View source for Shanghai Manhua

{{Short description|Chinese manhua magazine (1928–1930)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox magazine
| image_file      = Zhang Guangyu, "Cubist Shanghai Life." Shanghai manhua 1 (April 21, 1928).jpg
| image_size      = 
| image_alt       = 
| image_caption   = Cover of the first issue: ''Cubist Shanghai Life'' by Zhang Guangyu
| editor          = 
| editor_title    = 
| staff_writer    = 
| photographer    = 
| category        = [[Manhua]]
| frequency       = Weekly
| circulation     = 3,000
| firstdate       = {{Start date|1928|4|21|df=y}}
| finaldate       = 7 June 1930
| company         = Shanghai Sketch Society
| country         =  [[Republic of China (1912–1949)| Republic of China]]
| based           = Shanghai
| language        = Chinese
| issn            = 
| oclc            = 
}}
'''''Shanghai Manhua''''' ({{lang-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.<ref name="laing">{{cite web|url=http://mclc.osu.edu/rc/pubs/laing.htm|title=Shanghai Manhua, the Neo-Sensationist School of Literature, and Scenes of Urban Life|author=Laing, Ellen Johnston|work=Ohio State University|date=October 2010|accessdate=13 November 2013}}</ref> Considered the first successful [[manhua]] magazine in China<ref name="petersen">{{cite book|last=Petersen |first=Robert S.|title=Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels: A History of Graphic Narratives |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hr7aZh6oonoC&pg=PA120|year=2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=9780313363306|page=120}}</ref> and one of the most influential,<ref name="shtong">{{cite web|url=http://www.shtong.gov.cn/node2/node2245/node4522/node5661/node5713/node63735/userobject1ai8857.html|script-title=zh:漫画 |trans-title=Manhua|work=Shanghai Chronicle|publisher=Shanghai Municipal Government|language=Chinese|accessdate=14 November 2013}}</ref> it was highly popular and inspired numerous imitators in Shanghai and the rest of China.<ref name="wong">{{cite book|last=Wong|first=Wendy Siuyi|title=Hong Kong Comics |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sNaQQxhcD-oC&pg=PT18|year=2002|publisher=Princeton Architectural Press|isbn=9781568982694|page=18}}</ref> ''Shanghai Manhua'' was known for its provocative cover art and the popular ''[[Mr. Wang]]'' [[comic strip]] by [[Ye Qianyu]].<ref name="laing"/><ref name="crespi">{{cite web |url=http://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/21f/21f.027/modern_sketch/ms_essay01.html|title=China's Modern Sketch, the Golden Era of Cartoon Art|author=Crespi, John A.|work=MIT |year=2011|accessdate=13 November 2013}}</ref>

==History==
===Founding===
[[File:Zhang Guangyu, "Degenerate." Shanghai manhua 83 (Nov. 23, 1929).jpg|thumb|left|Zhang Guangyu: ''Degenerate'', 23 Nov 1929]]

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]] and [[Zhang Zhenyu]]. The journal was shut down when [[Chiang Kai-shek]]'s [[Northern Expedition]] reached Shanghai in April 1927.<ref name="laing"/>

Out of work, cartoonists Ye Qianyu, [[Huang Wennong]], and [[Lu Shaofei]] published a dedicated publication for [[manhua]] 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 (artist)|Ding Song]], and [[Wang Dunqing]], formed the ''Shanghai Sketch Society'' (also translated as ''Shanghai Manhua Society'') in the autumn of 1927.<ref name="laing"/> It was China's first association dedicated to manhua and a major event in the history of Chinese comics.<ref name="hung">{{cite book |last=Hung |first=Chang-tai|title=War and Popular Culture: Resistance in Modern China, 1937–1945 |url=http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft829008m5&chunk.id=d0e950&toc.id=d0e1770&brand=ucpress |year=1994 |location=Berkeley |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=9780520082366}}</ref>

