Kay so I drew the abbot char design by the artist who draws the novel covers! Their twt is @haban35 !! Mb guys idk how to draw old ppl....will learn I swear 😓
I did a bit of research into their garments, mainly the kasaya/Jiasha (Chinese Buddhist robes). The garment was basically a symbol of simplicity, leaving materialistic things to achieve enlightenment. They were originally made using scraps of fabrics that were still usable, washed, and sewing the usable parts together.
As Buddhism spread, the robes were transformed into garments that indicated the monk's ranks and were made from the same fabrics as high ranking people (such as silk)
The garment is used by ordained monks and usually a monk is only allowed to have three panels. A five panel, seven panel, and nine or more panels; which were used as work, daily, and formal wear respectively.
I'm taking inspiration from the black myth: wukong game in act 1 abt the jiasha where the monk was obsessed with luxurious jiasha. The monk saw the master's jiasha which was given by Buddha himself and was filled with greed leading to his downfall (haven't played the game, this explanation is from a reddit post 😅)
I wanted to incorporate that in the abbot bcs his whole character is so fucking hypocritical when he's the abbot, a bhuddist who should be detached from materialistic things and affairs that promote greed but alas, he craves power and wants to maintain the position that he has in the murim world. Im still not sure on how to decorate his jiasha but I'd want it to be subtly ornate, very much like his character, so more leaning on the formal side. But for the sake of my mental health drawing him I'll just give him a nine or more panelled jiasha
Anyways sorry info dump, I compiled links I used tho in this small research! + Some textiles of jiashas/kasayas
https://costume.mini.icom.museum/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/Buddhist-Practitioners-Garments-Kasaya-and-the-Transformation-of-Their-Functions-by-Aki-Yamakawa-1.pdf
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1987.57
https://www.reddit.com/r/BlackMythWukong/comments/1ez1u8c/for_people_who_didnt_understand_what_a_kasaya_is/
https://www.thetextileatlas.com/craft-stories/jiasha-chinese-buddhist-robes
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