tsūken 通肩

An abbreviation of tsūryō kenpō 通両肩法. A style of wearing a Buddhist robe covering both shoulders. The robe forms concentric folds, which fall from the neck, down the chest and stomach. One end of the fabric is draped below the left arm and held in the left hand. The expression tsūken is used in contrast to *hentan uken 偏袒右肩, where one shoulder is left exposed. The tsūken style is found on *nyorai 如来 statues in Japan, although it is more common in China and India. It is derived from the style of wearing the sōgyari 僧伽梨 (*daie 大衣), a formal robe used by priests for visits outside the temple.