''Shanghai Manhua'' ( zh, t=上海漫畫, s=上海漫画, first=t, p=Shànghǎi Mànhuà), originally titled ''Shanghai Sketch'', was a weekly pictorial magazine published in Shanghai from 21 April 1928 until 7 June 1930. Considered the first successful
manhua
() are Chinese-language comics produced in China and Taiwan. Whilst Chinese comics and narrated illustrations have existed in China in some shape or form throughout its imperial history, the term first appeared in 1904 in a comic titled ' ...
magazine in China and one of the most influential, it was highly popular and inspired numerous imitators in Shanghai and the rest of China. ''Shanghai Manhua'' was known for its provocative cover art and the popular ''
Mr. Wang
''Mister'', usually written in its contracted form ''Mr.'' or ''Mr'', is a commonly used English honorific for men without a higher honorific, or professional title, or any of various designations of office. The title 'Mr' derived from earlier ...
Among the artists who established ''Shanghai Manhua'', several had worked together on the small, short-lived journal ''Sanri Huabao'' (''Three Day Pictorial''), including Ye Qianyu and the brothers
Zhang Guangyu Zhang may refer to:
Chinese culture, etc.
* Zhang (surname) (張/张), common Chinese surname
** Zhang (surname 章), a rarer Chinese surname
* Zhang County (漳县), of Dingxi, Gansu
* Zhang River (漳河), a river flowing mainly in Henan
* Zhang ...
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek (31 October 1887 – 5 April 1975), also known as Chiang Chung-cheng and Jiang Jieshi, was a Chinese Nationalist politician, revolutionary, and military leader who served as the leader of the Republic of China (ROC) from 1928 ...
's
Northern Expedition
The Northern Expedition was a military campaign launched by the National Revolutionary Army (NRA) of the Kuomintang (KMT), also known as the "Chinese Nationalist Party", against the Beiyang government and other regional warlords in 1926. Th ...
reached Shanghai in April 1927.
Out of work, cartoonists Ye Qianyu, Huang Wennong, and
Lu Shaofei
Lu, Lü, or LU may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Lu (music), Tibetan folk music
* Lu (duo), a Mexican band
** Lu (album), ''Lu'' (album)
* Character from Mike, Lu & Og
* Lupe Fiasco or Lu (born 1982), American musician
* Lebor na hUidre, a ...
published a dedicated publication for
manhua
() are Chinese-language comics produced in China and Taiwan. Whilst Chinese comics and narrated illustrations have existed in China in some shape or form throughout its imperial history, the term first appeared in 1904 in a comic titled ' ...
named ''Shanghai Manhua'' (''Shanghai Sketch''). The first effort resembled a propaganda poster and was a failure. Undeterred, the original three, joined by eight more artists, including the Zhang brothers,
Ding Song
Ding Song (; born 1971) is a former male Chinese people, Chinese table tennis player, he is famous due to his eccentric "modern defensive" style. He is best known for having defeated Peter Karlsson (table tennis), Peter Karlsson in the men's team ...
, and Wang Dunqing, formed the ''Shanghai Sketch Society'' (also translated as ''Shanghai Manhua Society'') in the autumn of 1927. It was China's first association dedicated to manhua and a major event in the history of Chinese comics.
Although the society had no formal structure, the two eldest and most established artists, Zhang Guangyu and Ding Song, were regarded as its leaders. The society was registered and often met at Ding Song's home on Rue Amiral Bayle (now South Huangpi Road).
Under the leadership of Zhang Guangyu, who recruited sponsors including the wealthy poet Shao Xunmei, the association relaunched ''Shanghai Manhua'' on 21 April 1928. It proved very popular: about three thousand copies of each issue were printed, which was considered a large amount for the 1920s.
Demise
In 1930, a Singapore-based businessman made a proposal to Zhang Guangyu and Zhang Zhenyu for starting a new pictorial magazine to compete with the popular monthly ''
The Young Companion
''The Young Companion'', known as ''Liángyǒu'' () in Chinese, was a pictorial with captions in both Chinese and English, published in Shanghai beginning February 1926. Although the direct translation of ''Liangyou'' is "Good Companion", the m ...
'' (''Liangyou''). The Zhang brothers agreed, but several partners in charge of photography objected. As a result of the dispute, ''Shanghai Manhua'' was shut down in June 1930 after publishing 110 issues. The manhua team of the magazine moved with the Zhangs to the newly established Shidai (Epoch) Publishing Group, which went on to publish a series of magazines including ''
Modern Sketch
''Modern Sketch'' () was a monthly Chinese art periodical. It ran from January 1934 through June 1937.Crespi, John A.Archive. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved August 6, 2014. Printer friendly version
In May 1936 Zhang Guangyu re-established ''Shanghai Manhua'', while many of the original members were then working with ''Modern Sketch''. Together they organized the highly successful First National Cartoon Exhibition in September and formed the National Association of Chinese Cartoonists in the spring of 1937. The blossoming movement, however, was brought to a halt by the Japanese invasion a few months later.
Format
Each issue of the magazine consists of eight pages including the front and back covers. The front cover featured its famously provocative cover art, and the back page carried Ye Qianyu's popular comic strip ''Mr. Wang'', inspired by the American ''
Bringing Up Father
''Bringing Up Father'' is an American comic strip created by cartoonist George McManus. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, it ran for 87 years, from January 2, 1913, to May 28, 2000.
The strip was later titled ''Jiggs and Maggie'' (or ''M ...
''. Reflecting the tribulations of daily urban life, ''Mr. Wang'' became one of China's most famous cartoons. Pages four and five were dedicated to other cartoons from various artists, and the remaining four pages were flexibly given to manhua, photography, prose, reviews, etc.
Influence
In addition to members of the Shanghai Sketch Society, other famous artists and writers also contributed to ''Shanghai Manhua'', including Shao Xunmei (Sinmay Zau), a wealthy and influential poet, writer, and publisher. His friend, artist and writer
Ye Lingfeng
Ye or YE may refer to:
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* Ye (pronoun), a form of the second-person plural, personal pronoun "you"
* The Scots word for "you"
* A pseudo-archaic spelling of the English definite article (''the''). See '' Ye olde'', and the "Ye form" sec ...
, also became a staff member and regular contributor. Their photographs were frequently published in the magazine, with some taken by the photographer Lang Jingshan.
Many of the images published in ''Shanghai Manhua'' reflect the daily urban life, while others are innovative visual commentaries on political events and contemporary society. The editorial staff of the magazine had close links to leading members of the decadent "neo-sensationist" school of the Shanghai literary scene. Influenced by ideas expressed in their writing, the artists produced startling images unparalleled in Republican-era China.