Sinhalese literature
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Sinhalese literature, primarily written in the Sinhalese language, has a history dating back to inscriptions from around 200 BCE. While influenced by Pāli and Sanskrit, it developed independently due to its isolation from mainland Indian languages.1
The earliest surviving texts, emerging around the 10th century CE, served as aids to Buddhist studies, such as glossaries and paraphrases of Pāli texts. Sinhalese literature also includes renderings of the Buddha's life and virtues, and notably, a strong tradition of historical chronicles like the Mahāvaṃsa.2
Poetry, often inspired by Buddhist Jātakas and Hindu stories, was also a significant genre. Later developments included saṃdeśa literature (message poems), panegyrics, war poems, and didactic verse. Modern secular literature began to emerge in the 20th century.21
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