eLanka

Friday, 24 Oct 2025
  • Home
  • Read History
  • Articles
    • eLanka Journalists
  • Events
  • Useful links
    • Obituaries
    • Seeking to Contact
    • eLanka Newsletters
    • Weekly Events and Advertisements
    • eLanka Testimonials
    • Sri Lanka Newspapers
    • Sri Lanka TV LIVE
    • Sri Lanka Radio
    • eLanka Recepies
  • Gallery
  • Contact
Newsletter
  • eLanka Weddings
  • Property
  • eLanka Shop
  • Business Directory
eLankaeLanka
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Read History
  • Articles
    • eLanka Journalists
  • Events
  • Useful links
    • Obituaries
    • Seeking to Contact
    • eLanka Newsletters
    • Weekly Events and Advertisements
    • eLanka Testimonials
    • Sri Lanka Newspapers
    • Sri Lanka TV LIVE
    • Sri Lanka Radio
    • eLanka Recepies
  • Gallery
  • Contact
Follow US
© 2005 – 2025 eLanka Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Home » Blog » Bernard VanCuylenburg » SRI LANKA – THE CHINESE CONNECTION – By Bernard VanCuylenburg
ArticlesBernard VanCuylenburg

SRI LANKA – THE CHINESE CONNECTION – By Bernard VanCuylenburg

eLanka admin
Last updated: July 9, 2018 4:33 am
By
eLanka admin
ByeLanka admin
Follow:
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

SRI LANKA – THE CHINESE CONNECTION – By Bernard VanCuylenburg

 

Sri Lanka’s cultural ties with China go back about 2000 years, and it is a matter of regret that the compilers of the Mahavamsa and the Culavamsa  – except for some passing references – mention very little about ancient Ceylon’s relations with China.  Historians have had to rely on Chinese records to obtain information regarding trade delegations, and cultural and diplomatic visits between both countries. Some of these Chinese visitors lived in the island , and kept records of their sojourn and the political conditions prevailing at the time. Perhaps the most famous Chinese visitor to Ceylon was Fa-Hsien who came to Ceylon in the year 411 AD. during the reign of King Mahanama. He spent two years in the island and in his writings gives us a marvellous account of the city of Anuradhapura in which he refers to the mansions of the merchants, and also of the colonies of Greek and Persian traders in the city. The flourishing Buddhist civilisation merits special mention. It is not possible to elaborate on details of these visits in a short article. But a few examples would suffice to highlight the excellent relations between the Chinese empire and ancient Ceylon.
In the year 428 AD. King Mahanama despatched an embassy with gifts to the emperor in China. Recording this visit at the time, the Chinese chroniclers refer to King Mahanama as “Mohonan”. Another Chinese record states that King Kitsiri Mevan, (also known as Sirimegavanna) son of the famous King Mahasena sent an embassy to the Indian emperor Samudragupta, requesting permission to build a monastery at Bodhi Gaya for pilgrims. For this fact to be recorded by the Chinese, is evidence of the interest which they had in the islands affairs of state. Another Chinese source refers to the ambassador sent by King Kumaradhatusena to the Chinese emperor in the year 515 AD. Incidentally, King Kumaradhatusena was the son of King Moggalana better known for the part he played in the Sigiriya story. He is therefore the grandson of the famous King Dhatusena. In the year 718 AD King Mahanavamma  received Chinese pilgrims in his court with great honour. The great Mongol emperor Kublai Khan who ruled China from 1259 to 1294 AD despatched a mission to Ceylon to obtain the sacred Tooth Relic. This mission failed in its task, and returned to China. Fortunately for Ceylon, the emperor did not take this failure personally. We were lucky a second time when in the year  1405  the famous Chinese admiral  Zheng He again visited the island determined to take the tooth relic back to China. He too failed in his mission and was rather peeved at the treatment he received at the court of King Vira Alakesvara the monarch at the time.  
Returning to China, Zheng He bided his time and returned to the island again with a vengeance in 1409 when our luck ran out. In a supreme display of might and imperial power he seized the King, his queen and some nobles of the court  and took them prisoner to China.  King Alakesvara was eventually released and returned to the island humiliated and broken in spirit.  Worse, he never recovered his throne. King Parakramabahu V1 ruled the island during his captivity. The rest of the prisoners were released in the year 1414 and returned to the island with a demand from the Chinese emperor , which I call the height of arrogance in the extreme. They returned with a nominee of the Chinese emperor to the throne of Ceylon !  Fortunately King ParakramabahuV1 speedily eliminated the emperor’s protege and began his long reign of 55 years in a stable political environment.
Historians have divided opinions on the Chinese account of an ambassador sent to China by King Kasyappa of Sigiriya. King Kasyappa  following his father’s foreign policy  intended to strengthen ties and trade with China, and sent this diplomatic mission to China while he ruled at Sigiriya.  But the ambassador and his entourage reached China only after the untimely death of King Kasyappa. The Culavamsa does not mention any record of such a mission, but the scribes in the imperial court in China recorded this visit, and King Kassyapa is referred to as “Kia – Che” It is interesting to note that King  Devanampiya Tissa who ruled the island from 247 – 207 BC is a contemporary of the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huangdi who initiated work on the Great Wall of China .
Sri Lanka’s relations with ancient China are as fascinating as her links with the classical world  –   ancient Greece and Rome.  

