Clothing serves not only to shield the body from insects, provide warmth, and preserve modesty, but also to signify social identity and convey ideological expression. Buddhist monastic attire originated in sixth-century B.C. India. Shaped by the climate, customs, and material conditions of the time, it was later adapted and codified through China’s ritual (li 禮) framework. The evolution and development of Chinese monastic attire can be traced through two major phases. The first phase concerns the origin and formation of the attire system, which includes the origin, styles, and functions of the foundational Three Garments; the sources of their fabric; the supplementary attire known as tingyi聽衣; and the established colors of monastic robes. The second phase involves the changes and development specific to the Chinese Han monastic tradition, encompassing alterations in the style and color of the Three Garments, the transformation of regular daily attire, and the evolution of monastic shoes and stockings.