Buzz
During a conversation about favorite comics, someone introduces you to the genre of manhua, but you have no idea what it is. In this article, Mytour will introduce you to the concept of manhua.
1. Understanding Manhua
Manhua is the term used to refer to a line of comics created by China and other Chinese-speaking regions and autonomous territories.
The Reality Behind Manhua
Initially, Manhua was an art form employing simple techniques like shape shifting, symbolism, allusions, and dialogue to depict life or current events. It is crafted from drawings or combinations thereof to evoke satire or praise.
Throughout history, Manhua has evolved into graphic works, attracting the admiration of many and becoming a highly popular genre of comic books. The artistic style of Manhua differs significantly from Japanese manga, making it recognizable by its illustrations.
2. The Origin of Manhua
In 1925, the Shanghai Literary Weekly published captivating illustrations accompanied by text by the artist Phong Tu Khai. Later, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, Trinh Chan Dac, dubbed this style of illustration 'manhua' and continued to release numerous images. Since then, manhua has gained widespread circulation in China.
However, during that era, Phong Tu Khai and Trinh Chan Dac drew inspiration solely from Japanese manga works, transmitting them widely within their own country.
Nevertheless, there is evidence that on February 26, 1904, the Canh Chung Nhat Newspaper regularly featured manhua illustrations. Starting from March 27, 1904, the section titled 'Manhua Current Affairs' was used to refer to this cultural art form. Therefore, according to some sources, Manhua emerged in China in the early 20th century.
3. Notable Manhua Works
The most famous manhua works can be translated into multiple languages and published in many countries. One such example is the masterpiece 'Feng Yun' by the two authors Ma Vinh Thanh and Dan Thanh. This work has even been adapted into numerous films.
The story revolves around the two main characters, Bo Kinh Van and Nhiep Phong, amidst the swirling changes of the era, striving for dominance. It is a typical martial arts masterpiece known to any manhua enthusiast.
Another manhua masterpiece explores the theme of military warfare: 'Fire Phoenix: The Rise of Li Yuan'.
This work depicts the famous feudal war, the Three Kingdoms War, between the three factions of Wei, Shu, and Wu. However, unlike what we know from 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' by La Quan Trung, author Tran Mưu skillfully portrays historical figures from a different perspective, making it highly captivating.
Classic martial arts masterpieces such as 'Fire Dance of the Divine Phoenix', 'People in the Martial World', 'Youthful Tran Hao Nam', 'The King of Shadow Fist', and 'Hong Phien The Warrior' are all shining works of their time.
Today, with the development of online literature, online manhua has also emerged in abundance. The art style in popular online manhua works is gradually becoming more influenced by Japanese styles, losing its original uniqueness.
However, the dissemination of manhua stories becomes even more extensive as more works are created, serving the entertainment purposes of readers.
Thank you for reading and following our article explaining what manhua is on Mytour. We hope that our explanations about manhua have satisfied you. Wishing you all a wonderful day ahead.
