Glossary - individual

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bare right shoulder (hendan uken 偏袒右肩)

In ancient India, Buddhist monks wore robes (kesa 袈裟, S. kāṣāya) that were draped over the left shoulder, leaving the right shoulder bare. Such robes are still worn today by monks of the Theravāda school in the countries of Southeast Asia where the climate is warm. In the Buddhism of East Asian (China, Korea, and Japan) where the climate is colder, the kesa is draped over the left shoulder only but it is always worn over robes that cover both shoulders.