 

 

More Read

Dennis Andre Rutnam , Lupe Rutnam, Happy Diwali 2025
Good News From Jayam – By Jayam Rutnam
The Colombo Academy of Hospitality Management (CAHM) celebrates Australian qualification achievements at its 13th Graduation Ceremony
LCC MEDIA RELEASE – Liverpool Young Achiever wins state award

 

Bernard VanCuylenburg

 

 

 

 

 

TAGGED:King KasyappaKing Kitsiri MevanMahavamsa and the CulavamsaSRI LANKA - THE CHINESE CONNECTION - By Bernard VanCuylenburg
Share This Article
Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article eLanka eLanka Newsletter: July 2018 2nd edition: Sri Lankans in Australia – News, Photos, Events & Articles
Next Article Health & Views July 2018 2nd issue – By Dr Harold Gunatillake
FacebookLike
YoutubeSubscribe
LinkedInFollow
Most Read
10 Pictures With Fascinating Stories Behind Them!

“A PICTURE SPEAKS A 1000 WORDS” – By Des Kelly

Look past your thoughts so you may drink the pure nectar of this moment

A Life Hack for when we’re Burnt Out & Broken Down – By Uma Panch

Narration of the History of our Proud Ancestral (Orang Jawa) Heritage. by Noor R. Rahim

eLanka Weddings

eLanka Marriage Proposals

Noel News

Noel News

Noel News

Noel News- By Noel Whittaker

EILEEN MARY SIBELLE DE SILVA (nee DISSANAYAKE) – 29 September 1922 – 6 April 2018 – A Woman of Value an Appreciation written by Mohini Gunasekera

K.K.S. Cement Factory

Dr.Harold Gunatillake’s 90th Birthday party

Sri Lanka's women's cricket squad in Melbourne

Cricket: Sri Lanka’s women’s squad in Melbourne

- Advertisement -
Ad image
Related News
Most of the prisons we live in are invisible - By Vincentius Liong/Leong
Articles

Most of the prisons we live in are invisible – By Vincentius Liong/Leong

Anselm Perera , , Anselm Perera milestone celebration, 50 years in Oman tribute, Anselm Perera 2025 anniversary, RecoCard for Anselm Perera, Anselm Perera Oman journey, celebrating Anselm Perera, 50 years of dedication in Oman, Anselm Perera achievements,
Articles

Anselm Perera Completes Fifty Years in Oman on October 25 2025

KINDER CHRISTIANITY - By Lakshman Navaratne
Articles Lakshman Navaratne

KINDER CHRISTIANITY – By Lakshman Navaratne

Articles Trevine Rodrigo

Brilliant Chamari leads from the front in stunning Sri Lanka comeback win over Bangladesh.  Domino effect leaves Bangladeshis red faced.- BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports Editor).

Sri Lanka Sevens rugby soars to number three in Asia.  Hong Kong China and Japan go one-two in Asia after thrilling tournament in Colombo.  - BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports Editor).
Articles Trevine Rodrigo

Sri Lanka Sevens rugby soars to number three in Asia.  Hong Kong China and Japan go one-two in Asia after thrilling tournament in Colombo.  – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.  (eLanka Sports Editor).

  • Quick Links:
  • Articles
  • DESMOND KELLY
  • Dr Harold Gunatillake
  • English Videos
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sinhala Videos
  • eLanka Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Tamil Videos
  • Dr. Harold Gunatillake
  • Sunil Thenabadu
  • Sinhala Movies
  • Trevine Rodrigo
  • Michael Roberts
  • Tamil Movies

eLanka

Your Trusted Source for News & Community Stories: Stay connected with reliable updates, inspiring features, and breaking news. From politics and technology to culture, lifestyle, and events, eLanka brings you stories that matter — keeping you informed, engaged, and connected 24/7.
Kerrie road, Oatlands , NSW 2117 , Australia.
Email : info@eLanka.com.au / rasangivjes@gmail.com.
WhatsApp : +61402905275 / +94775882546

(c) 2005 – 2025 eLanka Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.