---
product_id: 3554528
title: "Buddha, Vol. 1: Kapilavastu"
price: "RM115"
currency: MYR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.com.my/products/3554528-buddha-vol-1-kapilavastu
store_origin: MY
region: Malaysia
---

# Global philosophical impact 8-volume manga series Black & white cinematic art Buddha, Vol. 1: Kapilavastu

**Price:** RM115
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 📖 Unlock timeless wisdom with a manga legend — don’t miss the Buddha phenomenon!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Buddha, Vol. 1: Kapilavastu
- **How much does it cost?** RM115 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.my](https://www.desertcart.com.my/products/3554528-buddha-vol-1-kapilavastu)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Epic Manga Saga:** Dive into Osamu Tezuka’s 8-volume masterpiece blending philosophy and storytelling.
- • **Striking Visuals:** Experience cinematic black & white illustrations reminiscent of ancient Japanese engravings.
- • **Collector’s Gem:** Own a used copy in good condition with free shipping—perfect for your curated bookshelf.
- • **Cult Classic Status:** Join thousands of readers who rated this series 4.6/5 and made it a top philosopher biography.
- • **Humanistic Enlightenment:** Follow Buddha’s journey as a relatable, compassionate figure overcoming worldly struggles.

## Overview

Buddha, Vol. 1: Kapilavastu is the first installment of Osamu Tezuka’s acclaimed 8-volume manga series that reimagines the life of Buddha with a postmodern, humanistic twist. Featuring stunning black and white artwork and a narrative rich in philosophical depth, this used book in good condition offers a transformative reading experience celebrated by over 360 reviewers and ranked among top philosopher biographies and comic strips.

## Description

Buddha, Vol. 1: Kapilavastu [Osamu Tezuka, Osamu Tezuka] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Buddha, Vol. 1: Kapilavastu

Review: Buddha: postmodern in style, humanistic in message - I posted the following review in the Buddha Vol. 8 page, but place it here again as I hope to encourage potential readers to discover this amazing collection. Reading Osamu Tezuka’s 8-volume Buddha, took me nearly two years to achieve, as I ordered the books in pairs from desertcart when my budget allowed. This is a manga tour de force, breathtaking in scope and sometimes perplexing in tone and style. It was at first hard for me to get the hang of Tezuka’s narrative style, as this is the first manga of his I read, although I was an Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion fan when a little kid (the shows were broadcast in Mexico dubbed to Spanish in the late 60s). His combination of anachronistic references, plethora of invented storylines, and American slang spoken by lower cast characters in this translation, initially put me off. But the story is captivating enough to keep one going. I say the style is postmodern because of the aforementioned anachronisms, mixture of high and popular culture motifs, intertextual references from Tezuka’s own work and that of others’ (from Kurosawa to Disney and Spielberg!). (The following migh be seen as a "spoiler" by some) There’s also a self-reflexive aspect when author himself pops (as he does in much of his extensive work); a particularly fascinating episode occurs in volume 7 when a monk goes into a skeptical fit, doubting everything to an almost Cartesian degree, and even confronting Tezuka telling him he doesn’t believe “a word of this stupid manga” and that the author himself doesn’t exist! The black and white ink drawings are splendid, often reminiscent of ancient Japanese engravings, other times extremely cinematic in movement, like film storyboards. I was able to appreciate the significance of this work better when, with the last order of volumes I also purchased Helen McCarthy’s amazing Osamu Tezuka: the God of Manga, which gave me an understanding of the suffering Tezuka went through during his relatively short but amazingly productive life (witnessing the horrors of war, his several ailments), also the dilemmas he faced (choosing between a career in medicine and a career as a manga artist, for example). This is probably why the title character of Buddha comes across not as a solemn proverb-quoting mystic, but as a human being who attains enlightenment through his compassion for even the most evil of people, and ability to see beyond the material, violent world. The combination of spiritual messages and childish humor can strike readers as odd, but I imagine even the Dalai Lama would enjoy this series (if he hasn’t already read it), as he’s also an enlightened person with a sense of humor. In terms of story, there are so many characters spread about a dozen locations that it was hard for me to keep track, and it was necessary to revisit past volumes to remember who’s who. Volume 7 seemed to be the most satisfying, as one can better appreciate Buddha’s true message, and the several story threads approach full circle. Some reviewers mention Volume 8 as feeling rushed, but I found it to be an excellent conclusion, moving me to tears near the end when the initial parable of the self-sacrificing rabbit is retold. Indeed, I found Buddha to have a profound spiritual message, with a powerful humanistic faith in people’s ability to overcome pettiness and destructive ambition. A note about the editorial aspect: I bought the paperback editions up to Vol. 6, and then ordered Vols. 7 & 8 in hardback. The books’ design by Chip Kidd is excellent, but it’s a pity the detail of Buddha’s face changing throughout the entire collection’s spine is not maintained in the paperbacks. I also found the hardcovers a bit hard to handle, what with the wobbly dust-jacket ribbon and the cover’s material, which is bound to be easily soiled. Given the huge amount of characters and places, it would have been great to have an index at the end. Vol. 7 arrived with an internal tear, and desertcart was gracious enough to send a replacement without requiring me to spend money in shipping back the defective book. I give Osamu Tezuka’s Buddha five stars because, in spite of not being a “perfect” series (is there such a thing?), reading it was a deeply inspiring and transformative experience for me. I’ll now start to read Phoenix, which I’m beginning to order in the Spanish “deluxe” edition through desertcart.es.
Review: Wonderful - The beginning of a masterpiece of the graphic arts, manga, philosophy, and humor. Recommended for all people of all faiths, or none.

