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Constructing identity through monastic legislation: rules intended to differentiate Buddhists from Jainas and Ājīvikas in Vinaya literature

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 July 2025

Juan Wu Open the ORCID record for Juan Wu [Opens in a new window]
Juan Wu*
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Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
*
Email: juanwu@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn
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Abstract

This article investigates the rules that were put into the mouth of the Buddha by Indian Buddhist jurists in order to differentiate monks from non-Buddhist (particularly Jaina and Ājīvika) ascetics as observed in extant Vinaya literature. It demonstrates that the Buddhist jurists were fully aware of Jaina and Ājīvika modes of asceticism, and that they consciously used legislation as a tool to construct Buddhist identity, particularly through legally differentiating the physical appearance, customs, practices, and even social status of monks from those of their śramaṇic rivals. The Buddha’s prescription of a rule to make monks distinguishable from non-Buddhist ascetics often occurs as an immediate response to the laity’s criticism or misunderstanding. This arrangement indicates that the monastic jurists were concerned not only with differentiating Buddhist and non-Buddhist renunciants, but also with protecting the public image of the Buddhist monastic institution and ultimately with maintaining the laity’s trust and support.

Keywords

ĀjīvikasIndian BuddhismJainasMonastic legislationReligious identityVinayas

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Article
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Bulletin of SOAS , First View , pp. 1 - 28
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of SOAS University of London.

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