Sri Lankan literature

Author: Shao Tiesheng (Compiler)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-12-01
Features: The beautiful island nation of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean has a long history, developed culture, and is renowned for its flourishing Buddhism. Sinhala literature and Tamil literature each have unique characteristics and complement each other, forming two splendid. In 543 BC, Prince Vijaya established a Sinhala kingdom. In the 3rd century BC, Buddhism was introduced to the island nation. During ancient and medieval times, Buddhist poetry and Buddhist prose flourished to an unprecedented extent. Famous works include Mahavamsa, Gautama Sutta, Mangala Sutta, Cattiyasutta, Samma Sutta, Dhammapada, Visuddhimagga, Abhidhamma, Milindapanha, Milindapa?ha, Milindapa?ha, Milindapa?ha, Milindapa?ha, and Milindapa?ha. These works were mostly created by monks, filled with legendary elements and religious philosophy, and are considered masterpieces of Sinhala classical literature. Starting in the 16th century, Sri Lanka was subjected to 443 years of brutal colonial rule by Portugal, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Under the clash of Eastern and Western cultures, a new type of "Sinhala modern literature" began to emerge. A large number of writers with good education and a sense of national responsibility created many novels and poems that reflected the people's desire for freedom, opposed complete Westernization, and firmly defended national traditions and culture, greatly boosting the people's morale in their fight for national independence. Notable works include the novels Devasena, Our Religion, A Happy Marriage, The Beautiful Climber, The Little Beggar, Lila, Mirage, Our Village, Changes in the Village, The Age of Decline, The End of the Era; the short story collections New Collection, The Woman's Trick, Slave Market, The Treasure of Women, The Demon Teacher, In a Land of Gods, The Treasury of Stories, A Woman, Exploiting Others, Witness of the Moon, A World Without Poor People, Revenge; and the poetry collections Hymn to Freedom, Reflections on Freedom, Sri Lanka, Mother! and others. After gaining national independence in 1948, Sinhala literature developed rapidly. To expose and condemn the crimes of colonial rule and eliminate the influence of colonialist thought in the superstructure, writers created a large number of profound, clear-minded, and uniquely styled works that were highly praised by readers. Notable works include the novels Lasantha, Nayana, Lost, Five Acres, The Silent Heart, Rebirth, Shadow, The Unwanted, The Sinner, Under the Bridge, The Raging Tide; and the short story collections The Will, Tessa's Contest, My Uncle, Thorns and Flowers, The Solitary One, Clarity and Muddiness, Greed, The Song of the Earth and others. Sri Lanka, this Eastern Buddhist land, is dotted with temples, incense smoke, lush coconut trees, and picturesque scenery. From their literary works, we can not only appreciate the pastoral landscapes and customs of a tropical island nation but also meet a wide range of characters such as gentle brides, filial daughters-in-law, heartbroken poets, struggling teachers, remarried women, unjustly accused criminals, miserly tycoons, and reconverted monks, thereby deepening our comprehensive understanding of this "Buddhist capitalist society" that has suffered from colonial rule and is now striving to overcome poverty.