- MatthewDusQues
Manhwa is a Korean comic book, while manga is a Japanese comic book. Both are known for their vibrant painting styles and fast-paced narratives. While manhua, manga, and manhwa have certain similarities, they also have some significant distinctions.
The distinction between manhua, manga and manhwa has gotten more blurred in recent years. So, what exactly is the difference between the two? If you’re a lover of manhua, manga or manhwa, it’s essential to understand the differences! Here are some of the fundamental differences between manhua, manga and manhwa.
Etymology Of Manhua, Manga And Manhwa
The word manga is a Japanese term that can be translated as “comic”; historiographers and critics trace its origins to the 18th century. The comic book series that we know today began in the late 19th century in Japan and has since spread throughout the world.
The word manhua is a Chinese term that literally means “impromptu pictures.” Manhua comics originated in China and are typically characterized by their unique artistic style.
The word manhwa is a Korean term that also means “comic” or “cartoon.” Manhwa is a comic that originated in Korea and is often characterized by its colorful graphics and stylized storytelling.
Manhua
Manhua is a genre of Chinese comics that includes all comics made in China. While the term manhua is sometimes used interchangeably with the Western concept of comics, manhua generally has a more serious tone and is aimed at older audiences than the more light-hearted manga.
The first manhua was published in the late 19th century, during the Qing dynasty. Many of the earliest manhua were political cartoons, which were used to comment on current events. These early manhuas were often banned by the government, which only served to make them more popular.
During the 1920s and 1930s, manhua became increasingly popular, with a number of different artists experimenting with the medium. The most famous of these was Feng Zikai, who is credited with helping to develop the lianhuanhua style of manhua, which is still popular today.
The Communist Revolution put an end to manhua for a time, as the new government discouraged anything that could be seen as bourgeois or decadent. However, manhua made a comeback in the 1980s, when a new generation of artists began to experiment with the medium.
Today, manhua is more popular than ever, with a wide range of different styles and genres being represented. Whether you’re looking for action-packed adventures or thought-provoking dramas, there’s a manhua out there for you.
What Makes a Manhua Special?
Depending on where they originate from, manhua comics and graphic novels may be read from left to right or right to left. In general, mainland Chinese manhua are read from left to right, whereas those from Hong Kong and Taiwan are read from right to left.
A manhuajia is a person who makes manhua. Like Korean manhwagas, they show their characters in a more realistic and less stylized manner than their Japanese counterparts.
In their more popular computerized incarnations, Manhua comics are usually printed in full color rather than black and white. Manhua has taken on a new animation form in recent years, thanks to shows like Yi Ren Zhi Xia and Soul Buster.
Manhua is getting more popular, with a rising demand for these comics and graphic novels all across the globe.
However, unlike manga and manhwa, which cover a wide range of topics, manhua mainly fits into one of four categories: politics, humor, action, and children, so whether it can ever surpass manga’s popularity remains to be seen.
Manhua, which are comics made entirely in China, Taiwan, or Hong Kong, is the last item on this list of East Asian exports.
The 1904 Current Affairs Comics, which gave a commentary on war and politics at the time, was the first published manhua. Over the following two decades, this new art form continued to establish itself. Shanghai Sketch, the first-ever devoted manhua journal, was founded in 1928.
The magazine generated a tiny but vibrant manhua scene in mainland China and Hong Kong. By the mid-1950s, a second popular newspaper, Cartoons World, had joined the market. This exposed manhua to a whole new generation of followers and cemented its status as a significant aspect of Chinese culture.
But, like Korea’s manhwa, manhua has been subjected to government censorship and control throughout the years, and many satirical or controversial cartoons have been blocked and erased since the internet’s inception.
Manga
Manga is a Japanese word that can be translated as “comic book”. Manga are typically serialized in weekly or monthly anthology magazines, with individual chapters collected into tankōbon volumes. The first manga magazine was published in Japan in 1775, and manga stories have since become some of the most popular in all of Japanese literature.
Manga stories cover a wide range of genres, from action-adventure to romance, and are often aimed at specific demographic groups, such as young boys, young girls, or middle-aged adults. Manga artists typically work in teams of two or more, with one artist responsible for the artwork and another for the story.
