An anthology of Sinhalese literature up to 1815; (UNESCO collection of representative works)

409 Pages·1970·50.764 MB·English

by  Christopher Reynolds (editor)

Edited by Christopher Reynolds
GEORGE ALLEN & UNWIN
This electronic version of the hard-copy of this book is produced
by Shevon Silva.
I *n*« fragment* <sf even earlier writings Mainly
Buddhist in inspiration and written by Buddhist monks,
Utile of the literature has been translated into European
Unguagn before, and the present anthology l» the first in
The anthology «tart» with fragment* of verses scribbled
«n platter walk from the 6th u> 9th centuries. It continue*
with the great proae works of the uth to 14th ceutuncs and
the beautiful poems of the 15th and 16th, among them the
I only secular poems found in Sinhalese before the 20th cen­
tury. Later parti of the anthology bring the story down to
| the extinction of Ceylonese independence with the British
capture of Kandy in 1815 and it it hoped that a further
^volume will give a selection of Sinhalese writing from 1815
I to the present day.
J Up to 1815 culturally Ceylon was part of the Indian
‘ sphere of influence and much of the literature, especially
the poetry, belongs to a tradition very different tr at of
the West. Since Ceylon regained indepen
writing, but it is only with the publican
that the English speaking people ar
sseolmvees otfh teh eb emaaujotirf uwl raitnindg as nocfie Tnht eI n I u and
• The selection, which ranges f ■
^Nirvana to tales of the disdphnai
.Schoolmasters, includes extracts from .... _____
writers of ancient Ceylon , the prose writers Gurulugomi in
the 12th Century, Mayurapada thera in the 13th and
Jayabahu Dharmakirti in the 14th; the poets Totagamuve
Sri Rahula, Vidagama Maitreya and Vaettaeve thera in the
15th Century and Alagiyavanna mohottala at the time of
the Portuguese invasions.
continued on back flap
Jacket photo: Palm-leaf book, showing text
An Anthology of Sinhalese
Literature up to 1815
George Allen & Unwin Ltd
AN ANTHOLOGY OF
SINHALESE
LITERATURE
UP TO 1815
Selected by the UNESCO National Commission of Ceylon
Edited and with an Introduction by C. H. B. Reynolds
Preface by E. F. C. Ludowyk
Tramlaudby
W. G. Archer C. Bryan Cooke Vajira Coda
L- van Geyzel D. E. Hettiaratchi H. Jayasingha
S. Paranavitana Harold Petris T. Rajapatirana
C.H.B. Reynolds
London
GEORGE ALLEN & UNWIN LTD
BUSKIN HOUSE MUSEUM STREET
hmm) uf lUprvwNMlht Wwto
by cmaiiyofmib nvwoini
sAn Anthology of Sinhalese
literature up to 1815
Smhalesr. the language nt the majority of the people of Crykm. lui
a rah hraature spanning ■ thmiund vean and possrasre fraglimle
of even earlier writings Mainly Buddhist in Ininlratlon and wtlrimi
by Buddhist monks. little of the literature hat hern ttandalnl Into
European language before, and thr present anthology la the first
tn the English language.
The anthology starts with fragments of verses scribbled on plaster
walls from the 6th to oth centuries. It continues with the great prose
works o( thr nth to 14th centuries and the beautiful poems of the
1 Sth and 16th. among them the only secular poems found In
Sinhalese before the loth century. Later parts of the anthology bring
the story doom to the extinction of Ceylonese Independence with
the British capture of Kandy in 181$ ano It is hoped that a further
volume will give a selection of Sinhalese writing from 181s to the
present day.
Up » 1815 culturally Ceylon was part of the Indian sphere of
influence and much of the literature, especially the poetry, belongs
to a tradition very different from that of the West. Since Ceylon
regained independence in 1948, there has been a great revival of
interest in Sinhalese writing, but It is only with the publication of
this anthology that the English speaking people are able to read for
themselves the beautiful and ancient literature of Ceylon and some
of the major writings of Theravada Buddhism.
The selection, which ranges from Buddhist teachings on Nirvana
to tales of the disciplinary habits of Ceylonese schoolmasters,
includes extracts from the best-known writers of ancient Ceylon:
the prose writers Gurulugomi in the t ith Century. Mayutapada
theta in the 15th and jayabahu Dharmakirti in the 14th; the poets
Totagamuve Sri Rahula, Vidagama Maitreya and Vse(t»ve
the 1 $th Century and Alagiyavanna mohottala at the time
Portuguese invasions.
Among the prose stories are the ironical tale of Dittharnanga^
a lady forced to marry an outcaste; the sad story of King Vessanta*
who gave away his children to be slaves; Pujavaliya, which tells hox
the Buddha treated his wife and son after his enlightenment; the
fairy story of Princess Vasuladatta and the elephant charm; and the
semi-mythical history of King Dutugaemunu of Ceylon.
Among the tales in verse are the story of the ugly Prince Kusa
and his beautiful wife; a satirical account of how the devotees of the
gods tried to save the plague-stricken city of Vesali; and the story
of the lute player Musila who challenged his teacher to a contest,
but-like Beckmesser-earned nothing but shame.
UNESCO COLLECTION OF REPRESENTATIVE WORKS
SINHALESE SERIES
The initial selection for this anthology was made by a Committee of
distinguished writers and scholars convened by the Sinhalese
National Commission for Unesco. Each translation has been pre­
pared by two translators working together, one of Sinhalese and the
other of English mother tongue. The final English text was edited
by Christopher Reynolds of the School of Oriental and African
Studies, London, in close collaboration with the Sinhalese National
Commission and with Unesco.
Dewey classification: 891
Royal 8vo. 384 pages. About 90s. net
sbn: 04 891038 4
[APPROX. PUBLICATION: APRIL 1970]
LONDON: GEORGE ALLEN 8r UNWIN LTD.

AN ANTHOLOGY OF
SINHALESE
LITERATURE
UP TO 1815
Selected by the UNESCO National Commission of Ceylon
Edited and with an Introduction by C. H. B. Rey nolds
Preface by E. F. C. Ludowyk
Translated by
W. G. Archer C. Bryan Cooke Vajira Cookr
L. van Gcyzel D. E. Hettiaratchi H. Jayasingha
S. Paranavitana Harold Peiris T. Rajapatirana
CRB. Reynolds
London
GEORGE ALLEN & UNWIN LTD
RUSKIN HOUSE MUSEUM STREET