Pokes and jabs at Buddha himself are rare (though present), but there are a constant stream of silly asides, even in the midst of what would otherwise be a sober scene, fraught with drama. And yet, the books is filled with jokes and antics and all kinds of nuttiness. He clearly thinks highly of Buddha and his teachings. And a similar version of the life of Mohammed would end in bombs, death threats, and ambassadors demanding apologies.īecause the thing is: Tezuka's tale is as irreverent as it is reverrent. But one thing is for certain, I cannot see a similar book being crafted about the life of Christ and being well-received. Not being a Buddhist, I have no idea how well Tezuka's tale reflects either the historical man or the religious conception of him (though genuine Buddhist's seem to like the book - and I don't know if Tezuka was Buddhist or not, though it seems likely or plausible). Tezuka includes a robust cast of characters both fictional and historical that waxes and wanes over the near-century that the story narrates.
This project, ten years in production (1974-1984), presents the life of Siddartha Gautama, the Buddha, from birth to death, capitalizing on famous episodes and creating fictional ones as well. In Buddha, Tezuka presents a curious blend of themes and styles. It's true that one could possibly read the entire collection - and a handsome collection it is - in a day (at perhaps two hours per volume), but I didn't feel compelled to rush things. 7 and 8) for my birthday at the end of July and began reading from start to finish in mid-August. I received the last two hardcover volumes of the collection (vol. Hermann Hesse's novel or Bertolucci's film is comparable in this regard in fact, Tezuka's approach is slightly irreverent in that it incorporates something that Western commentators often eschew, namely, humor.Īt 3013 pages, Osamu Tezuka's Buddha was something of an investment in time. Tezuka himself was a humanist rather than a Buddhist, and his magnum opus is not an attempt at propaganda. Philosophical segments are threaded into interpersonal situations with ground-breaking visual dynamism by an artist who makes sure never to lose his readers' attention. 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.
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. Osamu Tezuka's vaunted storytelling genius, consummate skill at visual expression, and warm humanity blossom fully in his eight-volume epic of Siddhartha's life and times.
0 kommentar(er)
