Comics Art in China

Comics Art in China is a landmark survey of Chinese cartooning, comics, and animation by John A. Lent and Xu Ying. This digital PDF edition can be downloaded instantly after purchase.

The book covers every major comics art form in mainland China, from nineteenth-century precursors to contemporary digital animation. It draws on interviews with more than one hundred cartoonists, animators, and other comics figures.

Book Overview

Comics Art in China offers the most comprehensive history available of Chinese comics art. The authors cover political, social, and gag cartoons, lianhuanhua picture books, comic books, humorous drawings, cartoon and humor periodicals, and donghua animation.

The volume is structured chronologically, beginning with early precursors and continuing through the Republican era, wartime, Communist rule, and the market economy period. It also explores the interplay between artistic expression and government, showing how art can become a force for revolution.

This PDF edition includes over one hundred black-and-white and color illustrations. It is the first such survey in English and received the International Convention of Asia Scholars 2019 Book Prize for Best Art Publication.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• The evolution of manhua, lianhuanhua, xinmanhua, and donghua.
• The rise of political, social, and gag cartoons in mainland China.
• The role of cartoons as wartime weapons from the 1930s to 1949.
• The impact of Maoist campaigns on comics art between 1949 and 1976.
• Reform, modernization, and the market economy’s effect on cartooning.
• A concluding perspective on Chinese comics art in the twenty-first century.
• An appendix listing interviews conducted by John A. Lent and/or Xu Ying.

Why This Book Matters

This is a foundational reference for anyone studying Chinese visual culture, popular graphic arts, or the global history of comics. The authors’ extensive interviews with over one hundred artists preserve firsthand accounts from many pioneers who have since passed away.

It also places Chinese comics in a global context and examines the often-tense relationship between expression and government. The book is useful for scholars, students, and general readers interested in Chinese history, art, and animation.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download. No physical item will be shipped, and access is available immediately after purchase. The PDF works with most reading apps, including Kindle apps, tablets, desktop readers, and mobile devices. You can read it on your computer, smartphone, or e-reader screen.

FAQ

How do I get access after purchase? Your PDF will be available for download right after checkout. No shipping is involved.

Is there a physical copy included? No. This is a digital edition only. You will receive the PDF file for your reading device.

What devices are supported? The PDF is compatible with Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, and mobile reading apps.

Download Comics Art in China today and explore the full history of Chinese comics art at your own pace.

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