HOA Sri Lanka History PDF

ශ්‍රී ලංකා Sri Lanka  Location and Geography An island located at the southern tip of India Influenced greatly by Southern India  Climate Tropical and Warm Rainfall pattern influenced by monsoon winds Wet Zone: Central highlands Dry Zone: East, Southeast, North...

ශ්‍රී ලංකා Sri Lanka  Location and Geography An island located at the southern tip of India Influenced greatly by Southern India  Climate Tropical and Warm Rainfall pattern influenced by monsoon winds Wet Zone: Central highlands Dry Zone: East, Southeast, Northern parts of Sri Lanka Arid Northwest and Southeast Coast  Geology Stones – Granite – Limestone – Laterite – Sandstone  Clay for bricks, roof tiles, and pottery Soft and Hardwood Bamboo Grasses for thatch and mats Coconut Tree Teak Satinwood  Topographical Cities, Palaces and Temples are built on hills and mountain tops Weva or Water Reservoir – Wewa – For irrigation – Ponds – Bathing Pools  Social and Historical Recorded History covers 2500 years Pre-Anardhapura – Pre History – 377BC Anardhapura Period – 4th BCE – 10th CE Polonnaruwa Period – 11th – 13th CE Kandyan Period – 15 th – 19th CE  Documented 3000 year history Pali Canon – First known Buddhist writings in Sri Lanka – Fourth Buddhist council in 26 BC Ceylon – Name given when country was under British Rule Dharma-Dipa – The Island of the Buddhist Doctrine Sinhalese – Language of Sri Lanka Lanka = Island  Kingdom of Tambapanni – 543BC – 505BC – Prince Vijaya, semi-legendary king escaped with 700 followers – Landed in Sri Lanka on the day of Buddha’s death Legend states that upon Buddha’s ascension to Heaven asked the deities to protect Vijaya so that he can spread Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Kingdom of Upatissa Nuwara – 505 – 377BC – Also known as Vijitapura – Established by Upatissa, Prime Minister of Prince Vijaya after the latters death.  Anuradhapura – 377BC – 1017AD – Founded by Pandukabhaya – First Formal Capital of Sri-Lanka – Formally planned city of 1 sq. km – One of the most progressive centers of political power and urban life in South Asia – Ritual and Administrative Center – Sigiriya: City on a Rock Hill – Built by King Kashyapa 477 - 495AD  – Built on top of a 370m high “Lion Rock” – Palace was built surrounded by boulders and water gardens – Abandoned in 1017AD Polonnaruwa – 1056-1236 – Founded by King Vijayabahu I – Founded after Anuradhapura was invaded by the Chola forces under Rajaraja I – Parakramabahu I unified the island – Expanded and Beautified Polonnaruwa  Transitional Period – 1236 – Crisis of the 16th Century – Jaffna Kingdom – Kingdom of Dambadeniya – Kingdom of Gampola – Kingdom of Kotte – Arrival of the Portuguese in 1505  Kingdom of Kandy – Kandenuwara = Hill City – Founded by Senasammata Vikramabahu – 1476-1815 – Located in the central part of the island – Remained independent from Portuguese and Dutch Rule British Period – 1815-1947 – Independence  Religion Multi-Religious Society Buddhism – 70% – Theravada Hinduism – Northern, Eastern and Central Sri Lanka – 12% Islam – Sunni – Shafi’i – 10%  Buddhism Theravada Buddhism Introduced by Arahath Mahindra – Son of Emperor Asoka – Led a mission to Sri Lanka in 246BCE Converted King Devanapiya Tissa Arahath Sanghamitra – Daughter of King Asoka – Brought sapling of the Bodhi Tree Introduced by the missionary son of Emperor Asoka, Arahath Mahindra in the reign of King Devanapiya Tissa in the 3rd c BC  Sacred Bodhi Tree – Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi – Mahameghavana Park, Anuradhapura – Planted by King Devanampiya Tissa – Planted in 288 BC – Oldest living human-planted tree in the world with known planting date – One of the most sacred relics of Buddhism – 2014 No construction within 500 meters from the tree. Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Mahameghavana Park, Anuradhapura  Town Planning Cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa between 3rdc BC and 12th c AD developed a great civilization 3 stages of town planning – Establishment of small agricultural communities – Growth of the City – Development of Monasteries  Hydraulic engineering, construction of village water tanks, large reservoirs or Weva and irrigation canals Parks and pleasure gardens for Royal and Public use. Sigiriya Gardens and Weva Architectural Character Anuradhapura  Founded by Pandukabhaya and made his capital in 4th century BC Laid out the town and its suburbs to a well organized plan Abhayavapi Large man made reservoir Mutasiva succeeded Pandukabhaya Laid out Mahameghavahana Gardens  Earliest remains are natural rock chambers built for hermits Remarkable Buddhist City Model of Planning with: – Tree Lined Streets – Palaces – Parks – Monasteries – Dagobas (Stupa)  Hostels Hospitals Separate cemeteries for high and low castes Weva Royal Baths Landscaping Sculpture Villages and Dwellings Anuradhapura Maha Viharaya Abhayagiri Vihara, Anuradhapura Weva near Ruwanwelisaya (Ruwanweli Maha Seya) Dagoba, Anuradhapura Mihintalava Ancient Hospital, Anuradhapura  Dagoba Stupa Also called Dagaba Enshrines: – Saririka Bodily relic – Paribosika Objects associated with the Buddha – Udesika Relics sacred to Buddhism  Stupa shapes can come in a variety of forms – Paddy heap – Bubble – Pot and Bell – Onion  Vahalkada – Frontispiece (decorated element fronting a building) – Constructed joining a stupa at its cardinal points and used as an offering slab or table for flowers. – Richly decorated Vatadege – Enclosing wall and platform of a Dagoba – Contained a roof supported by pillars of diminishing height Thuparamaya, Anuradhapura  Thuparamaya Dagoba – Oldest in Sri Lanka – Dating back to King Devanampiya Tessa – Contains the Right Collar Bone of the Buddha – Comes from the word “Stupa” and Aramaya” which means Residential Complex for Monks Bell Shaped – Solid brickwork tumuli – Plastered with Lime  Originally contained a Vatadage – Surrounding protective wall around a Stupa Originally Paddy Heap type Dagoba – Converted into bell shaped in 1842 2 rows of stone pillars around the Dagoba Ruwanweliseya Dagoba,Anuradhapura  Ruwanwelisaya Dagoba Built by King Dutugemunu c. 140BC Also known as Mahatyupa Contains Buddha's Relics White Dagoba Known as the Maha Thupa or Great Stupa 90 meters base diameter and more than 92 meters high  Mahavihara Buddhist monastery for Theravada Buddhism Pali – Great Monastery Houses 3000 monks Dagoba Bodhigahara Chaitya for Ceremony, Meditation and Preaching Courts Priory Weva Sigiriya  Built by King Kashyapa 477-495CE Briefly the capital of Sri Lanka Ancient rock fortress Also known as Singhagiri Palace at the top of the rock Mid level terrace and Gateway in the form of a Lion Mirror wall with frescoes Lower Palaces Lavish Gardens, Moats and Ramparts Singhagiri or Lion Rock  Cisterns cut into the rock Both a Palace and a Fortress Abandoned after death of Kashyapa Subsequently converted into a Buddhist monastery Mid level terrace and Gateway in the form of a Lion Mirror wall with frescoes Carved Cisterns on Sigiriya Rock Polonnaruwa  2nd Capital after the Destruction of Anuradhapura in 993AD Medieval Capital of Faith Established by the Chola Dynasty during the 10th century and called Jananathapuram Was originally controlled by Hindus under Chola I 1070 Polonnaruwa was captured by Vijayabahu I  Expanded during the reign of Parakramabahu Parakrama Samudra or the Sea of King Parakrama – Largest Wewa in Sri Lanka Vatadage – Also known as Cetiyagara, Dage and Thupagara – Housed the Relic of the tooth of Buddha – Houses the alms bowl used by the Buddha – Best preserved Vatadege in Sri Lanka – Described as the ultimate version  Thuparama Image House – Contains a Seated Buddha Bodhigara – Shrine to the Bodhi Tree Hatadage – 60 Relic Shrine Atadage – 8 Relic Shrine Satmahal Prasada – 7 tiered step pyramid containing niches Potgul Vehara – Original Relic House of the Temple of the Tooth Rankoth Vehara – 4rth largest Stupa in Sri Lanka Vatadage, Pollonnaruwa Thuparama Image House, Polonnaruwa Hatadage, Polonnaruwa Atadage, Polonnaruwa Satmahal Prasada Rankoth Vehara, Polonnaruwa Kandy  Last capital of the Sinahala Kings and the center of the Dinahala culture for more than 2500 years Architecture of Wood Anuradhapura traditional framed structures of pillars and beams continue but in timber richly carved with traditional motifs Roofs of multi-level, high pitched with wide eaves, slightly curved, finished with small flat terracotta singles or tiles  Decorative artwork is important with the use of ancient motifs – Windows with lacquered wood bars – Carved timber doorways – Ornamental metalwork doors – Painted walls – Terracotta bas relief wall-plaques –Sri Daladá Màligàwa – Temple of the Tooth Relic – Mahawahalkada Main Entrance Gate – 2 floors Palle Malaya (lower floor) Udu Malaya (Upper Floor) – Handun Kunama Main Shrine – Sandakada Pahana Moonstone Elaborately carved semi-circular stone slab, usually placed at the bottom of staircases and entrances. – Paththirippuwa Octagonal pavilion Sandakada Pahana Sri Daladá Màligàwa with Paththirippuwa on the right and Mahawahalkada on the left.  Mahawasala – Royal Palace of Kandy – Situated north of Daladá Màligàwa – Raja Wasala King’s Palace – Meda Wasala Queen’s Palace – Magul Maduwa Royal Audience Hall – Palle Vahale King’s Harem – Ulpange Queen’s Bathing Pavilion Mahawasala, Kandy Magul Maduwa Ulpange, Kandy