釋氏要覽 1.313

1.313

Ancient monks followed the vinaya's institution of having only the saṃkakṣikā (this means 'shoulder-cover', also called 'underarm-covering garment'); this draped over the left shoulder and covered the right underarm, worn directly beneath the three robes, which was the Indian style. Zhu Daozu's Records of Wei states: 'When the Wei palace attendants saw the monks baring one arm, they thought it improper, and so made a single-shoulder piece sewn onto the saṃkakṣikā; following this, it came to be called the pianshan.' (The present style with a split back and joined collar is a vestige of the Wei institution.)