Entwicklungen in der Darstellung Buddhistischer Erzählstoffe in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Abstract With this article I would like to draw attention to Buddhist murals in the southwest of Sri Lanka where a spirited artistic scene has developed during the revival of Buddhism (18th century). The artists produced mainly murals which depict the Life of Gautama Buddha (Buddhacarita) and his previous lifes (Jātaka). The construction of these paintings changed dramatically at the end of the 19th century, when the traditional continuing and two-dimensional style was displaced by a central perspective and single framed mode of painting. As an example I introduce an episode from the Ummagga-Jātaka, which is illustrated with all details in four monasteries and thereby covering the various painting styles. To show how closely the artists followed the written sources I provide the corresponding Sinhalese text by contrast with the Pali wording. During that period the knowledge of Sinhala among the members of the Sinhalese elites was at a loss and urban artists had to consult English renderings of Buddhist sources for the proper illustration of particular narratives. Regarding our episode from the Ummagga-Jātaka an essential error has crept into Chalmers English translation which is finally reflected in all murals of the 20th century.