ත්‍රිපිටකය ග්‍රන්ථාරූඪ කිරීම හා අනුරාධපුර යුගයේ ග්‍රන්ථකරණය පිළිබඳ ඓතිහාසික අධ්‍යයනයක් - A Historical Study on the Transcription of the Tripitaka and Manuscript Writing during the Anuradhapura Period

This historical study focuses on the “transcribing the Tripitaka” and the subsequent development of “manuscript writing” during the Anuradhapura period in Sri Lanka. Prior to its documentation, the Tripitaka was maintained through an oral tradition, passed down by Bhāṇaka monks. However, crises such as the ‘Baminithiya famine’ and foreign invasions posed serious threats to the continuation of this oral transmission. As a result, there emerged a pressing need to preserve the Dhamma in written form. The transition from oral to written tradition marked a significant turning point in the history of Buddhist literature in Sri Lanka. This study investigates how manuscript writing developed during the Anuradhapura period, a topic that has received limited scholarly attention. Therefore, the research aims to fill this gap by critically analyzing the methods of manuscript production in that era. Both primary and secondary sources were used in this study, applying historical analysis methods. The findings confirm that the process of writing began based on the existing oral tradition, and that transcribing the Tripitaka helped establish a more stable foundation for Buddhist literature in Sri Lanka. In conclusion, the transcription of the Tripitaka led to a significant shift in Sri Lanka’s literary history, providing a strong base for the growth of written literature. Today’s publishing systems, including the methods of writing, copying, and distributing texts, began with past practices.