By ANANDA K. COOMARASWAMY, D.Sc.,
author of “Mediæval Sinhalese Art.”

With a forword by C. R. Asbee, M.A.

Contents

    PAGES  
 

FOREWORD

v.—xv.

     

I.

THE VILLAGE CRAFTSMAN 

The Village Community—“Five Trades”—Basis of Society—Payment of Craftsmen.

1

II.

THE CRAFT GUILDS OF THE GREAT CITIES

Trade Guilds—Guilds in Ahmadabad—Guilds in the Epics—Guild Responsibility—Guilds in Buddhist India.

7

III.

THE FEUDAL CRAFTSMAN IN INDIA AND CEYLON

Kings’ Craftsmen—King Craftsmen—A City Rebuilt—Feudal Craftsmen in Ceylon—Royal Builders in Ceylon—Temple Craftsmen in Ceylon—In Southern India—Manorial Craftsmen—Villages of Craftsmen—Social Status—The Kammalar.

20

IV.

STANDARD AND REGULATION

A Smith’s Jurisdiction—The Maintenance of Standard—The Degradation of Standard—Free Trade and Protection.

57

V.

RELIGIOUS IDEAS IN CRAFTSMANSHIP

Noblesse oblige—Sva-dharma—Karma—Good and Evil Craftsmen—Visvakarma—Rhythmic Architecture—A Craft Ritual in Ceylon—Religious Endowments—Then and Now—Civilization.

66

VI.

EDUCATION

The Hereditary Craftsman—The Apprentice—Simplicity of Tools—Leisure Art and Commerce—The Essentials.

83

     
 

Appendices

 
     

I.

Sir George Birdwood on the Indian Village Potter.

 

II.

Sir George Birdwood on Machinery and Handicraft in India.

 

III.

Wiliam Morris on Commercial War.

 

IV.

E. B. Havell on Craftsmen and Culture.

 

V.

E. B. Havell on the Official Suppression of Indian Craftsmanship at the Present Day.

 

VI.

Lafcadio Hearn on Craft Gods in Japan.

 

VII.

Lafcadio Hearn on Craft Guilds in Japan.

 

VIII.

Ser Marco Polo on Craft Guilds in China.

 

IX.

Bhikku P. C. Jinavaravamsa on Craftsmen in Siam.

 

X.

Municipal Institutions in Ancient India.

 

XI.

Books recommended to the Reader.

 

“The hand of a craftsman engaged in 
his craft is always pure.”—Manu.

“Those that are craftsmen of the people are 
welcome over all the wide earth.”—Odyssey.

“All these trust to their hands: 
And everyone is wise in his work. 
Without these cannot a city be inhabited.”—Ecclesiasticus.

PROBSTHAIN & CO.,
41, Great Russell St., London, W.C.

1909