一切經音義 59.162

59.162

百臘 (Fanqie 力盍 [là]. Note that the Fengsu tong states: 'The Han dynasty called it là (臘), which means hunting (獵). They hunted birds and beasts to offer sacrifice to their ancestors.' This is the name of the sacrifice to the spirits at the end of the year. When the scriptures speak of 'holding the là for the Buddha' (臘佛), it carries this meaning. Some say: '獵 (là) means joining (接), the transition between the old and the new.' In various scriptures and vinayas it is also called 'year' (歲), as in the Xinsui jing (Sūtra of the New Year). The commentary on the Erya states: 'One complete cycle is called a suì (year); it is also derived from the orbital station of the Year Star (Jupiter).' The Xia called it suì; the Shang called it sì; the Zhou called it nián; the Tang and Yu called it zài; all are named on the basis of one complete cycle. Nowadays, bhikṣus say either là or xià (summer retreat), meaning the two refer to the same event: the meaning of one complete cycle. Note that in India there is much rain; the rains retreat (varṣā) runs from the sixteenth day of the fifth month to the sixteenth day of the eighth month. In Tokhara and other regions, the retreat is held in the twelfth month. In this land, it is called the summer retreat (vassa), running from the sixteenth day of the fourth month to the fifteenth day of the seventh month. Each establishes its designation according to its circumstances.)