佛制比丘六物圖 1.95

1.95

初、制意者。尼女報弱，故制祇支。披於左肩，以襯袈裟。又制覆肩，掩於右膊，用遮形醜，是故尼眾必持五衣。大僧亦有畜用，但是聽衣耳。

First, the intention of their prescription. The retributive body of bhikṣuṇīs is weak, so the saṅkakṣikā was prescribed. It is draped over the left shoulder to line the kāṣāya. The shoulder-covering robe was also prescribed to veil the right shoulder to conceal physical ugliness; therefore, the assembly of nuns must maintain five robes. Fully ordained monks also keep and use them, but they are merely permitted robes.