An Approach for Defining, Assessment And
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Section IV: Cultural routes: the challenges of linear settings for monuments and sites Section IV: Gérer les routes culturelles dans leur diversité‐La conservation de sites linéaires diversifiés CULTURAL ROUTES OF SRI LANKA AS EXTENSIONS OF INTERNATIONAL ITINERARIES : IDENTIFICATION OF THEIR IMPACTS ON TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE HERITAGE Manawadu Samitha／Sri Lanka Professor of Architecture at the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka Indigenous Sri Lankan culture received multifaceted specially, Mohammedans travellers who made pilgrimages influences from foreign cultures, mainly due to international to a sacred mountain in central hills of Sri Lanka spread the cultural routes passing in the vicinity of the island. Their message and encouraged subsequent invading Europeans to influences spread into hinterland through water and land settle down in Maritime Provinces and spread their cultures routes, and were adsorbed by societies, transforming Sri across the island. Final result was a multiethnic, Lankan Culture into a multifaceted heterogeneous culture multi-religious Sri Lankan society. with rich tangible and intangible elements. The early international cultural routes, which were well It is understood that the beginning of cultural linked with overland trade and pilgrimage routes, enabled contaminations was far longer than that of the history of Sri spread of multifaceted cultural elements into hinterland Lanka. And shed their influences during prehistoric days as regions of the country. The strategic points along these well as in the history and continue to date. First to note with routes as well as their destinations had become juxtaposition a great prominence was the prehistoric Indo Aryan cultures; bases of local and foreign cultures. of which climax was during the proto-historic period of the country. Beginning of the Sinhala Culture, and subsequent Purpose of this paper is to disclose of some of those introduction of Buddhism with Buddhist art and architecture hinterland cultural routes, and their role in spreading were the significant occurrences during the said period. international cultures into hinterland region of Sri Lanka. Subsequently, known international cultural routes enabled contamination with popular Dravidian Cultures in the region. Prehistoric Sea Routes and Indo-Aryan Both the aforesaid influences were predominantly from Influences on Sri Lanka ancient Indian Cultures. Transcontinental cultures began to penetrate into the Many legendaries about arrival of Aryans in Sri Lanka, island during proto-historic period itself, and reached its and diverse characteristics of artefacts unearthed from coasts climax during the period of consolidation of Sri Lankan of eastern and south-eastern Sri Lanka, clearly indicate that culture in Early Christian Period. Main source of facilitator the native Sri Lankan Culture being contaminated with was the Silk Road on the Sea, which enabled trade between various foreign cultural elements. Further, the legends and Far East and the west. Introduction of some cultural subsequent prehistoric findings attribute that their influences elements from those regions were inevitable. Some of the were not confined only to the Maritime Provinces, but to the artefacts discovered from ancient ports in the western coast hinterland regions as well. of Sri Lanka witnessed for possible Roman and Chinese trades. The first major legendary reference to Sri Lanka is found in the great Indian epic, the Ramayana (Sacred Lake of the A second wave of cultural contamination was visible Deeds of Rama), which was written around 500 B.C. It during early medieval period, utilising hinterland routes as refers to a conquest of Lanka in 3000 B.C. by Rama, to well as sea routes of India and Sri Lanka. Infiltration of liberate his abducted wife, Sita, from Ravanna, the demon Chola and Pallava cultures, along with Hindu Art and god of Lanka. It is believed that this poetic account is an Architecture was one of the most prominent outcomes of indicator of the early southward expansion of Brahmanic this process. Those routes directly and indirectly encouraged civilization. Many place names in Sri Lanka, very especially a new wave of visitors to Sri Lanka during the middle of the in and around Sri Lankan cities such as Galle, and Nuvara medieval period, which resulted in contamination of Sri Eliya have close resemblance and relationship with this Lankan culture with those of Arabian Muslims. Very legendary. Monuments and sites in their setting-Conserving cultural heritage in changing townscapes and landscapes Section IV: Cultural routes: the challenges of linear settings for monuments and sites Section IV: Gérer les routes culturelles dans leur diversité‐La conservation de sites linéaires diversifiés As per Historical and literary records such as the Sri Lanka's Historical and Cultural Heritage covers more Mahavamsa (5th century AC), the Samanthapasadika (5 than 2,000 years, and was known as Lanka, meaning the century AC) and the Maha Bodhivamsa (12th century AC), "resplendent land", as in the ancient