Chö-gu

Chö-gu is used on formal occasions by celibate monastics, female and male. This is often worn on top of the more common, daily, maroon/burgundy “zen” (a one piece shawl which is not technically one of the “three robes” of celibate monastics). The    chö-gu is one of the “three-robes” of a celibate monastic and is known in Sanskrit as the “uttarasangha” (upper-robe). It consists of several pieces of cloth sewn together and includes a brocade patch with a dharmachakra (dharma wheel) design on it.

Typically, the chö-gu is worn when participating in formal group practice, during monastic ceremonies and when receiving teachings.