The First Manga Unraveling Its Historical Origins

Wondering what was the first manga? You’re not alone, but the answer isn’t a simple one. The history of manga is a fascinating journey of evolution, not a single starting point.

The title of the “first manga” is a subject of historical debate, with no single definitive answer. Most scholars point to 12th-century Japanese picture scrolls (emakimono) as the earliest precursors. The most frequently cited example is the Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga (“Scrolls of Frolicking Animals”), though other works like the Shigisan Engi Emaki are also contenders.

Based on current historical analysis, the story of manga is a long and rich timeline. This guide will unravel the complex history, from ancient scrolls to the pioneers of the modern format. You will discover the key figures and artworks that shaped this global phenomenon.

Key Facts

• Earliest Origins in the 12th Century: The most cited precursors to manga are 12th-century picture scrolls (emakimono), with the Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga being the primary example due to its sequential, textless visual narrative.
• A Competing Candidate Exists: Another 12th-century scroll, the Shigisan Engi Emaki, is also considered a potential “first manga” because it integrates text with images to tell a cohesive story.
• The Word “Manga” Is From the 18th Century: The term “manga” was first published in 1798 by artist Santō Kyōden, originally meaning something like “impromptu sketches.”
• The Modern Format Was Born in 1902: The first modern manga, using panels and recurring characters, was created by Kitazawa Rakuten in his newspaper supplement Jiji Manga.
• The “God of Manga” Defined the Industry: Osamu Tezuka revolutionized the medium after World War II with cinematic techniques and epic stories like Astro Boy (1952), shaping the industry we know today.

What Was the First Manga? Unraveling a Complex History

The question of the first manga does not have a single answer; instead, it involves a historical evolution from 12th-century picture scrolls to modern comics. The debate among historians is not about one specific date but about which historical artifact best represents the spirit and techniques of manga. According to most scholars, the journey begins with ancient Japanese picture scrolls, known as emakimono. These handscrolls told stories through images and are central to understanding manga‘s deep roots.

The core of the scholarly debate centers on two main candidates, both from the 12th century. The most famous is the Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga (“Scrolls of Frolicking Animals”), celebrated for its lively, text-free visual storytelling. However, some historians and creators point to another work from the same period, the Shigisan Engi Emaki (“Legends of Mount Shigi”), as a more direct ancestor because it combines words and pictures.

Understanding these foundational works is the key to answering the question. Each represents a different but equally important aspect of manga‘s DNA. So, what is the real story behind these ancient contenders? This historical investigation reveals a far more interesting origin than a single “first” ever could.

What Are the Ancient Roots of Manga in the 12th Century?

The Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga (“Scrolls of Frolicking Animals”) are 12th-century picture scrolls often called the “first manga.” Housed in Japanese museums and designated as a National Treasure, these scrolls are famous for their lively and satirical drawings of animals acting like humans. The art, often attributed to the artist-monk Toba Sōjō, tells a story entirely through images, a core principle of visual narrative that defines manga today.

These scrolls are not just simple cartoons; they contain many elements that are foundational to modern manga. Read from right to left, they depict a sequence of events, creating a clear narrative flow. You can see frogs and rabbits wrestling, monkeys dressed as priests, and other scenes that cleverly satirize human society at the time. This use of anthropomorphic animals to comment on people is a storytelling device still popular in countless comics and animated films.

Here are the key manga-like characteristics of the Chōjū-giga:

• Sequential Art: The images are arranged in a clear order to tell a story or show an event unfolding.
• Right-to-Left Reading: The scrolls are viewed from right to left, establishing the direction that is still the standard for manga today.
• Anthropomorphic Characters: Animals are given human-like qualities and roles, a classic form of satire and characterization.
• Textless Narrative: The entire story is conveyed through pictures, showcasing the power of visual storytelling. Some art historians even point to early examples of “speed lines” to show movement, a staple technique in action manga.

What Is the Main Competing Claim for the First Manga?

An alternative candidate for the first manga is the Shigisan Engi Emaki (“Legends of Mount Shigi”), also from the 12th century. While the Chōjū-giga is more famous, some experts and creators believe the Shigisan Engi has a stronger claim to being the direct ancestor of modern manga. This set of scrolls tells the story of a Buddhist monk and the miracles he performed, including a famous scene involving a “flying storehouse.”

Unlike the purely visual and satirical Chōjū-giga, the Shigisan Engi is a different kind of narrative artwork. It combines its illustrations with text, with written passages explaining the context of the scenes and moving the plot forward. This integration of words and pictures to tell a cohesive, linear story is much closer to the format of a modern graphic novel or comic book.

Manga creator Seiki Hosokibara, for instance, identified the Shigisan Engi Emaki as a more direct origin point for manga. The argument is that while the Chōjū-giga established visual language, the Shigisan Engi established the fundamental structure of combining text and art for narrative purposes. If the Chōjū-giga is about the “what” (the action), the Shigisan Engi is about the “what happened next” (the plot).

How Do the Ancient Scrolls Compare as “First Manga” Candidates?

The main difference between the Chōjū-giga and Shigisan Engi Emaki is that the Chōjū-giga is a textless, satirical work with animal characters, while the Shigisan Engi Emaki uses text and illustrations to tell narrative stories about people and miracles. Understanding these differences is key to appreciating the historical debate. Both 12th-century scrolls are foundational, but they contributed different elements to what would eventually become manga.

