Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Pc 170Combing Hair
Pāli / Sanskrit:Combing hair
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Combing Hair
Comparative Vinaya Rule — Chinese · Number Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Pc 170
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Source Status
The original text of this rule, number Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Pc 170, belonging to the Chinese Comparative Vinaya in the branch of the Sectarian Canonical tradition, has not yet been fully collated in the system’s accessible database. The explanation below therefore cannot reproduce the original scriptural wording or quote directly from the Chinese source, but can only present an account based on the provided descriptive information together with a general understanding of the structure of sectarian Vinaya. Readers should clearly note this so as not to confuse this explanation with an actual scripture translation.
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Background
The designation Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Pc indicates that this rule belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Sarvāstivāda school, preserved and recorded in Chinese. The elements in the designation suggest that this is a rule related to Bhikkhunīs (Bi = Bhikkhunī), in the Pācittiya category, that is, rules requiring confession, not grave offenses such as expulsion or suspension.
The Sarvāstivāda Vinaya is regarded as one of the most developed and detailed legal systems in Buddhist history, with wide influence on Buddhism in Central and East Asia. The Chinese translation of this legal system has been preserved and studied for many centuries, playing an important role in comparison between the Buddhist schools.
The number 170 places this rule rather late in the sequence of Bhikkhunī Pācittiya rules, reflecting the fact that the rules for Bhikkhunīs are usually considerably more numerous than the rules for Bhikkhus. This arises from the traditional principle that the renunciant life of women requires additional specific regulations to protect purity and safety.
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Content Determinable from the Descriptive Information
The title of the rule, "Combing Hair", points directly to an action related to care of appearance, specifically the act of combing or arranging the hair. In the context of the Vinaya, this is the type of rule that regulates bodily gestures and deportment for renunciants, especially Bhikkhunīs.
Although the full text has not been collated, it may be cautiously determined that this rule is related to a Bhikkhunī performing the act of combing hair in inappropriate contexts or with an attitude not corresponding to the dignity of a renunciant. In many Vinaya systems, actions related to hair are strictly regulated, such as not allowing the hair to grow beyond a certain length, and not adorning or beautifying the hair like laypeople.
However, because the full text is unavailable, any conjecture about the specific content, such as who is mentioned, what circumstance is prohibited, or what form of confession is required, would exceed the limits of what the descriptive information permits us to confirm, and therefore is not stated in this explanation.
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Meaning for Practice
From the perspective of training, the Vinaya rules related to the body and outward appearance are all directed toward a common goal: letting go of attachment to the physical body and external form. The act of combing hair, in the worldly sense, is often connected with attention to personal beauty and with the wish to be seen and admired. For a renunciant, such subtle clinging may be an obstacle on the path of relinquishment.
That the Vinaya specifically regulates seemingly small actions like this shows the profound insight of the elders in recognizing that liberation does not occur only in great decisions, but is also cultivated or obstructed by each everyday gesture. Each small rule is a living reminder of mindfulness, of awakened awareness in every action of body, speech, and mind.
For modern practitioners, even if it is not necessary to practice exactly according to each specific rule, studying such rules still brings valuable benefit for training: recognizing subtle areas of attachment in the mind and developing an attitude of wakefulness in all ordinary conduct.
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Collation Note
The full Chinese text of the rule Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Pc 170 has not been directly collated within the scope of this explanatory material. Researchers who wish to study further should consult directly the Chinese canonical texts related to the Sarvāstivāda Vinaya and compare them with other sectarian Vinaya systems in order to gain a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of the content and meaning of this rule.
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