the name, claiming it was prescribed because of bhikṣuṇī masters (níshī). Moreover, not recognising the patch in the middle, they call it a "mat-altar" (tánzi). Consequently combining them to call it níshǐtán, they are ridiculed by contemporaries, all because they do not study.