“It depicts the life of Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.”
An Indian prince leaves his world of comfort and riches behind to wander and meditate for six years in search of spiritual enlightenment. Siddartha (Cojoin Hong) turns his back on the old religion when people are starving needlessly and holy rituals include human sacrifices. During his meditations, he is tempted by erotic dancing women, demons, and the evil machinations of his criminal cousin. Devastate to attain the spiritual perfection and become the Buddha. He travels to convert followers by his kindness and wisdom, gaining a multitude of believers when he stops an elephant from crushing a local priest. Buddha of course goes on to become one of the great religious leaders of the world.
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Cast
68 people
Raizō Ichikawa
Kunala
Known for
An Actor's Revenge
Shintarō Katsu
Devadatta
Known for
The Tale of Zatoichi
Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice
Kōjirō Hongō
Siddhartha
Known for
Gamera vs. Barugon
Return of Giant Majin
Hiroshi Kawaguchi
Ajashartu
Known for
Floating Weeds
Keizō Kawasaki
Upali
Also in
Warning from Space
The Blue Sky Maiden
Katsuhiko Kobayashi
Ananda
Known for
Zatoichi the Fugitive
Hajime Mitamura
Shariputra
Known for
The Tale of Zatoichi
Matasaburô Niwa
Sanna
Known for
Kamen Rider
Zatoichi on the Road
Ryūzō Shimada
Bhutika
Known for
The Tale of Zatoichi
Daimajin
Jōji Tsurumi
Aaraama
Also in
The Ghost of Yotsuya
The Invisible Man vs. The Human Fly
Shirō Ōtsuji
Kalodayin
Known for
Blind Woman's Curse
Samurai Assassin
Yoshirō Kitahara
Kaundinya
Known for
Gamera, the Giant Monster
Kenji Misumi Director · Fuji Yahiro Screenplay Akira Ifukube Composer
United States release July 2, 1963 · Produced in Japan · Original title 釈迦
Production
Daiei Film
Production
Japan
Produced in
Languages
Original title
釈迦
Original language
Japanese
Spoken on screen
Japanese
Release dates
Japan · November 1, 1961
Theatrical
United States · July 2, 1963
Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.