OK. So I know people have already talked about the orange robe vs. other colors. Chicken believed the orange robe was a warriors robe and anyone could wear it, same as a Tae Kwon Do gee, and others believe it is strictly for buddhists and all the monk imposters in and around Shaolin as well as the foriegners around the world wearing them should, well,,,, not. Unless they're buddhist.
But that's not my question.
Actually I have two.
First, what is the signifcance of the red outer cloth with gold square pattern held in place over the left shoulder by a ring and hook? I had always thought it was worn only by the Abbot of a temple. However, I have seen other monks Yanming and Deyang wearing them as well. Not to mention the movies, such as Master Killer, in which you see many of the top ranking monks wearing simmilar cloth(s) of different colors.
ie: See attached pic. Suxi has one on as he was Abbot, right? But so does Deyang. And the other two older monks have on a different color, tan or brown, of the same type of cloth.
What is the significance in the colors that allows Deyang to wear the same color and style as Suxi, but not the two other older monks. Is it that they are not Wuseng but Wenseng (scholar monks)?
Second, what is the significance of the various colors of robes worn, in reference to Shaolin, not other buddhist orders?
Of course orange seems to be the standard, but what about the yellow, grey and the brown? I would figure it has to do with rank of some sort, right? I've seen countless pictures where there is a large group of monks with a few of one or another color. For example many monks dressed in orange, all holding the same stance and then six monks dressed in grey also holding the same stance. There must be some significance. You see this too often for it to only be a photo op. thing. Also, at my school here in China everyone wears orange pants with a red school shirt, but the masters and top students, also helping to run the classes, wear brown pants and black shirts. I was told it has a little to do with rank and mostly to do with respect and class order. I asked about this same color system in and around the temple but couldn't understand my Shifu's answer. It seemed that there is some sort of ranking to it. For example, the beginer, a Chinese kid, doesn't show up his first day in a tan or white robe. That's not acceptable. So does anyone know the significance?
Another small question goes out to any USAST members. Yanming does have a color ranking system for his classes, 1's and 2's, right? Or can the beginers purchase an orange robe and a blue robe but only wear the blue on a specified day? What's the significance of the two colors at USAST?
I'm really damn curious about this one, the robe colors in reference to ranks. I've always heard that Shaolin has no belt ranking system, but I've never got a definite answer on the various colors of robes and they're significance. My shifu told me it IS tho seperate, which implies rank even if only on two levels, but I've also read there is no real significance to the color. In Chan Buddhisim you do not cling to one color or another.
Can anyone help ,e clear up the confusion with these two questions????
But that's not my question.
Actually I have two.
First, what is the signifcance of the red outer cloth with gold square pattern held in place over the left shoulder by a ring and hook? I had always thought it was worn only by the Abbot of a temple. However, I have seen other monks Yanming and Deyang wearing them as well. Not to mention the movies, such as Master Killer, in which you see many of the top ranking monks wearing simmilar cloth(s) of different colors.
ie: See attached pic. Suxi has one on as he was Abbot, right? But so does Deyang. And the other two older monks have on a different color, tan or brown, of the same type of cloth.
What is the significance in the colors that allows Deyang to wear the same color and style as Suxi, but not the two other older monks. Is it that they are not Wuseng but Wenseng (scholar monks)?
Second, what is the significance of the various colors of robes worn, in reference to Shaolin, not other buddhist orders?
Of course orange seems to be the standard, but what about the yellow, grey and the brown? I would figure it has to do with rank of some sort, right? I've seen countless pictures where there is a large group of monks with a few of one or another color. For example many monks dressed in orange, all holding the same stance and then six monks dressed in grey also holding the same stance. There must be some significance. You see this too often for it to only be a photo op. thing. Also, at my school here in China everyone wears orange pants with a red school shirt, but the masters and top students, also helping to run the classes, wear brown pants and black shirts. I was told it has a little to do with rank and mostly to do with respect and class order. I asked about this same color system in and around the temple but couldn't understand my Shifu's answer. It seemed that there is some sort of ranking to it. For example, the beginer, a Chinese kid, doesn't show up his first day in a tan or white robe. That's not acceptable. So does anyone know the significance?
Another small question goes out to any USAST members. Yanming does have a color ranking system for his classes, 1's and 2's, right? Or can the beginers purchase an orange robe and a blue robe but only wear the blue on a specified day? What's the significance of the two colors at USAST?
I'm really damn curious about this one, the robe colors in reference to ranks. I've always heard that Shaolin has no belt ranking system, but I've never got a definite answer on the various colors of robes and they're significance. My shifu told me it IS tho seperate, which implies rank even if only on two levels, but I've also read there is no real significance to the color. In Chan Buddhisim you do not cling to one color or another.
Can anyone help ,e clear up the confusion with these two questions????
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