What is Manhua | Brief Explanation of Manhua: The Art of Chinese Comics.
Manhua, a term that originated in the 18th century, is used to describe Chinese comics and narrated illustrations. The word was initially used in Chinese literati painting and later became popular in Japan as manga. In the modern sense, Feng Zikai reintroduced the word with his 1925 series of political cartoons entitled Zikai Manhua.
Manhua are Chinese-language comics produced in Greater China. They have a rich history, with the oldest surviving examples of Chinese drawings dating back to the 11th century BC. The introduction of lithographic printing methods derived from the West was a critical step in expanding the art in the early 20th century.
The terms “manga” and “manhwa” actually come from the Chinese term “manhua,” which means “impromptu drawings”. These terms were originally used within Japan, Korea, and China, respectively, as general terms for all comics. Now, however, international readers use these terms to address comics that are published in a specific country: Manga are Japanese comics, manhwa are Korean comics, and manhua are Chinese comics.
The creators of these East Asian comics also have specific titles: a person who makes manga is a “mangaka,” a person who creates manhwa is a “manhwaga,” and a person who makes manhua is a “manhuajia”. Each country has also historically influenced one another’s comics.
In the mid-20th century, the popularity of manga skyrocketed with the Godfather of Manga, Tezuka Osamu, the creator of Astro Boy. However, scholars believe the origin of manga started earlier, around the 12th to 13th centuries with the publishing of the Chōjū-giga ( Scrolls of Frolicking Animals ), a collection of animal drawings by various artists.
Manhua has its own history of development. During the Japanese Occupation of Korea (1910-1945), Japanese soldiers brought their culture and language into Korean society, including the importation of manga. From the 1930s to 1950s, manhua was used as propaganda for war efforts, and to impose a political ideology. Manhua became popular in the 1950s, but then experienced a decline in the mid-1960s because of strict censorship laws. However, manhua became popular again when South Korea launched websites that publish digital manhua known as webtoons.
In conclusion, while manga, manhwa, and manhua may sound similar and have similar artwork and layout, there are subtle but important differences among the three that make all the difference. Each has its unique history, cultural content, artwork, and reading direction, making them distinct forms of East Asian comics.
