The History of the Word "Manga": Origins and Evolution
The word manga is now globally associated with Japanese comics, a medium that has become a central part of international popular culture. But behind the term lies a rich and complex history that predates the modern manga we know today. Understanding the history of the word manga can help us better understand the evolution of this Japanese cultural phenomenon and its impact around the world.
The Etymological Origins of the Word "Manga"
The word "manga" (漫画) is composed of two Japanese kanji. The first, "man" (漫) , means "casual" or "improvised," while the second, "ga" (画) , means "drawing" or "picture." Together, the word can be translated as "ridiculous pictures" or "fanciful drawings." However, this simplified definition does not fully do justice to the depth of the term, which has evolved over the centuries.
The First Steps: The Precursive Works
One of the earliest art forms that prefigures modern manga is the emaki (絵巻), or painted scroll, which dates back to the Heian period (794–1185). These scrolls told stories through images strung together, with explanatory text. A famous example is the Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga , a 12th-century painted scroll often considered an ancestor of manga. This scroll depicts anthropomorphic animals in humorous and dynamic scenes, illustrating narratives without the use of dialogue, but focusing on the visual expression of movement and action.
The concept of sequential images to tell a story, found in these scrolls, is a technique that prefigures that of manga as we know it.
Hokusai and the Appearance of the Word "Manga"
The term manga was popularized in the early 19th century by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), who was famous for his woodblock prints, including The Great Wave off Kanagawa . In 1814, Hokusai published a work called "Hokusai Manga" , a series of sketches depicting scenes from everyday life, landscapes, people, and fantastical creatures. Although these drawings were not intended to tell a continuous story like modern manga, the word "manga" began to be associated with illustrative and narrative works of art.
This collection of sketches, with its fluid and spontaneous style, played a key role in the evolution of the term and the concept. However, it is important to note that Hokusai Manga were not yet comics in the contemporary sense, but rather a collection of illustrations with touches of humor and fantasy.
Western Influence and the Evolution of Manga
The opening of Japan to the Western world in the mid-19th century, after the Edo period, brought a significant influence on Japanese culture. With the advent of modernization, Western art, including European and American comics, began to influence Japanese artists.
Humorous illustrated works such as those of George Bigot (a French cartoonist living in Japan) and American comic strips of the early 20th century inspired Japanese cartoonists. The illustrated satirical magazines of the time, such as the famous Eshinbun Nipponchi , are often considered prototypes of what we now call manga.
Western influence, combined with Japanese graphic traditions, thus led to a unique cultural fusion. It was from this period that manga began to take the sequential form we know today, with the use of panels to tell stories.
The Golden Age of Manga: The Post-War Era and Tezuka Osamu
The real rise of modern manga came after World War II, in a Japan that was rebuilding. It was during this time that one man radically transformed the medium: Tezuka Osamu (1928-1989), often called the "God of Manga." Tezuka was heavily influenced by American animated films, particularly those of Walt Disney. His works, such as "Astro Boy" (Tetsuwan Atom) , first published in 1952, marked the beginning of a new era for manga, with an emphasis on fluid visual storytelling, character emotion, and a cinematic sense of movement.
Tezuka introduced the big-eyed drawing style , influenced by Western animation, and structured his stories into multiple volumes, allowing readers to follow a complex narrative. This serial format contributed to the popularity of manga and its spread into mass culture. It also inspired a new generation of mangaka (manga creators).
The 1980s: International Expansion
The term manga began to spread beyond Japan in the 1980s, when works such as Katsuhiro Otomo 's Akira and Akira Toriyama 's Dragon Ball gained international popularity. Manga's distinctive visual style, combined with its captivating plots and emotional depth, appealed to a global audience. With the advent of anime (animated adaptations of manga) on television and in film, the term manga began to enter the vocabulary of millions of people around the world.
Manga Today: A Global Cultural Phenomenon
Today, manga represents a significant portion of the comic book industry worldwide. Millions of readers, across generations and cultures, regularly consume manga, which spans an infinite variety of genres: adventure, romance, science fiction, fantasy, horror, slice of life, and more.
The term manga is now universally recognized to refer to Japanese comics, but it continues to evolve with changes in society and popular culture. Additionally, the influence of manga on other art forms, such as Western comics and film, is undeniable.
Conclusion: One Word, One Rich History and One Continued Evolution
The word manga has come a long way from its humble origins, from the painted scrolls of the Heian period to modern works distributed across the world. The term embodies not only a specific art, but also a link between Japanese history, culture and society.
Thanks to visionary creators like Hokusai and Tezuka Osamu , manga has become a unique medium, influencing not only art and literature, but also mindsets around the world. Today, manga is no longer just a comic book, but a global cultural phenomenon that continues to evolve and inspire.