While manga has been around for centuries, it was not until the 1950s that it began to gain widespread popularity outside of Japan. In the 1980s, manga became increasingly popular in the United States, and today there are many American manga fans.
What Makes Manga So Special?
Manga’s monochromatic format is the most visible element distinguishing it from manhwa and manhua. While full-color front covers are sometimes seen, manga is nearly always published in black & white.
All original manga is written in Japanese, and the layout is supposed to be read from right to left. However, many popular shows are now translated into numerous languages for a worldwide audience due to a large international fandom.
Weekly magazines like Shonen Jump, Shueisha, and Kodansha have historically published manga. However, monthly manga publications have grown in popularity in recent years.
Issues are often combined into whole volumes after a series has established itself and many published chapters. As a result, collecting every original publication isn’t necessary to follow the plot.
A manga author is referred to as a mangaka. Still, since a series might last for years, if not decades, numerous mangakas are often involved in the same project.
Plus, since these tense storylines and sophisticated artwork need a large crew to see them through to publication, there are generally lots of non-mangaka working behind the scenes.
Manga’s Ascension
Manga brings in a significant quantity of money for Japan’s economy. Its popularity has exploded over the past three decades, first in the United States and Canada, then throughout Europe. Today, readers can be found in every corner of the globe.
Manga currently outsells every other comic or graphic book style in the United States, and it’s the same across the world.
Manga is such a large industry in Japan that aspiring painters and writers learn at institutions all around the country to be the best in their area.
Many manga creators have also moved to anime, another prominent contemporary Japanese art form. In reality, most anime is based on the original manga, such as the popular Fullmetal Alchemist series and Demon Slayer Mugen.
Genres of Manga
There are hundreds of genres in the manga world, so there is something for everyone, regardless of their age or hobbies.
Because there are far too many to discuss in one piece, a few of the most popular.
- Shônen
Shônen manga is geared toward teenage males. Still, due to a recent change in ideas about conventional gender norms, many young girls are now reading shônen. Despite this, the primary character is usually invariably a man.
Shônen is known for its high-octane action sequences and epic adventures, which often include mild horror and violence aspects.
- Shôjo
The bulk of Shôjo manga readers are adolescent females, which makes sense given that the genre’s name is derived from a Japanese phrase, young lady.
Shôjo is more about emotional difficulties and relationships between friends and couples than action and adventure.
The artwork is idealized, with lots of bright, feminine symbols like hearts and flowers used to convey the people’s emotions in the story.
- Seinen
The name seinen means youth, yet unlike Shônen and Shôjo, this is a considerably more adult-oriented genre. Males between the ages of 18 and 30 are the most common readers. At the same time, certain seinen periodicals also have a following of businesspeople in their 40s and beyond.
The seinen genre covers various topics, from science fiction to erotica. Unlike the more basic high-action shonen manga, the tales frequently deal with grittier subjects and emphasize character and plot development.
- Josei
Josei manga is a more mature variant of shôjo manga. While it still has friends and romantic themes and emphasizes feeling over action, the artwork is less idealized. The characters are more complicated, and the story incorporates more adult and tough issues.
- Shoujo-ai and Shounen-ai
Sometimes known as yuri and yaoi, these two genres center on LGBTQ+ relationships. While some tales are exclusively romantic, many others are jam-packed with action and adventure, horror and violence, and everything.
Manhwa
Manhwa is a Korean word that refers to comics or print cartoons. In the West, the term manhwa is generally used to refer to South Korean comics, while in North Korea, it refers to comics produced in North Korea.
Manhwa has been around since the early 1900s, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that it really began to take off in popularity. The first manhwa magazine was published in 1957, and since then, manhwa has become a staple of Korean pop culture.
There are all sorts of manhwa out there, from action-packed adventures to heartwarming slice-of-life stories. No matter what your interests are, there’s bound to be a manhwa out there for you.
