Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c7.11

c7.11

Authorities differ somewhat as to the order of precedence of the remaining classes. They are given in the following order by the *Janavaṃsa*, a most interesting Sinhalese poem of the fifteenth century, often regarded as an authoritative work, especially by the artificers, but according to others it has been adapted in their interests. The *Janavaṃsa*, by one Simha of Kessellena, purports to be founded on a Pali original.* It gives interesting but mainly fanciful accounts of the origin of the different castes and endeavours to show that all men are really of one race though occupied in different ways; stress being laid upon the well-known saying of Buddha, "Not by birth does one become a Vasala (outcaste), not by birth does he become a Brahman. By deed does one become a Vasala, by deed does he become a Brahman." In spite of the recognition of such teaching as truly Buddhist, the strength of caste feeling is but little less than in India; nor is it otherwise even amongst the converts to Christianity.