Buddhism and Ethnic Conflict in Sri Lanka (SUNY Series in Religious Studies)

摘要

Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, which has always had religious undertones, has deep historical roots. According to legendary accounts the island was conquered in the fifth century bce by a North Indian Aryan clan of Sinhalas ('lion people') speaking a Sanskrit-based language. To begin with, they had friendly relations with South Indian Dravidian kingdoms enhanced by intermarriage of their aristocracies. The situation changed somewhat when the Sinhalese king Devanampiya Tissa (247-207 bce) adopted Buddhism as the state religion following a mission sent by the Emperor Asoka (p. Asoka). Early in the second century bce Tamil invasions started which resulted in the establishment of Hindu rule under King Elara for 45 years. A descendant of the Sinhalese dynasty from the southern part of the island eventually reconquered it and as King Dutthagamani Abhaya (c. 161-137 bce) strengthened the links between the throne and Buddhism.