宋高僧傳 4.16

4.16

Appraisal: Why did Master Kang trail a napa? In reply: In Sanskrit it is called lipa, which in Chinese means an 'abdomen-wrapping garment,' also called a 'belly wrapper.' Its form is like an open-shouldered robe; a single width of cloth just allows the hand to pass through, and the shoulder sleeve is not wide. It is worn on the left side with ties attached to the right, and is mostly stuffed with cotton floss. However, it is an attire for resisting cold; in hot countries it is not used, and its use is also a sage-granted allowance. When transmitted to the eastern lands, it changed into colored silk, with cut strips of cloth attached to the left and right sleeves, hanging and trailing down to signal: 'I am thoroughly versed in scriptures and treatises.' For one text mastered, one strip was trailed; the more texts mastered, the more were trailed. It is unknown with whom this practice began in antiquity. Today, to call it simply pa omits the character li; it completely departs from the intention of resisting cold and has turned instead into 'garments of pride.' Since its original purpose was lost and it has been widely abused, I set forth the sacred teachings separately to await future worthy men; beyond this, no deviant forms should be introduced to disorder the great moral order. The Book of Odes says: 'When clothing is not fitting, it brings disaster upon oneself.' Alas!