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