King Kithsirimewan and Cultural Power Projection Across Borders in Ancient Sri Lanka

King Kithsirimewan of Sri Lanka's 4th-century cultural power projection, centered on the Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya, India, was not merely a religious endeavor but a strategic diplomatic move to strengthen ties with the Court of Samudragupta. This insight emerges from an analysis of travel records by Chinese travelers Hiuen-tsang and Wang Hiuen-ts'e, revealing how the construction of a Sri Lankan monastery near the Mahabodhi Temple institutionalized pilgrim practices and shaped international relations for centuries. The study underscores the interplay between religious symbolism and political diplomacy in ancient transborder dynamics.

Perera, S. (2025). King Kithsirimewan and Cultural Power Projection Across Borders in Ancient Sri Lanka. Ancient Lanka, 4. https://doi.org/10.29173/anlk901