Download Sri Lankan art and architecture were deeply influenced

Sri Lankan art and architecture were deeply influenced by Buddhism,
which was introduced to the island in the third century BCE.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE [ edit ]
Discuss the evolution of Buddhist art in Sri Lanka, from early cave temples to the art and
architecture of the kingdom of Anuradhapura.
KEY POINTS [ edit ]
The earliest examples of Buddhist architecture found in Sri Lanka are cave temples. The most
famous of these, the Dambulla temple complex, dates back to the 1st century BCE.
The kingdom of Anuradhapura (377 BCE - 1017 CE), named for its capital city, produced some the
finest of ancient Sri Lankan art and architecture.
Sri Lankan stupas were among the largest brick structures known to the premodern world.
Intended to enshrine relics of the Buddha, they were built in various shapes and often
accompanied by a vahalkada or decorative frontispiece.
Another architectural creation associated with stupas and unique to ancient Sri Lankan
architecture was the vatadage, a circular Buddhist structure built around small stupas.
The rock fortress and palace complex of Sigiriya is particularly renowned for its
ancient frescoes of female figures bearing flowers, dating from the 5th century and painted in a
very distinctive style.
Sculpture was also a notable art form and many fine statues of the Buddha were produced during
the Anuradhapura period. The 4th-century Samadhi statue in Anuradhapura is considered one of
the finest examples of ancient Sri Lankan sculpture.
TERMS [ edit ]
stupa
A dome-shaped Buddhist monument, used to house Buddhist relics.
vatadage
A decorative circular frontispiece near the entrance of a Sri Lankan stupa.
EXAMPLES [ edit ]
Significant architectural buildings include the stupas of Jetavanaramaya, Ruwanvelisaya in the
Anuradhapura kingdom and further in the Polonnaruwa Kingdom, the palace of Sigiriya is
considered as a masterpiece of ancient architecture and ingenuity, the fortress in Yapahuwa and
the Temple of the tooth in Kandy are also notable for their architectural qualities.
Give us feedback on this content: FULL TEXT [edit ]
Sri Lankan art and architecture was deeply
influenced byBuddhism, which was
introduced to the island in the third
century BCE by the son of Ashoka,
Mahinda. Ashoka, the great Buddhist
emperor of the Maurya Dynasty, dedicated
himself to the propagation of the religion
across Asia. Sri Lanka has the longest
continuous history of Buddhism of any
Buddhist nation, and its culture reflects its
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religious tradition.
Architecture
The earliest examples of Buddhist architecture found in Sri Lanka are cave temples. The most
famous of these, the Dambulla temple complex, dates back to the 1st century BCE. This
complex consists of five caves and is decorated inside with statues and frescoes of the Buddha
and various gods and goddesses from the Buddhist pantheon.
The kingdom of Anuradhapura (377 BCE - 1017 CE), named for its capital city, produced
some of the finest ancient Sri Lankan art and architecture. Some of the most distinctive and
famous Sri Lankan monuments were built during this period, including a large number of
dagobas or stupas, for which the island is renowned. Sri Lankan stupas were among the
largest brick structures known to the premodern world. Intended to enshrine relics of the
Buddha, they were built in various shapes, including the bubble, the pot, and the bell. The Sri
Lankan stupa is characterized by its vahalkada, or frontispiece: a structure, often ornately
carved, joining the stupa and often using cardinal directions as a decorative flourish. One of
the most famous stupas in Sri Lanka is the Jetavanaramaya stupa, which was built during the
3rd and 4th centuries CE in the sacred city of Anuradhapura and is believed to house a part of
a sash of the Buddha. Built from baked bricks bound with limestone, sand, and clay, and
coated with lime plaster, this stupa stands at 400 feet and was the tallest stupa in the ancient
world.
Another architectural creation associated with stupas and unique to ancient Sri Lankan
architecture was the Vatadage, a circular Buddhist structure built around small stupas. These
were usually made of stone and brick and elaborately carved. They may have also had
wooden roofs that were supported by stone columns arranged in concentric rows .
Polonnaruwa Vatadage
Vatadage in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, 12th century CE
Artistic Style
Another famous monument erected under the patronage of Anuradhapura was the rock
fortress and palace complex of Sigiriya. Sigirya is particularly renowned for its ancient
frescoes, which date from the 5th century and were painted in a very distinctive style.
The lines are painted in a manner that enhances the sense of volume of the figures, and the
paint is applied in sweeping strokes, using more pressure on one side than the other and
giving the effect of a deeper tone towards the edges. The frescoes all depict beautiful female
figures who are carrying flowers and are hypothesized to be apsaras (celestial nymphs),
ladies of the king's court, or women taking part in religious rituals .
Sigiriya Fresco
Depicting women with flowers, the Sigiriya frescoes are examples of a distinctive Sri Lankan school of
painting from the 5th century CE.
Sculpture was also a notable art form and many fine statues of the Buddha were produced
during the Anuradhapura period. The Samadhi statue in Anuradhapura is considered one of
the finest examples of ancient Sri Lankan sculpture. Sculpted from dolomite marble, it dates
to the 4th century CE and shows the Buddha seated in a position of deep meditation .
Samadhi Statue
Located in Anuradhapura, this statue dates to the 4th century CE and is a fine example of ancient Sri
Lankan Buddhist sculpture.