## Features

- Used Book in Good Condition

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #156,853 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #51 in Philosopher Biographies #316 in Comic Strips (Books) #1,430 in Action & Adventure Manga (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 361 Reviews |

## Images

![Buddha, Vol. 1: Kapilavastu - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91b9Qy1A9iL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Buddha: postmodern in style, humanistic in message
*by A***O on January 31, 2015*

I posted the following review in the Buddha Vol. 8 page, but place it here again as I hope to encourage potential readers to discover this amazing collection. Reading Osamu Tezuka’s 8-volume Buddha, took me nearly two years to achieve, as I ordered the books in pairs from Amazon when my budget allowed. This is a manga tour de force, breathtaking in scope and sometimes perplexing in tone and style. It was at first hard for me to get the hang of Tezuka’s narrative style, as this is the first manga of his I read, although I was an Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion fan when a little kid (the shows were broadcast in Mexico dubbed to Spanish in the late 60s). His combination of anachronistic references, plethora of invented storylines, and American slang spoken by lower cast characters in this translation, initially put me off. But the story is captivating enough to keep one going. I say the style is postmodern because of the aforementioned anachronisms, mixture of high and popular culture motifs, intertextual references from Tezuka’s own work and that of others’ (from Kurosawa to Disney and Spielberg!). (The following migh be seen as a "spoiler" by some) There’s also a self-reflexive aspect when author himself pops (as he does in much of his extensive work); a particularly fascinating episode occurs in volume 7 when a monk goes into a skeptical fit, doubting everything to an almost Cartesian degree, and even confronting Tezuka telling him he doesn’t believe “a word of this stupid manga” and that the author himself doesn’t exist! The black and white ink drawings are splendid, often reminiscent of ancient Japanese engravings, other times extremely cinematic in movement, like film storyboards. I was able to appreciate the significance of this work better when, with the last order of volumes I also purchased Helen McCarthy’s amazing Osamu Tezuka: the God of Manga, which gave me an understanding of the suffering Tezuka went through during his relatively short but amazingly productive life (witnessing the horrors of war, his several ailments), also the dilemmas he faced (choosing between a career in medicine and a career as a manga artist, for example). This is probably why the title character of Buddha comes across not as a solemn proverb-quoting mystic, but as a human being who attains enlightenment through his compassion for even the most evil of people, and ability to see beyond the material, violent world. The combination of spiritual messages and childish humor can strike readers as odd, but I imagine even the Dalai Lama would enjoy this series (if he hasn’t already read it), as he’s also an enlightened person with a sense of humor. In terms of story, there are so many characters spread about a dozen locations that it was hard for me to keep track, and it was necessary to revisit past volumes to remember who’s who. Volume 7 seemed to be the most satisfying, as one can better appreciate Buddha’s true message, and the several story threads approach full circle. Some reviewers mention Volume 8 as feeling rushed, but I found it to be an excellent conclusion, moving me to tears near the end when the initial parable of the self-sacrificing rabbit is retold. Indeed, I found Buddha to have a profound spiritual message, with a powerful humanistic faith in people’s ability to overcome pettiness and destructive ambition. A note about the editorial aspect: I bought the paperback editions up to Vol. 6, and then ordered Vols. 7 & 8 in hardback. The books’ design by Chip Kidd is excellent, but it’s a pity the detail of Buddha’s face changing throughout the entire collection’s spine is not maintained in the paperbacks. I also found the hardcovers a bit hard to handle, what with the wobbly dust-jacket ribbon and the cover’s material, which is bound to be easily soiled. Given the huge amount of characters and places, it would have been great to have an index at the end. Vol. 7 arrived with an internal tear, and Amazon was gracious enough to send a replacement without requiring me to spend money in shipping back the defective book. I give Osamu Tezuka’s Buddha five stars because, in spite of not being a “perfect” series (is there such a thing?), reading it was a deeply inspiring and transformative experience for me. I’ll now start to read Phoenix, which I’m beginning to order in the Spanish “deluxe” edition through Amazon.es.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Wonderful
*by S***S on January 10, 2025*

The beginning of a masterpiece of the graphic arts, manga, philosophy, and humor. Recommended for all people of all faiths, or none.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing series by Osamu Tezuka
*by X***Z on July 31, 2013*

Tezuka has done it again this is one of my favorite series by the "god" of manga. Highly recommend to Tezuka (if you don't already have it) and mature readers who are new to manga. Worth every penny. I'm still reading the series right now but the when I read the first volume I could not put it down it was amazing. This is the First Osamu Tezuka volume I Read and definitley worth it. I have no complaints it is flawless. The art style is unique but it goes perfectly with this series. The story starts off with a young Shudra(Slave) named Chapra who wants to rise up in class and when a thief named Tata steals Chapras master's shippment Chapra must bring back the Shipment or his mother (also a slave) will be sold. When Chapra confronts Tata (who has a special power, he can transfer his soul into animals bodies) chapra tries to get the clothes back but Tata(who is also poor) cannot give Chapra the Shippment back but he says he will help Chapra get his mother back. When they get back a war breaks out and Tata's mother and sister die. Chapra gets seperated from his mother and Tata and Chapras mother search for him. This series is Epic and the first volume is worth it. Its 400 pages and for 15 dollars worth the price.

## Frequently Bought Together

- Buddha, Volume 1: Kapilavastu
- Buddha Four Encouters - Vol. 2
- Devadatta

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*Product available on Desertcart Malaysia*
*Store origin: MY*
*Last updated: 2026-02-25*