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]]).<ref name="ifeng">{{cite web |url=http://news.ifeng.com/history/gundong/detail_2010_12/25/3695868_0.shtml |script-title=zh:《上海漫画》 |trans-title=Shanghai Manhua |publisher=Phoenix TV |language=Chinese |date=25 December 2010 |accessdate=13 November 2013}}</ref>

Under the leadership of Zhang Guangyu, who recruited sponsors including the wealthy poet [[Shao Xunmei]],<ref name="laing"/> the association relaunched ''Shanghai Manhua'' on 21 April 1928.<ref name="ifeng"/> It proved very popular: about three thousand copies of each issue were printed, which was considered a large amount for the 1920s.<ref name="laing"/>

===Demise===
[[File:Lu Shaofei, "Recent Empresses." Shanghai manhua 15 (July 29, 1928).jpg|thumb|Lu Shaofei: ''Recent Empresses'', from issue 15 (29 July 1928). Left to right: empresses of Shanghai's brothel district, movies, dance hall girls, prostitutes, and of the wives of physiognomists]]

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]]'' (''Liangyou''). The Zhang brothers agreed, but several partners in charge of photography objected.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.mcboda.com/book/zgxd/xxcs/009.htm|title=叶浅予自传: 细叙沧桑记流年|trans-title=Autobiography of Ye Qianyu|author=Ye Qianyu|chapter=《上海漫画》的最后命运 |publisher=China Social Science Publishing House |year=2006 |isbn=9787500453109 |language=Chinese |accessdate=27 February 2014}}</ref> As a result of the dispute, ''Shanghai Manhua'' was shut down in June 1930 after publishing 110 issues.<ref name="ifeng"/> 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]]'', the centerpiece of China's golden era of cartoon art.<ref name="crespi"/>

In May 1936 Zhang Guangyu re-established ''Shanghai Manhua'', while many of the original members were then working with ''Modern Sketch''.<ref name="shtong"/> 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 [[Second Sino-Japanese War|Japanese invasion]] a few months later.<ref name="shtong"/>

==Format==
[[File:Huaisu, "Fascination." Shanghai manhua 8 (June 9, 1928).jpg|thumb|Huaisu: ''Fascination'', cover of issue 8, 9 June 1928]]

Each issue of the magazine consists of eight pages including the front and back covers.<ref name="ifeng"/> The front cover featured its famously provocative cover art,<ref name="crespi"/> and the back page carried Ye Qianyu's popular comic strip ''Mr. Wang'', inspired by the American ''[[Bringing Up Father]]''. Reflecting the tribulations of daily urban life, ''Mr. Wang'' became one of China's most famous cartoons.<ref name="laing"/> 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.<ref name="ifeng"/>

==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]], also became a staff member and regular contributor. Their photographs were frequently published in the magazine, with some taken by the photographer [[Lang Jingshan]].<ref name="laing"/>

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.<ref name="laing"/> 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.<ref name="laing"/>

==Selected cover art==
{{Gallery
|File:Huang Wennong, "Offer Temptation, Receive Infatuation." Shanghai manhua 2 (April 28, 1928).jpg|Huang Wennong: ''Offer Temptation, Receive Infatuation'', 28 April 1928
||[[Ye Qianyu]]: ''Unfortunate Love'', 16 June 1928
|File:Ye Lingfeng, "Untitled." Shanghai manhua 37 (Dec. 29, 1928).jpg|Ye Lingfeng: ''Untitled'', 29 Dec 1928
|File:Zhang Zhenyu, "Untitled." Shanghai manhua 62 (June 29, 1929).jpg|Zhang Zhenyu: ''Untitled'', 29 June 1929
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons-inline}}

{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shanghai Manhua}}
[[Category:1928 establishments in Shanghai]]
[[Category:1930 disestablishments in China]]
[[Category:1928 comics debuts]]
[[Category:1930 comics endings]]
[[Category:Chinese-language magazines]]
[[Category:Weekly magazines published in China]]
[[Category:Defunct magazines published in China]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1928]]
[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 1930]]
[[Category:Magazines published in Shanghai]]
[[Category:Manhua magazines]]