The Ṭämpiṭavihāras of Sri Lanka focuses on one distinctive Buddhist architectural practice from pre-modern Sri Lanka – the construction of Buddha image-houses on elevated wooden platforms supported by stone pillars. As a centre of Buddhism, Sri Lanka has a rich tradition of erecting Buddha image-houses, the origin of which dates to the fifth century. Yet, the ṭämpiṭavihāra tradition only existed from the thirteenth to the nineteenth centuries. The ṭämpiṭavihāra is an exceptional type of image-house, not only for its specific timeframe and unique construction technology, but also for its complex architectural conception of the Buddhist worldview and soteriology. Except for this period of Sri Lankan history, this architectural exemplar does not exist in anytime or anywhere in the entire Buddhist world. This book examines the significant aspects of ṭämpiṭavihāra architecture and documents some of the distinctive examples with an analysis of their architectural design and symbolic content. Richly illustrated with photographs and drawings, the book is organized into two parts. The first part examines the significant historical, cultural, and architectural aspects of ṭämpiṭavihāras in depth. The second part documents fifty of the distinctive examples of ṭämpiṭavihāras in the country with an analysis of their architectural designs and symbolic content. Each example is illustrated with architectural drawings of its plans, elevations, and sections along with photographs. The book also includes a list of over 200 extant tämpiṭavihāras in the country. This book is the very first comprehensive examination of the subject of tämpiṭavihāras published in any language and made available for a global audience. It narrates the story of ṭämpiṭavihāras from a multidimensional perspective that involves architecture, anthropology, archaeology, art history, geography, history, sociology, and theology. Consequently, it appeals to a vast array of enthusiasts of these disciplines in addition to scholars in Asian studies, South Asian studies, Sri Lankan studies, and Buddhist studies.

The peoples of Sri Lanka have participated in far-flung trading networks, religious formations, and Asian and European empires for millennia. This interdisciplinary volume sets out to draw Sri Lanka into the field of Asian and Global History by showing how the latest wave of scholarship has explored the island as a ‘crossroads’, a place defined by its openness to movement across the Indian Ocean.Experts in the history, archaeology, literature and art of the island from c.500 BCE to c.1850 CE use Lankan material to explore a number of pressing scholarly debates. They address these matters from their varied disciplinary perspectives and diverse array of sources, critically assessing concepts such as ethnicity, cosmopolitanism and localisation, and elucidating the subtle ways in which the foreign may be resisted and embraced at the same time. The individual chapters, and the volume as a whole, are a welcome addition to the history and historiography of Sri Lanka, as well as studies of the Indian Ocean region, kingship, colonialism, imperialism, and early modernity.

An introduction to Sri Lanka's geography, people, early history, foreign rule, independence, and modern history is followed by a dictionary covering the people, places, and events that have shaped the country. Includes a detailed chronology, statistical tables, graphs, appendices, and a detailed bibliography. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Sri Lanka Has A Rich And Long Tradition Of Wall Paintings, Starting From Prehistoric Times, Transversing The Historical Period Up To The Present Day. The Present Book Is An Attempt To Collect And Present All The Known Information On This Vast Subject.

The Rough Guide to Sri Lanka is the most comprehensive and user-friendly travellers' guide to this fascinating country. Each chapter of the Rough Guide includes thoroughly researched travel information, hotel and restaurant listings, sections on everything from food and language to media and sport, and thoughtful background on the environment, politics, culture, music and history. The new stunning full-colour design combines glorious images to whet your appetite with a practical layout and dozens of accessible and accurate maps to guide you from the urban centres to the jungle, beaches and mountains. This is the time to discover Sri Lanka - the Rough Guide is your perfect companion. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Sri Lanka. Now available in ePub format.

Over 1,100 alphabetically arranged entries examine the history, geography, people, government, economy, art, and religions of Sri Lanka.

Fifty-four images and more than ninety classic and contemporary texts introduce Sri Lankas recorded history of more than two and a half millennia.