The 14th Dalai Lama: A Manga Biography by Tetsu Saiwai – Review

Sep 27, 2010
Angela Eastman

The 14th Dalai Lama: A Manga Biography - Cover Image © 2010 Penguin Books

The biographical manga tells the story of the 14th Dalai Lama's life from his time as a young boy, to the invasion by China, through his exile from Tibet.

Released on September 28, 2010, The 14th Dalai Lama: A Manga Biography by Tetsu Saiwai chronicles the life of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, from the time he was a small child being told his destiny through his eventual exile from his own country of Tibet, which he remains in to this day. Originally published in the United States by Emotional Content, Penguin Books is publishing the biographical manga.

Biography of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama

The manga's story begins in 1933, after the 13th Dalai Lama, the manifestation of the Buddha of Compassion and the spiritual leader of Tibet, has passed. A search begins for the next Dalai Lama that ends in 1939 with the discovery of two-year-old Tenzin Gyatso, the reincarnated Dalai Lama. He is soon after brought to the city of Lhasa, and though he is separated from the world and his family, the new Dalai Lama has a happy and privileged life.

Then, in 1949, Mao Zedong announces the People's Republic of China and states that they will "emancipate" Tibet - which meant a forceful take over of the small country by China. The Dalai Lama became the official leader of Tibet at just 15 years of age, and worked towards Tibet's freedom through peaceful means. But in 1957 it became clear that Tibet's spiritual leader was no longer safe in his own country - the Dalai Lama escaped the Chinese government and today is still in exile, advocating for the freedom of Tibet through non-violence.

The 14th Dalai Lama: A Manga Biography from Penguin Books and Emotional Content

If the lengthy bibliography says anything, Tetsu Saiwai put a great deal of effort into his research for his biography of the Dalai Lama. But even in his effort to include all of the facts, the manga doesn't read like a dry history lesson. The subject itself is inherently fascinating, but Saiwai also creates interesting characters out of the historical figures. This pulls at the heartstrings as we don't just cry out for the people of Tibet, but also for individuals we've come to know through the manga.

Many of the important moments in the Dalai Lama's life are included in the manga - seeing Chinese refugees, moving to Lhasa, traveling to China - but the whole of his eventful life is so tightly packed into the book that parts of his personal life feel glossed over. There are some moments that I wish had been drawn out, like when he pines for his mother as a child, so we could have better understood the ilife of a young boy who carries so much responsibility.

Art of Testu Sawai in The 14th Dalai Lama

Not to say that Sawai's biography doesn't hit an emotional chord. Silence shows the tensity of a moment with the Dalai Lama's downcast eyes as he separates a Tibetan Prime Minister and a Chinese official in the middle of a heated argument. The young Dalai Lama gazes through his telescope at the children playing, and we know that he is lonely - but a smile shows he isn't jealous. Before running from Lhasa he stares at a single star in the sky - three panels show his bravery and resolve to return without the need of a single word.

Tetsu Saiwai gives his characters a simplistic design, but this benefits the biography by amplifying emotions. A cartoon-ishly big grin relates the young Dalai Lama's excitement when he meets Heinrich Harrer, and stern determination is clearly illustrated with little more than the down-turned line of the Dalai Lama's mouth. A wrinkled brow, crossed eyes and sweat flying off his face aptly displays how anxious and flustered he is when being questioned by the monks.

Simple designs don't keep Saiwai's art from wonderful detail. Liberal use of screen tones creates shading for backgrounds and texture on clothing, and intricate designs are sketched all over the temples and ceremonial outfits. Bold mountains take up the distant horizon as the Dalai Lama travels, and crowds are filled with individual faces.

The 14th Dalai Lama: A Manga Biography by Testu Sawai

It's easy for humans to forget about terrible things when they aren't hearing about it every day. I feel safe in saying that the story of Tibet's invasion by the Chinese, and the atrocities committed, isn't very well known by most Americans, and for that reason alone this biographical manga is worth picking up. But even without the history The 14th Dalai Lama captures your interest with a clear story that isn't dry or oppressive and art that is both simple and painstakingly detailed. I feel that the manga wants for a deeper characterization of its subject, but Tetsu Saiwai's biography is still an emotional tale of the events and difficulties of the Dalai Lama's life, made even more poignant by his unwavering adherence to non-violence.

The 14th Dalai Lama: A Manga Biography gets 4/5.