勅修百丈清規 3.24

3.24

cials and the retired officials on each side. The presentation of monetary gifts and ceremonial serving are as described previously.

11. The New Appointee’s Farewell Ascent

to the Dharma Hall and the Serving of

Tea and Sweet Hot Water

The new appointee and the official delegate visit the office of the abbot’s

assistants to secure the abbot’s permission for using the rostrum seat for conducting [the appointee’s] farewell ascent. The abbot’s seat should be placed to the left of the high seat. At the drum signal the practitioners assemble in the hall. When the abbot enters the hall and reaches his seat, the new appointee immediately goes before him and bows, then turns and bows toward the practitioners. He ascends the high seat, preaches, and descends. Thereupon, he greets the abbot with three prostrations with unopened sitting cloth. Next he faces the rostrum seat, makes a farewell greeting to the practitioners, and in unison with them performs three prostrations with unopened sitting cloth.

At the temple gate, a special seat is placed facing the temple buildings for the new appointee to receive a special serving of tea and sweet hot water. The dual order officials and the retired officials participate in the serving; the head administrative official is in charge of ceremonial conduct. It is the norm to see off the new appointee by tolling the large bell. If the appointee is second in rank after the west hall official, there should be no farewell ascent to the high seat. Before his departure, he visits the abbot together with the official delegate to burn incense and, after three prostrations with unopened sitting cloth, offers a farewell greeting. Next, he makes a round of the practitioners’ quarters to express farewell greetings to them. The farewell serving of tea and sweet hot water at the temple gate is as described previously.

IV. Inauguration of the New Abbot

1. Establishment of the Newly Appointed Abbot’s

Residency at the Temple

In ancient times, the new appointee, upon reaching the gate [of his new temple] in his traveling attire and hat, would remove his hat, pass through the gate, burn incense, and utter a word of insight. In front of the practice hall, he took off his traveling pack, washed his feet, donned a robe taken from his pack, and entered the hall. He then offered incense to the guardian bodhisattva and performed the formal worship through three prostrations with fully opened sitting cloth, followed by his accompanying practitioners. He completed the formality of establishing residency by placing the sack containing

his robe and almsbowl at the abbot’s designated position in the practice hall, and then proceeded to the Buddha hall to burn incense, express a word of insight, and complete his worship with the formality of three prostrations with fully opened sitting cloth. Next, he offered incense at the shrine of the local deities and the patriarchal shrine hall, giving a word of insight at each place, and finally entered the abbot’s office, where once again he gave a word of insight. In appropriate order, he would then perform the initial ascent to the Dharma hall and intone the prayer for imperial longevity.

Nowadays, it is customary for a new appointee to arrive first at the guest house. If it is near the temple, the primary seat official is obliged to lead the practitioners to welcome the new abbot there. But if it is too far, only the dual order officials and the retired officials come to meet him. The official delegate must consult with him beforehand so as to dispatch a note excusing the practitioners from traveling a long distance to present themselves. If the guest house is near, the visiting practitioners must be served tea and sweet hot water, participated in by the dual order officials and the retired officials. The day the new appointee is to enter the temple must be decided upon, and the head administrative official is in charge of all arrangements for that day. The evening before, a signboard informing the practitioners about the schedule for the “reception of the abbot” is posted.

At the appointed time, the practitioners assemble at the temple gate, lining up [on both sides of the path]. The large bell is tolled and other ceremonial instruments are played to celebrate the arrival of the new appointee. The attendants and workmen stand behind the lines of practitioners. When the new appointee reaches the gate, he burns incense and gives a word of insight. At the Buddha hall, he again offers incense and gives a word of insight, and completes his worship with three prostrations with fully opened sitting cloth. When the practice hall bell is rung, the practitioners return there to take their places for the meal. The new appointee enters the hall and offers incense, while the accompanying practitioners perform in unison three prostrations with opened sitting cloth. The director of practitioners’ affairs faces the new abbot, bows to him, and escorts him on a round through the hall. The accompanying practitioners then leave the hall. The dual order officials escort the new appointee to the abbot’s designated seat and perform three prostrations with unopened sitting cloth.