Seven column kesa with hollyhock vine design

For Buddhist monks and nuns, a robe or mantle is called a kesa. This kesa is a symbol of their commitment to practicing Buddhism and helping fellow practitioners. They wear a kesa during formal ceremonies, draped like a shawl over the left shoulder.

Kesa originated in India, where Buddhist monks wore robes composed of fabric scraps, called kasaya in Sanskrit. When Buddhism came to Japan in the mid-500s C.E., the kasaya tradition traveled with it. Today, Japanese monks and nuns wear kesa during ceremonies to represent their Buddhist identity and as a reminder of the original practice.