Sinhalese Monastic Architecture

DETAILS : 

• Author : Senake Bandaranayake
  
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Orient BlackSwan
  
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ 1 January 2009
  
• Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
  
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
  
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 440 pages
  
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 812503675X
  
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 9788125036753
  
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1200 g

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sinhalese Monastic Architecture by Senake Bandaranayake is considered the definitive scholarly work on the development of Buddhist monastic structures in ancient Sri Lanka. Focusing primarily on the Anuradhapura period (3rd century BC to 10th century AD), Bandaranayake provides a rigorous archaeological and architectural analysis of how the monastic communities (Sangha) shaped the landscape of the island.

The book moves beyond simple descriptions of ruins, offering a systematic classification of building types, spatial layouts, and the functional evolution of monasteries from simple caves to complex, multi-layered urban institutions.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Senake Bandaranayake (1938–2015) was one of Sri Lanka’s most distinguished archaeologists and academics. He served as the Director General of the Central Cultural Fund and played a pivotal role in the UNESCO-Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Project. His work is celebrated for its multidisciplinary approach, blending art history, archaeology, and sociology to explain why ancient Sri Lankan architecture developed its unique identity, distinct from its Indian counterparts.