Buddha, The Forest of Uruvela: Buddha, Vol. 5: Deer Park [Paperback]

Osamu Tezuka (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 16, 2007

In the fifth installment of manga-godfather Osamu Tezuka's Buddha, engagement with death imparts the lesson of life's sancity. In a Machiavellian rise to power, Devadatta, a rogue aristrocrat, incites war between two kingdoms that will leave thousands dead. King Bimisara of Magadha, fearing death his son's own hand, withdraws fatherly love. The true measure of the Buddha's divinity will turn out to be a test of diplomacy - the power of words.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Japanese comics pioneer Tezuka's monumental account of the life of the Buddha continues. Little is known about the life of the sixth-century-B.C.E. spiritual leader, so Tezuka devotes much of the narrative to characters he created as well as figures from early Buddhist lore, through them portraying the violent society and cruel caste system that the Buddha challenged. Deer Park opens with a meeting between the fictional swordsman Tatta and the historical Devadatta, both of whose lives would be transformed by the Buddha. Tatta pledges his life to the Buddha after the voice of his bandit lover, Migaila, is miraculously restored; but Devadatta goes on to become the Buddha's greatest enemy. Deer Park also includes a key event in the Buddha's story: the delivery of his first sermon in a field in which deer and other wild beasts gather. Those expecting a solemn treatment of Buddhist foundations may be taken aback by Tezuka's approach, which encompasses humor and, indeed, broad slapstick and lowbrow, anachronistic jokes that frequently break the fourth wall, as when Tatta removes his helmet in battle, saying, "Tezuka says it's hard to draw anyway." Others may object to the frequent violence or the casual nudity. Those who approach the work open-mindedly can't but be impressed by Tezuka's compassionate humanism--a quality distinguishing his work throughout his long career--and masterful storytelling. Gordon Flagg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Infused with humor and history, the epic of Siddhartha is perhaps Osamu Tezuka's crowning acheivement and illustrates why, without irony, Tezuka is referred to as 'The King of Japanese Comics'." - LA Weekly"Buddha is one of Tezuka's true masterpieces. We're lucky to have this excellent new edition in English." - Scott McCloud, author of Understanding Comics"In handsome volumes designed by Chip Kidd, the Vertical books present Tezuka at his best." - National Post

"Buddha is an engrossing tale. The armchair philosopher, the devout Buddhist, the casual manga fan - this book satisfies all with its tale of humanism through sequential art, and definitely earns its place on a bibliophile's bookshelf." -Anime Insider"This is one of the greatest acheivements of the comics medium, a masterpiece by one of the greats." -Artbomb.net"In Tezuka's world, the exquisite collapses into the goofy in a New York minute, the goofy into the melodramatic, the melodramatic into the brutal, and the brutal into the sincerely touching. The suprising result is a work wholly unique and downright fun." -Time Out NY"Tezuka's Buddha is a striking and memorable confluence of ancient wisdom and contemporary popular art." -Yoga Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Vertical (January 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932234608
• ISBN-13: 978-1932234602
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.9 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #160,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Osamu Tezuka (1928-89) is the godfather of Japanese manga comics. He originally intended to become a doctor and earned his degree before turning to what was then a medium for children. His many early masterpieces include the series known in the U.S. as Astro Boy. With his sweeping vision, deftly interwined plots, feel for the workings of power, and indefatigable commitment to human dignity, Tezuka elevated manga to an art form. The later Tezuka, who authored Buddha, often had in mind the mature readership that manga gained in the sixties and that had only grown ever since. The Kurosawa of Japanese pop culture, Osamu Tezuka is a twentieth century classic.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best so far, February 26, 2005

By 

C. Birks (Crystal Lake, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Buddha, Vol. 5: Deer Park (Hardcover)

I thought this volume starts to bring focus to the characters more. I'm starting to see how things are working out, as opposed to just being introduced to characters and situations.

To be honest though, I have found myself a little hesitent over the potrayal of The Buddha. I know that it is my own idea of what he must have been like. Once I open to it, the idea of a more human Buddha than I imagine, is refreshing.

This series continues to hold my interest over the past few years as it has been released and I'm a little sad that there will have to be an end to it someday. Oh well, that's impermanence for ya.

3.0 out of 5 stars still awesome but..., January 12, 2012

By 

the end (usa) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Buddha, The Forest of Uruvela: Buddha, Vol. 5: Deer Park (Paperback)

side stories go on waaaaaay to long and in that time you see nor hear nothing of the buddha at all. then the other problem is, while i'm fine with adding things to the story and changing events, i'm annoyed at the author changing what an enlightened person is; he specifically says that enlightenment is the end of suffering, then after the buddha reaches enlightenment he directly tells a person that he is suffering! it makes no sense. kind of takes away from the great journey taken to get to his enlightenment in the first place! then when he tells the eight fold path, instead of "right mindfulness" he says "right prayer"! come on!!! really???

in fact it seems the author knows nothing of what buddhism is about other than some vague ideas about where the buddha lived and some key points in his life story. at one point he has the buddha say that he was given his enlightenment by brahman and that brahman is god. for those who don't know, brahman is a hindu god. the buddha in real life transcended religion entirely and said specifically that brahma (which would include "brahman") is mortal, and so are all the other hindu gods. he said that his enlightenment was "the deathless" and transcended everything, including god(s) and it certainly was something he found on his own, no help from god(s)! the author basically turned the buddha and his enlightenment into a hindu story as the type of enlightenment that unites one with god, and is given to one by god, is completely hindu by definition and is called "moksha". the key difference between hinduism and buddhism is that buddhist enlightenment is the ultimate and does not come from god(s) nor does it lead to them and hinduism is completely focused on god(s) and that is the definition of their version of enlightenment. why not just make a graphic novel about krishna if you want to write about hindu religious ideals instead of buddhist? krishna is a great character so that would be a more logical choice than butchering a character you know nothing about. i'm highly disappointed.

other than that it's great, still deserves three stars. he tells wonderful teaching stories to people that are well illustrated (although not at all buddhist teachings) and has a following of deers at one point which is both funny and endearing. watching him surrounded by adorable deers intently listening to him teaching the dharma is really cute. it's not all cute though, tatta and yatala are set to battle to the death, among other things...

5.0 out of 5 stars "Buddha" Series Hits Its Stride In Vol. 5, January 1, 2010

By 

Paige Turner "Paige" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buddha, The Forest of Uruvela: Buddha, Vol. 5: Deer Park (Paperback)

This volume of legendary Japanese cartoonist Osama Tezuka is a masterpiece, reaching peak drama; the parallel stories all converge fully in a dramatic encounter. His detailed black and white drawings are moving, vivid and cinematic. He narrates with great wisdom, depth and comedy.

This volume is the most exciting and fast-paced of them all so far. As Tezuka builds toward the climax of the story with his lesser story threads, he subtly explores Buddhist precepts. He tugs at our emotions; surely the cycle of violence can be stopped - or can it?

What is remarkable is he is able to do this while entertaining; as readers, we become spellbound by his picture-perfect drawings. Even if you are not a fan of Japanese manga or Buddhism try this one; Tezuka may win you over.