One of the things that makes manhwa so special is the fact that it’s such a diverse medium. There are manhwa for all ages, from young children to adults, and all sorts of genres to choose from. Whether you’re looking for something funny, touching, or just plain weird, you’re sure to find it in the world of manhwa.
If you’re interested in giving manhwa a try, there are plenty of great titles out there to choose from. Some of our personal favorites include “The Girl From the Other Side,” “White Dragon,” and “Yeonmi-go.” Whatever you end up reading, we guarantee you’ll be hooked on manhwa in no time!
What Makes a Manhwa Special?
Many of the elements of these comics and graphic novels are similar to Japanese manga. Still, there are some important distinctions as well.
One of the most striking differences is that manhwa is read from left to right like English-language comics and graphic novels. This makes it simpler for Western viewers who are more familiar with the genre. Still, it’s something to think about if you’re already a manga reader.
Although all original manhwa are published in Korean, several of the most popular series have also been translated into other languages.
Manhwa, on the other hand, is still popular outside of Asia. And, even though the worldwide fan base is expanding by the day, there aren’t nearly as many English-language books available as there are in the manga industry.
Manhwa artists are referred to as manhwaga, and their artistic style differs significantly from most comics. Characters still have huge, comical eyes, but they’re more realistic and less stylised than before.
Another significant distinction is that, unlike manga, manhwa is often made in full color, particularly when it is published online as a webtoon (which is more often than not).
What Are Webtoons?
Although some people use the phrases webtoons and manhwa interchangeably, they are not synonymous.
A webtoon is a full-color manhwa that is only accessible online. Webtoons are the most popular kind of manhwa nowadays, and most classic in-print manhwa is only available to dedicated collectors.
Difference Between Manga And Manhwa, Manhua
The History of Manhua, Manhwa and Manga
The terms manga and manhwa actually come from the Chinese term manhua, which means impromptu drawings. Originally, these terms were used within Japan, Korea, and China as general terms for all comics and graphic novels, regardless of the country of origin.
Now, international readers use these terms to address comics published from a specific country: manga are Japanese comics, manhwa are Korean comics, and manhua are Chinese comics.
The creators of these East Asian comics also have specific titles: a person who makes manga is a mangaka, a person who creates manhwa is a manhwaga, and a person that makes manhua is a manhuajia. Along with etymology, each country has also historically influenced one another’s comics.
In mid-20th century Japan, the popularity of manga skyrocketed with the Godfather of Manga, Tezuka Osamu, the creator of Astro Boy. However, scholars believe that the origin of manga started earlier, around the 12th to 13th century, with the publishing of the Chōjū-Giga (Scrolls of Frolicking Animals), a collection of animal drawings by various artists.
During the American Occupation (1945 to 1952), American soldiers brought European and American comics, which influenced mangakas’ art style and creativity. There was a great demand for manga due to increased readership in the 1950s to 1960s. Soon after, manga became a global phenomenon, with overseas readership starting in the late 1980s.
Manhwa has its own history of development. During the Japanese Occupation (1910-1945) of Korea, Japanese soldiers brought their culture and language into Korean society, including the importation of manga. In the 1930s to the 1950s, manhwa was used as propaganda for war efforts and to impose a political ideology on civilians.
Manhwa became popular during the 1950s to 1960s but declined due to the strict censorship laws in the mid-1960s. However, manhwa became popular again when South Korea launched websites that publish digital manhwa known as webtoons, such as Daum Webtoon in 2003 and Naver Webtoon in 2004. Then in 2014, Naver Webtoon launched globally as LINE Webtoon.
Manhua are comics from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Manhua is said to have started in the early 20th century by introducing the lithographic printing process. Some manhua were politically-driven with stories about the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Japanese Occupation of Hong Kong.
Yet, after the Chinese Revolution in 1949, there were strict censorship laws, resulting in manhua having a difficult time being legally published overseas. However, manhuajia began self-publishing their work on social media and webcomic platforms like QQ Comic and Vcomic.
The Ideal Readers
There are all sorts of people who read manga, manhwa, and manhua, but there are certain qualities that make up the ideal reader. They’re passionate about the stories and characters, and they’re always on the lookout for new and exciting titles to read. They’re also willing to give anything a chance, even if it’s outside of their usual genre.
