Title

Buddha

Also known as: ブッダ, La Vie de Bouddha, Buda

by Osamu Tezuka

Score from AniList: 82/100finished14 volumes69 chapters

Adventure Comedy Drama Psychological Supernatural More like Buddha

Buy or read official Read with StoryHoard Community Sign in to vote for this week's Top 10

Osamu Tezuka’s vaunted storytelling genius, consummate skill at visual expression, and warm humanity blossom fully in his epic volumes on Siddhartha’s life and times. Tezuka evidences his profound grasp of the subject by contextualizing the Buddha’s ideas; the emphasis is on movement, action, emotion, and conflict as the prince Siddhartha runs away from home, travels across India, and questions Hindu practices such as ascetic self-mutilation and caste oppression. Rather than recommend resignation and impassivity, Tezuka’s Buddha predicates enlightenment upon recognizing the interconnectedness of life, having compassion for the suffering, and ordering one’s life sensibly. Philosophical segments are threaded into interpersonal situations with ground-breaking visual dynamism by an artist who makes sure never to lose his readers’ attention. (Source: Kodansha USA) Note: Won the Bungei Shunju Manga Award in 1975 and the Best U.S. Edition of International Material for the Eisner Award in 2004 and 2005.

Chapters available: 69
Type: Manga

Hoard Verdict

The StoryHoard editorial verdict

★ 4.5/5

Tezuka's sweeping, humane epic of Siddhartha's journey from prince to enlightened teacher, a serious and moving reading of faith, suffering and caste.

Pros

Profound, humane storytelling
Vivid historical and philosophical detail
A complete 14-volume epic

Cons

A dense, long read
The older art style may feel dated to some

Read this if you liked:Vinland Saga Black Jack

Read the full take

Buddha, Osamu Tezuka's sweeping epic, follows Siddhartha's life and times. The story emphasises movement, action, emotion and conflict as the prince runs away from home and travels across India. Along the way he questions Hindu practices such as ascetic self-mutilation and caste oppression. The premise is a serious, humane reading of one of history's most influential figures, and Tezuka's grasp of the subject shines from the first volumes.The series is most moving when it shows the Buddha's ideas taking shape through conflict and compassion. The characters are drawn with warmth, and the political and religious context gives every choice weight. Tezuka's storytelling manages to be both intellectual and emotionally direct.The weaknesses are its length and density, which demand patience, and an older visual style that may feel dated to some readers. Readers who enjoy thoughtful, historically rooted epics will find an essential read. Those wanting brisk plotting may find it demanding, though its humanity is compelling.