Indian Buddha robes and Buddhist monks’ robes were originally similar, comprising lower,midriff and upper garments,the upper garments being the largest and the lower the smallest.These customs changed in China,and the way in which a cape was worn underwent reform,while the middle garment became larger than the upper garment.Gowns with collars and sleeves saw this Chinese style of dress gradually replace the original Indian division into three garments.Only the draped upper garment replicated the traditional Indian mode of dress.Following this logic,the varying criteria governing statues of Buddha figures and monks in India and China reflect this difference and so there was change in nomenclature. The author details these changes and also examines the changing terminology in India and in China.
