"Kasaya" (chin.: jiāshā 袈裟) is transliteration of Sanskrit, and the original meaning of it is "color that is not pure" or "bad color". It is generally used to name Buddhist garment. Because garment worn by monks is made of "color that is not pure" (variegated colour), it is called Kasaya in terms of the color. In the Lord Buddha's time, it was a sign of respect to bare one's right shoulder. Therefore when in the monastery the bhikkhu will normally wear his outer robe with the right shoulder visible. On leaving the monastery for inhabited areas he must cover both shoulders.

In addition to this required set of the 'triple robe,' which every bhikkhu must have and look after, there are extra cloths that can be used occasionally.

After Buddhism was transferred to China, color of monk’s clothes changed. For example, when monks expound Buddhist teachings and hold ceremonies, they often wear Jinlan clothes (Kasaya woven with gold thread). Kasaya is not common clothes, and it is one of the upper garments worn by monks when they worship Buddha, beg alms, explain classics, listen to explanation of classics, and take part in ritual.

Kasaya should be sewed with cut cloth, and it should be sewed into netted checks. It is pieced with square satin into the shape of fish scale that means pieces are sewed on the cloth started from the middle one upon another, and edges with the same size are reserved. Sewing thread horizontally across the edge is interlocked. Kasaya is a kind of strip-shaped wrapping sheet which is generally about 70 centimetres wide, and is 2.5 times as long as human body. When they wear it, they wrap it on the upper body and expose the right shoulder. The Kasaya reaches the instep. Kasayas are different according to different levels of ranks and positions, including quality and color of the cloth. Generally speaking, people whose sleeveless garment is edged with yellow brocade or who wear yellow silks and satins in normal times are mostly living Buddhas or eminent monks.

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