Kraepelin in Ceylon

Abstract

It is a little-known fact that Emil Kraepelin visited Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in 1904. He travelled around the country from 10 January 1904 to 7 February 1904, visiting various places. Kraepelin’s letters to his wife, while providing an itinerary of his travels and activities, give a glimpse of his thinking about the people of Ceylon. Although this trip did not influence his scientific thinking, it clearly offered the psychiatrist opportunities to satisfy his wanderlust and to get better acquainted with Buddhism.

Keywords

• emil kraepelin, ceylon, java, buddhism