A History of the Cultural Relations Between Sri Lanka and China: An Aspect of the Silk Route

The book is arranged into eighteen chapters with additional glossaries, indices, and documentary appendices. It opens with a general introduction to the historical relations between Sri Lanka and China, followed by a discussion of the main sources used for the study, including Greek, Latin, Sanskrit, Sinhala, Pāli, and Chinese texts. The early chapters examine historical geography and the introduction of Buddhism to China, then move to the travels of monks and pilgrims, navigation routes, and political relations between the two countries. The central chapters focus on Buddhist and cultural exchanges, especially the Tooth Relic, religious connection, medicine and materia medica, flora and fauna, place names, personal names, the dragon motif, and the Chinese emperor. The later chapters discuss archaeological evidence, visitors, settlers, and concluding observations on the broader cultural relationship. The work demonstrates that Sri Lanka-China relations developed through a multi-layered network of Buddhism, maritime trade, diplomacy, scholarship, language, and material culture.