勅修百丈清規 5.38

5.38

There are three Dharma robes: first, the saṃghāṭī (that is, the great robe); second, the uttarāsaṅga (that is, the seven-strip robe); third, the antarvāsas (that is, the five-strip robe. These are the three robes; it is incorrect to call the seven-strip robe, the side-seamed jacket, and the skirt the three robes). There are also three grades of the great robe (the upper grade has twenty-five strips, twenty-three strips, or twenty-one strips; the middle grade has nineteen strips, seventeen strips, or fifteen strips; the lower grade has thirteen strips, eleven strips, or nine strips). The origin of the field robe: the Mahāsaṃghika Vinaya says that when the Buddha was staying before the rock cave of Śakra, he saw the dikes and borders of the rice fields clearly demarcated, and said to Ānanda, 'The robes of past Buddhas had such an appearance; from now on, make the appearance of robes in accordance with this.' The Zenghui Ji says: 'The dikes of fields store water to grow fine sprouts and nourish bodily life; the fields of the Dharma robe are moistened with the water of the four benefits to increase the sprouts of the three goods, thereby nourishing the body of the Dharma and the life of wisdom.'