Indian epic Ramayana. King Devanampiyatissa sent his nephew Arittha on the The island has numerous other references that testify to the important mission of bringing Theri Sangamitta to Sri Lanka island's natural beauty and wealth, and knowledge of many to establish the Bhikkuni Sasana and along with her the other nations about it. Islamic folklore maintains that Adam Maha Bodhi Sapling. and Eve were offered refuge on the island as solace for their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Asian poets called it the The dispatching of the Maha Bodhi to Sri Lanka had been "pearl upon the brow of India." These many references were associated with great celebrations. Emperor Asoka himself results of prehistoric knowledge of Sri Lanka among the had been present at the Port of Tamalitta when the ship others. carrying the Maha Bodhi Sapling left the shores of India. The Maha Bodhi was welcomed with great honour and Proto-Historic Sea and Overland Routes respect at the Port of Jambukolapattana, present Jaffna, in Sri Lanka. King Devanampiyatissa himself was present at the port to receive the Maha Bodhi. The road from The Mahavamsa (Great Genealogy or Dynasty), a Anuradhapura to the Port of Jambukolapattana had been chronicle compiled in Pali, the language of Theravada gaily decorated. Different classes of artisans who were Buddhism, in the sixth century, is the best historic reference required to perform various services for the Maha Bodhi revealing proto-historic cultural routes in Sri Lanka. also accompanied the Sapling. Buddhist monks composed the chronicle, adapting of an earlier and cruder fourth century epic, Dipavamsa (Island Danta and Hemamala, an Indian Prince and a Princess Genealogy or Dynasty). Mahavamsa relates the historical carrying the Tooth Relic of Buddha, were said to have event beginning with Aryan Prince Vijaya, the legendary embarked on a ship at the ancient port of Tamralipti, a busy colonizer of Sri Lanka and primogenitor of the Singhalese port at the time, located at the mouth of the river Ganges, migrant group. In the Mahavamsa, Vijaya is described as and reached the shores of Sri Lanka at the port of having arrived on the island on the day of the Buddha's Lankapattana (modern Ilankeiturei) in the Trincomallee death (parinibbana) or, more precisely, his nirvana or District. The Tooth Relic finally reached the Sri Lankan nibbana, his release from the cycle of life and pain. capital, Anuradhapura, and according to the Sinhala text, Dalada Sirita, the Relic was kept at the Megagiri vihara in As per Mahavamsa, Vijaya, the grandson of an Indian the park Mahameghavana. At the time of its arrival, the princess from Vanga in northern India arrived in Lanka Indian ruler Guhasiva's friend, king Mahasena had passed using ancient sea routes, and established himself as ruler th away and his son, king Kirti Sri Meghavanna (4 century with the help of Kuveni, a local demon-worshiping princess. AC), who himself was a pious Buddhist, had succeeded him. Although Kuveni had given birth to two of Vijaya's children, th The Chinese Monk Fa Hein in the 5 Century A.D. subsequently he married a princess from Madurai in describes how the Sacred Tooth Relic was publicly exposed south-eastern India. The legend of Vijaya provides a glimpse on sacred days with gorgeous ceremonies and carried in into early sea routes and founding of early settlement after procession through perfumed and decorated streets. penetrating into deep hinterland utilising river and overland routs. The first band of Sri Lankan colonists are believed to Chronicles and various other literary sources refer to have come from the coastal areas of northern India during founding of settlements in hinterland region, which 6th C. BC, and appears to be the climax of migrations subsequently acquired historic importance, and include utilising ancient sea routes. The chronicles support evidence ancient cities such as Anuradhapura, Magama, and few that the royal progeny of Vijaya often sought wives from the others. There are several references in Mahavamsa itself, to Pandyan and other South Indian kingdoms, and of constant settlements on banks of Malwathuoya, Kalaoya and migration of artisan and mercantile to Sri Lanka. Maghaweli Ganga rivers. It appears that the early migrants who crossed to Sri Lanka had used sea and overland routes, Sri Lankan chronicles refer to many Royal Missions and most of the interior routes were either riverbanks or between India and Sri Lanka during proto-historic period, rivers themselves. and include the introduction of Buddhism, transferring of the Branch of Sri Maha Bodhi Tree sapling from India; and the Magam Nuwera on Sudhodana Sakya Kumara the brother bringing of Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha to the island. of queen Bhaddhakaccana mentioned in the Rajawaliya at Kumana in circa 400 to 260 B.C. was one of them outside Monuments and sites in their setting-Conserving cultural heritage in changing townscapes and landscapes Section IV: Cultural routes: the challenges of linear settings for monuments and sites Section IV: Gérer les routes culturelles dans leur diversité‐La conservation de sites linéaires diversifiés the Rajarata region.