From ancient art forms to Lianhuanhua: the evolution and continuity of Chinese visual storytelling

Abstract

The study analyzes the visual narrative forms in ancient China, as represented in bronze artifacts, lacquer items, stone bas-reliefs, and the cave paintings of Dunhuang, in comparison with modern works in the genre of graphic novel lianhuanhua. The study covers the period from the Warring States era (475–221 BCE) to the Northern and Southern Dynasties (220–589 CE) for the ancient artworks involved, and the forms of lianhuanhua from the mid-20th century. These artifacts constitute an important cultural and aesthetic heritage, reflecting the mythology, religious beliefs, social ideas, and historical events of ancient China, while also forming the foundations of contemporary national visual art. The relevance of the research stems from the fact that, despite detailed examinations of the content and forms of these artifacts in the humanities, their genesis and influence on modern national Chinese art have not been systematically considered before. Particular attention is given to the phenomenon of lianhuanhua, which in contemporary art history is often perceived as a borrowed form associated with comics. The research methodology is based on an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating iconographic and formal-stylistic methods of art history, as well as comparative-historical and archaeological analysis. The study traces the evolution from individual plot depictions to sequential multi-page forms of visual narrative. Modern lianhuanhua, drawing on classical texts (“Romance of the Three Kingdoms,” “Yan Zi Chun Qiu,” “Sutra of the Nine-Colored Deer”), create a new sign system while preserving cultural heritage and ensuring continuity between ancient visual narratives and contemporary art.

Keywords: art of China, lianhuanhua, visual narrative, ancient Chinese bronze vessel, ancient Chinese stone bas-relief, Dunhuang frescoes, iconography