Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s1.t2.33

v2.c12.s1.t2.33

It is celebrated on the 15^th day of the 4th lunar month. Zong Lin, in his *Records of Annual Functions in Jing-Chu Area*, wrote that “monks and nuns hung alms bowls in temples, which was named Summer Retreat.” Indian Buddhism stipulates that nuns and monks shall not go out in rainy seasons and avoid harming living creatures, which is called “Rain Retreat”. The climate in China differs from India, and it is stipulated that the period between April 16-July 15 in the lunar calendar is known as “Summer Retreat” or “Summer Mediation”. It is also named Retreat System. This was the internal stipulation of Buddhism originally but was related to the populace, so some believers provided offerings during this period and governmental departments provided funds sometimes.