The Concretization of Sinhalese into the Ethnic Identity by Buddhist Pilgrimages: A Historical Investigation
Abstract
The Buddhist pilgrimages are a major factor that had an impact on the formation of the Sinhalese culture and the concretization of the people. By looking at it from a socio-anthropology point of view, certain stories relating to the lives of the early inhabitants have proved that it is a historical truth, that concretization of the Ceylonese occurred was through pilgrimages. The stories of pilgrimages that occur in the Buddhist literature are related to the sacred historical places and items that they visited. With reference to these facts the study observes how the pilgrimages demonstrated the social norms thus developing a Sinhalese ethnic identity.
Sri Lanka Journal of Advanced Social Studies Vol. 1 - No. 2 - Page 69-84
© 2012 RGD Jayawardena, published by National Centre for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (NCAS)
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