1: Tsih-ke, quoted in the Chinese Mirror of Sciences, b. xxxiii. p. 1.
2: Po-wŭh yaou-lan, b. xxxiii. p. 2.
3: Ibid.
4: Suy-shoo, "History of the Suy Dynasty," A.D. 633, b. lxxxi. p. 3.
Of the religion of the people, the earliest account recorded by the Chinese is that of FĂ HIAN, in the fourth century[1], when Buddhism was signally in the ascendant. But in the century which followed, travellers returning from Ceylon brought back accounts of the growing power of the Tamils, and of the consequent eclipse of the national worship. The Yung-tëen and the Tae-ping describe at that early period the prevalence of Brahmanical customs, but coupled with "greater reverence for the Buddhistical faith."[2] In process of time, however, they are forced to admit the gradual decline of the latter, and the attachment of the Singhalese kings to the Hindu ritual, exhibiting an equal reverence to the ox and to the images of Buddha.[3]
1: Foĕ-Kouĕ Ki, ch. xxxviii.
2: Tae-ping, b. dccxciii, p. 9.
3: Woo-hëŏ-pëen, "Records of the Ming Dynasty," b. lxviii. p. 4; Tung-nëĕ, b. cxcvi. pp. 79, 80.
The Chinese trace to Ceylon the first foundation of monasteries, and of dwelling-houses for the priests, and in this they are corroborated by the Mahawanso.[1] From these pious communities, the Emperors of China were accustomed from time to time to solicit transcripts of theological works[2], and their envoys, returning from such missions, appear to have brought glowing accounts of the Singhalese temples, the costly shrines for relics, and the fervid devotion of the people to the national worship.[3]
1: Mahawanso, ch. xv. p. 99; ch. xx. p. 123. In the Itinerary of KÉ-NËĔ's Travels in the Western Kingdoms in the tenth Century he mentions having seen a monastery of Singhalese on the continent of India.—KÉ-NËĔ, Se-yĭh hing-ching, A.D. 964—976.