The ideal reader is also open-minded and tolerant of different cultures. After all, manga, manhwa, and manhua come from all over the world, and the best stories are the ones that transport you to another place. The ideal reader is also patient because some of the best manga, manhwa, and manhua are slow-burners that take their time to unfold.
Last but not least, the ideal reader is someone who is always eager to discuss and share their love of manga, manhwa, and manhua with others. Whether it’s online or in person, they’re always up for talking about the latest release or their all-time favorite series.
Cultural Content & Reading Direction
The content of an East Asian comic reflects its origin culture, and values. In the manga, there are numerous fantasy and supernatural stories about shinigami death gods, such as Bleach and Death Note. Manhwa often has storylines related to Korean beauty culture, like True Beauty. At the same time, manhua features many wuxia (martial arts chivalry) themed comics.
Although manhua has captivating storylines, it’s also been criticized for a foundational lack of a coherent narrative. However, this shouldn’t discourage you from giving manhua a try.
Manga and manhua are read from right to left and top to bottom. However, manhwa is similar to American and European comics. They’re read from left to right and from top to bottom. The layouts are read from top to bottom, allowing for infinite scrolling when it comes to digital comics.
The printed manga has limitations when depicting movement in the artwork; however, the vertical layout and infinite scrolling in digital manhwa and manhua are used to strategically depict the movement of objects descending or the passage of time.
The Artwork & Text
Manga is usually published in black and white in print and digital, unless they are special releases and printed in full color or with color pages. Digital manhwa is published in color, but print manhwa is traditionally published in black and white, similar to manga. Like manhwa, digital manhua is also published in color.
Inspired by the art of Walt Disney, Tezuka Osamu drew his characters with big eyes, small mouths, and exaggerated facial expressions to emphasize certain emotions. Tezuka’s art style influenced the artwork of other artists in Japan and elsewhere. However, manhwa and manhua characters are drawn to focus on more realistic human proportions and appearances.
Manga and manhwa also have realistic and detailed background settings, almost photo-realistic, in contrast to digital manhwa, which has simpler backgrounds though it should be noted that print manhwa is more similar to manga in this regard.
Manga also uses a unique set of onomatopoeia in their narratives to describe the sounds of animals and inanimate objects and the sounds of psychological states and emotions. These onomatopoeiae are written in a page’s surrounding panels and gutters, much like American comics.
Likewise, manhwa and manhua have their own set of onomatopoeia used to describe emotions and movements. Also, digital manhwa often uses music and soundbites to enhance the reading experience, something novel to their electronic presentation.
With the internet, we have easy access to many East Asian comics. Whether you are reading manga, manhwa or manhua, each comic has its merits, which only enhance the reading experience for anyone anywhere.
FAQs
Are Manhwas read left to right?
Yes, manhwas are read left to right. This is because they are originally written in Korean, which is read from left to right. So when they are translated into English, they are still read from left to right.
Which is more popular, manhwa or manga?
There’s no clear answer to which is more popular, manhwa or manga. Both have their own devoted fanbases, and it really depends on what you’re looking for in a story.
Manhwa tends to be more associated with Korean culture, while manga is more associated with Japanese culture. So if you’re looking for something with a more Korean flavor, manhwa might be the way to go. But if you’re just looking for a good story, either manhwa.
Why is manga black and white?
Manga is a Japanese comic book that is typically black and white. There are many reasons why manga is black and white, but the most common reason is that it is cheaper to print. Black and white manga can also be more visually appealing than the color manga.
Conclusion
Manhua, manga, and manhwa, in all its forms, will continue to grow in worldwide acclaim. And as they become more well-known, so will their clout. Webtoons now include digital comics from throughout the globe, as we’ve previously seen.
There are increasing numbers of North American publishers that plan on producing manga in the English language, such as World Piece. Both formats’ extensive availability and accessibility will impact any parallels or distinctions in the future.
Whether manga, manhwa, or manhua, an anime may appeal to you. What is your favorite and why? Please share your thoughts in the section below.
Read more:
