[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [勅修百丈清規](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025) › 3.8 # 勅修百丈清規 3.8 勅修百丈清規 3.8 - **Language:** Classical Chinese ### [3.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025.3.8) 受請陞座 > When the official delegate arrives at the designated temple, he meets first > > with the guest reception official and together they meet with the head admin- > > istrative official. After this, the official delegate is escorted to the guest house. > > Then he visits the primary seat official as well as the various quarters, and > > finally arrives at the office of the abbot’s assistants where he explains the > > purpose of his visit. The official assistant reports the matter to the abbot and > > waits for his reply as to whether the invitation is accepted. If \[the abbot\] > > accepts, a crepe-wrapped table for the official documents must be prepared. > > The dual order officials are called to the abbot’s office, and when they arrive > > they escort the abbot to meet with the official delegate. The latter bows and > > says: > > May the Venerable Abbot be seated in the cross-legged meditation pos- > > ture. > > The abbot sits in the center. The official delegate burns incense and performs three full prostrations with opened sitting cloth. He then steps forward and says: > > As I have been entrusted to be the delegate of Such-and-such Temple, > > it is my supreme joy to see your countenance filled with compassion. > > Thereupon \[the delegate\] performs another set of three prostrations, saying: > > I respectfully wish at this moment on this day that all is well and felic- > > itous with the newly appointed abbot, great teacher. > > He then once again performs three prostrations and folds his sitting cloth. Having responded to each set of prostrations with a single greeting, the abbot then says: > > Though I am hesitant, I have accepted this invitation. I fear that I may > > not be faultless in the Zen tradition. I am, however, concerned with > > your traveling a long distance and am most grateful for it. > > Thereupon, the official delegate presents the official documents for the prospective appointee. The newly appointed abbot receives them, places them on the table, and opens the letters to read through them, while his assistant respectfully requests the guest to take his seat. > > (The official delegate is obliged to take his seat opposite the prospective abbot. The west hall ranking official of the host temple sits at a lower position below the guest on this occasion, in order to show his respect for the official delegate who has traveled a long distance.) > > When they finish drinking tea, the two officials escort the delegate to the guest house. > > The practice hall attendant rings the hall bell to summon the practitioners to the abbot’s office to express their congratulations. The head administrative official prepares incense, and the primary seat official and administrative officials burn incense. Upon the first opening of the sitting cloth, they say: > > Our religion is fortunate, and, as we have observed, this community > > has been made joyous by your transfer and promotion. We are most > > delighted with this event. > > On the second opening of the sitting cloth they say: > > At this time and on this day, we all wish that everything is well and > > felicitous with the newly appointed master and great teacher. > > They complete their formal greeting with three prostrations with unopened sitting cloth. The abbot performs a single prostration and replies: > > I have been chosen for the new position due to good fortune. Yet, I > > fear I may not warrant this level of praise and congratulation. I am > > humble about this opportunity. > > When the practitioners depart, the guest reception official escorts the official delegate on a round through the practitioners’ quarters. The \[guest reception official\] then receives the record of the temple’s assets and the gift items brought from the temple for which the new appointment has been made. That evening a special serving of sweet hot water and evening meal should be made, and later there should be another serving of sweet hot water and fruit. The dual order officials as well as the retired officials participate in these events. The head administrative official bears the responsibility for fulfilling these activities. > > 3. The Ascent to the Dharma Hall > > to Announce the New Appointment > > The day after the invitation has been accepted, the abbot ascends to the Dharma hall to make the announcement \[of his new appointment\]. His assistant has made arrangements beforehand, assigning the novice attendants to place the official documents brought by the guest delegate on the right side below the rostrum seat and to set up a seat for an official who will read the documents on behalf of the delegate. This role is likely performed by the host temple’s director of practitioners’ affairs, whom the delegate has previously requested. The proceeding of the event is identical with an ordinary ascent to the Dharma hall, beginning with the assistant’s notifying the abbot and the drum signaling his entrance into the hall. When the abbot reaches the rostrum seat he remains standing there. An incense table is placed before him. The official delegate burns incense and presents the documents one by one. He burns incense and then passes the documents to the abbot, and each time the abbot > > says a prayer before burning incense and uttering the word of insight. When all the documents have been read in this manner, the delegate burns incense and performs the propriety of two prostrations with opened sitting cloth and three prostrations with unopened sitting cloth. If this formality is excused by the abbot at his discretion, \[the delegate\] performs only a single prostration with unopened sitting cloth. When the table is removed, the master ascends the high seat, preaches the Dharma, and thanks the participants before concluding his discourse. > > 4. The Delegate’s Special Serving of Tea > > and a Meal for the New Appointee > > The delegate meets with the new appointee beforehand to determine the cost of the noon meal for the practitioners and they agree on the appropriate ratios of their \[respective temple’s\] financial responsibility. They add to the funds for gifts for the incumbent and retired dual order officials and to those practitioners from the same native province as the abbot-appointee or those who are related in his Dharma lineage, and to those who have long been engaged in assisting and serving the abbot. The funds for the noon meal and so on must be transferred beforehand by the official delegate to the treasury official. > > When the appointed day comes, the guest delegate visits the abbot’s office, burns incense, and makes a formal request by performing the propriety of two prostrations with opened sitting cloth and three prostrations with unopened sitting cloth. At the first opening of the sitting cloth, he says: > > I have made preparations for a special serving in the practice hall at > > noon today. May you in your compassion grant me the honor of your > > presence at this occasion, though I am gravely ashamed of the hum- > > ble offering. > > On opening the sitting cloth the second time, he says: > > At this time and on this day, I wish that all is well and felicitous with > > the newly appointed abbot and great master. > > \[The delegate\] concludes his formal request by performing three pros- > — Shohei Ichimura 2006, The Baizhang Zen Monastic Regulations - [Previous: 3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025.3.7) - [Next: 3.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025.3.9) - [Up: 3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025.3) ## Translations (2) - [The Baizhang Zen Monastic Regulations](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-bdk.3.8) — Shohei Ichimura 2006, English - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025~en-mt.3.8) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025.3.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.2025.3.8) · Pramāṇa