Dharma transmission
It is customary to refer to one's own tonsure Master as "Gracious Master", precept Master as "Root Master" and Dharma transmission Master as "Venerable Master". In Chinese Buddhism, these 3 systems are separate and are not performed by the same Masters. Moreover, due to the strong emphasis on the Dharma, when a person receives the Dharma transmission, he or she is recognized as that Chán Master's Dharma son or daughter. Of course, lay Buddhists may also receive this Dharma transmission, but there are very few incidences. Most of the monks and nuns who received the transmission have already been tonsured and ordained by other Masters.