- Lianhuanhua
Lianhuanhua (Chinese: 连环画 (Simplified) 連環畫 (Traditional);
Pinyin : "Liánhuánhuà" or 連環圖) is a palm-size picture book of sequential drawings found inChina in the early 20th century. It is considered the predecessor ofmanhua Wong, Wendy Siuyi. [2002] (2001) Hong Kong Comics: A History of Manhua. Princeton Architectural Press. New York. ISBN 1-56898-269-0] .Terminology
The name in Chinese essentially translates to "Linked Pictures". The books were called "Lianhuanhua" or "Lianhuan tuhua". People omitted the "tu", and simply coined the term "Lianhuanhua" as the standardLent, John A. [2001] (2001) Illustrating Asia: Comics, Humor Magazines, and Picture Books. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824824717] . The official term Lianhuanhua was not used until 1927. Prior to this, Lianhuanhua were separated into different name categories depending on the region.
{|class="wikitable"! width=10% | Location! width=25% | English Name! width=25% | Chinese Name
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Shanghai || Little Book || Xiao Shu (小書)
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Shanghai || Picture Book || Tuhua Shu (圖畫書)
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Guangzhou || Kid's Book || Gongzai Shu (公仔書)
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Wuhan || Children's Book || Yaya Shu （伢伢書）
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Northern China || Kid's Book || Xiaoren Shu （小人書）
-History
In the 1880s, Chinese magazines such as Dianshizhai Pictorial experimented with the potential of this art technique. In 1884, ten illustrations to accompany a
Korea n rebellion narrative may be the earliest example of Lianhuanhua. In 1899, Wenyi Book Company inShanghai published the illustratedlithograph "The Story of the Three Kingdoms" drawn by Zhu Zhixuan. The format then was called "huihui tu" or chapter pictures.In 1916 Caobao newspapers bound the pictures to attract a larger audience base of middle and lower class readers. The rise of Lianhuanhua's popularity was proportional to the rise of
lithographic printing introduced to Shanghai from the West.Shanghai comics journals in the 1920s featured more artwork, typically depicting traditional stories along the lines ofChinese mythology orChinese folklore . Small publishers in the 20s and 30s were mostly located on a street called Beigongyili in theZhabei district. In 1935 street book stall owners and publishers established the "Shanghai Lianhuan Tuhua Promotion Society" atTaoyuanli . The illustrated stories were originally targeted to children and marginally literate readers.The books could be rented for a small fee in street
kiosk s. By the 1920s, Lianhuanhuas were also found inHong Kong . These rental stores were common even during the Japanese occupation periods in the 1940s.In Hong Kong during the 1970s, the format had essentially disappeared as they had become materials associated with the uneducated and unsophisticated.
In China, the popularity of the format would end with the arrival of the
Cultural Revolution . An attempt was made in the 1980s to revive the artform to its former heights, but a population deprived of literature and art for a decade made this impossible [English Eastday. " [http://english.eastday.com/epublish/gb/paper1/455/class000100006/hwz54899.htm English Eastday] ." "Allure of illustrated booklets." Retrieved on2007-04-03 .] .Present
Currently there is a resurgent interest in this format. The
Shanghai Museum of Art has inaugurated a permanent exhibition of Lianhuanhua as a populargrassroots fine art form.References
Lists
*
Lianhuanhua listed by year ee also
*
Comic strip
*Manhua
*Chinese art External links
* [http://english.eastday.com/epublish/gb/paper1/455/class000100006/hwz54899.htm History of Lianhuanhua]
* [http://kaladarshan.arts.ohio-state.edu/exhib/ccomic/comindx.html Lianhuanhua Pictures]
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