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Most of the population in Sri Lanka is Sinhalese ( about 74% ). Seventy per cent people are Buddhist out of them. So, there is a great influence of Buddhism on the culture of Sri Lanka. Buddhism was introduced by Ven. Mahinda Thero from India beginning in about mid-third century B.C. when Devanampiyatissa was the king of the country. After that, there was a great civilization in the country under the influence of Buddhism.
Sri Lankan kings respected and protected Buddhism as their lives. They observed Buddhism before every national festival and they were advised regularly by Buddhist monks. Great stupas (Dagaba ), Buddha statues, and large Buddhist temples had been constructed by Buddhist kings in Sri Lanka for observances. The greatest stupa ( Dagaba ) is Ruwanvelli Saya ( Anuradhapura ) built by king Dutugamunu in 132 B.C. It is about 270 feet in height with an equal diameter. Avukana Buddha statue ( 7-9 century A.D.) which is 39 feet in height is one of the Buddha statues in Sri Lanka. Our kings built great reservoirs for the development of Agriculture. Parakrama Samudraya ( Reservoir ) built by Great King Parakramabahu ( 1155 A.D. Polonnaruwa ) hold 5600 acres of water, which irrigated 18,200 acres of paddy fields. Its bank which consists of stone blocks weighing over ten tons is 12 km long. Our country was rich in rice in the ancient time due to great revolution of Agriculture.
Village life...
Every village has a Buddhist temple which consists of a Buddha statue, a stupa ( Dagaba ), a Bodhi tree ( Bo tree ) for religious observances of villagers. There are Buddhist monks in the temple. They are respected by every lay person. The Buddhist monks advise people. In the ancient time, the school of the village was the temple. Teachers of the school were Buddhist monks. Buddhist monks taught regarding history, Buddhist culture, Buddhism, Pali language, literature, etc. Buddhist people never forget to go to the temple frequently. They get advices from the Buddhist monks and do religious observances in the temple. Every ancient Buddhist person refused to take alcohol, intoxicants, and consumption of beef. But, after the influence of Portuguese, Dutch, and British, they gradually tend to do these incorrect acts. Buddhist people observe their religion before every important incidences of their lives such as weddings, funerals, etc. They follow Buddhism during their life. Sinhalese have a good hospitality other than any country in the world. They respect their parents, teachers, and Buddhist monks well. Children are looked after by their parents. Old or disabled adults, parents are looked after by their children. They are very respectful to mother and father. There are strong relationships among each family member than people in western countries.
"Not even a drop of water must flow into the ocean without being useful to man." - The greate king Parakramabahu, Polonnaruwa
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Avukana Buddha statue, Anuradhapura
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Ruwanvelli Saya ( Dagaba ), Anuradhapura
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The statue of great king Parakramabahu near the Parakrama Samudraya ( reservoir ), Polonnaruwa
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Parakrama Samudraya ( reservoir ), Polonnaruwa
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Sinhalese art of Medicine... In the ancient time, there were well developed local art of Medicine in Sri Lanka. This art still exists in the country. Villagers respected the local doctors. The local doctors use various extractions from leaves, flowers, barks, and roots of herbal plants to cure the patients. They were good orthopaedic doctors, surgeons as well. One of the kings of Anuradhapura kingdom, Buddhadasa ( 341 A.D.) was a Sinhalese doctor. There were ancient hospitals at Mihintale, Anuradhapura, Madirigiriya, Dighavapi, and Dombegoda. Mihintale hospital was the first well constructed hospital in the world. King Mahinda vi built it at about 8th century. There were a waiting hall for patients, a dispensary, two examining rooms, 32 residential rooms for patients, and a Medicinal Boat ( Beheth Oruwa ) for the immersion of patients in herbal water. |
Agriculture... Every village had a reservoir in the ancient time. There was a very good irrigation system which consisted of reservoirs and canals. We can get an idea about ancient Sinhalese technology of irrigation systems by looking at Yoda Ela / Jaya Ganga ( a canal ) which carries water from Kala Weva (a reservoir ) to Tissa Weva ( a reservoir ). This canal is 54 miles long and built in 12th century. Ancient engineers managed to keep the slope of first 17 miles at 6 cm per 1 mile. These irrigation systems supplied water for a large areas of paddy fields. Ancient Sinhalese exported even rice to other countries. They did chena cultivation as well for their other cereal, fruit and vegetable requirements. |
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Sinhalese arts...
Sinhalese are very famous for paintings, traditional dancing, woodcarvings, stone carvings, architecture, etc. These arts were protected by Sinhalese through generations and have an influence of Buddhism. Sri Lankan dancing can be divided into three as up-country dancing, low-country dancing, and Sabaragamuwa dancing. There are traditional drums associated with these dancing. There are nice woodcarvings and stone carvings in ruined temples, palaces and other buildings. We can see the great ancient architecture at the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka. One of these carvings is the Makara ( Dragon ) portico, portico of a temple on which are painted two Makaras ( Dragons ) facing each other. Other famous stone carvings are Sandakada Pahana ( Moonstone ), Muragala ( Guard stone ), Wahalkada, etc. There are great ancient paintings on the walls of temples, ruined buildings, and rocks. Sigiriya which was the palace of the king Kashyapa ( 479 A.D. ) has the world famous paintings of girls carring flowers in hands. Beautiful wall paintings are in Daladamaligawa ( the temple of tooth relic ) at Kandy. Most of the ancient temples in Sri Lanka have nice paintings which show the ability of Sinhalese people.
Sinhalese ancient literature...
Early sinhalese used Ola leave books for their writings. There are nice ancient poems, stories, religious books,etc. in Sri Lanka. 'Mahawamsa' is the earliest record of the Sri Lankan history which was written by a Buddhist monk named Mahanama during the time period of the Anuradhapura kingdom. Gira Sandeshya ( parrot message ), Hansa Sandeshaya ( Swan message ), Mayura Sandeshaya ( Peacock message ), and Salalihini Sandeshaya ( Salalihini message ) are great ancient literature works.
Cont...
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