To make the comparison clear, here is a direct breakdown of their features:

Ultimately, your choice for the “first manga” depends on what you consider its most important feature. Is it the dynamic, sequential art? Or is it the combination of words and pictures to tell a story? The historical record shows both concepts were developing simultaneously.

When Was the Word “Manga” First Used?

The first known published use of the word “manga” was in 1798 in a picture book titled Shiji no yukikai by Santō Kyōden. It’s important to separate the history of the art form from the history of the word itself. While the artistic roots of manga go back to the 12th century, the name we use today appeared much later.

The term was created from two Japanese characters: man (漫), meaning “whimsical” or “impromptu,” and ga (画), meaning “pictures.” So, in its original context, “manga” meant something like “impromptu sketches” or “whimsical drawings.” It did not yet refer to the narrative comic strips we know today.

The term was famously popularized decades later by the legendary ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai. Starting in 1814, he published a massive collection of his sketches titled Hokusai Manga. These books contained thousands of drawings of everything from people and animals to landscapes and mythical creatures. While not a single narrative story, Hokusai’s work spread the word “manga” widely and associated it with expressive, dynamic drawings.

Who Created the First “Modern” Manga?

The first modern manga was created by artist Kitazawa Rakuten in 1902. While the ancient scrolls are manga‘s ancestors and Hokusai popularized the name, Rakuten is considered the father of the manga format we recognize today. He began publishing a comic strip page called Jiji Manga in a Sunday newspaper, which was revolutionary for its time.

Inspired by American comic strips like The Yellow Kid and The Katzenjammer Kids, Rakuten introduced several key innovations that defined modern manga. His work was the first in Japan to be consistently presented in a panel format, typically using four panels to tell a joke or short story. He was also the creator of Japan’s first recurring comic characters, Tagosaku to Mokubē no Tōkyō-Kenbutsu (“Tagosaku and Mokube’s Sightseeing in Tokyo”).

Here are the key innovations from Kitazawa Rakuten that created modern manga:
* Use of Panels: He adopted the Western format of using boxes or panels to organize sequential art.
* Recurring Characters: He created the first characters to appear regularly in a comic strip, building reader familiarity.
* Serialized Publication: His work appeared in a popular newspaper, making it the first serialized comic strip for a mass audience in Japan.
* Modern Use of “Manga”: He was the first to use the word “manga” in its modern sense, meaning “comics.”

How Did Osamu Tezuka Revolutionize the Manga Industry?

Osamu Tezuka is considered the “God of Manga” who revolutionized the medium after World War II. While Kitazawa Rakuten created the modern format, Tezuka took that format and transformed it into a powerful storytelling art form. Starting with influential works like New Treasure Island (1947) and the iconic Astro Boy (1952), he pioneered techniques that defined the look and feel of modern manga and anime.

Tezuka, who was also a licensed medical doctor, was heavily influenced by the films of Walt Disney and Max Fleischer. He introduced cinematic techniques to the printed page, using dynamic panel layouts that mimicked camera shots like close-ups, wide angles, and dramatic pans. This gave his stories an emotional depth and visual energy that had never been seen before in Japanese comics. He also developed the long-form “story manga” format, allowing for complex plots that could span hundreds or even thousands of pages.

Tezuka’s influence cannot be overstated. His key contributions include:

• Cinematic Techniques: Using panels like camera shots to create drama, action, and emotional impact.
• “Story Manga” Format: Developing long-form narratives that allowed for epic plots and deep character development.
• Genre Diversification: Creating works across nearly every genre, including sci-fi (Astro Boy), fantasy (Princess Knight), and serious drama (Black Jack).
• Iconic Art Style: Popularizing the large, expressive eyes that have become a hallmark of manga and anime, which he used to better convey emotion.

With a staggering lifetime output of over 700 volumes, Osamu Tezuka almost single-handedly transformed manga from a simple comic strip into the dominant force in Japanese popular culture.

FAQs About what was the first manga

What is the difference between ancient scrolls like Chōjū-giga and modern manga?

The primary difference is the format and intended audience. Ancient scrolls (emakimono) like the Chōjū-giga were single, continuous artworks for limited viewing, telling stories through sequential images. Modern manga, starting with Kitazawa Rakuten, uses a mass-produced format of panels, pages, and recurring characters influenced by Western comics.

So is Astro Boy (1952) the first manga?

No, but it was revolutionary for the post-war era. Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy is not the first manga, as it came 50 years after Kitazawa Rakuten’s modern format. However, its cinematic art style and epic storytelling were so influential that it defined the look and feel of modern manga and anime, earning Tezuka the title “God of Manga.”

What does the word “manga” actually mean?

Originally, it meant something like “impromptu sketches” or “whimsical pictures.” The term was first used in a publication in 1798 and later popularized by the artist Hokusai. Over time, the meaning shifted. In the early 20th century it came to mean “comic strip,” which is the direct origin of its modern usage for Japanese comics.

Why is there so much debate about the first manga?

The debate exists because the definition of “manga” has changed over time. If “manga” means sequential visual art, then the 12th-century Chōjū-giga is a strong candidate. If it means integrated words and pictures, the Shigisan Engi has a claim. If it means a modern comic strip format, then the answer is Kitazawa Rakuten’s work from 1902.

What came first, manga or anime?

Manga came first. The origins of manga can be traced back to 12th-century scrolls, with the modern format appearing in 1902. The first experiments in Japanese animation began in the 1910s, but anime as a major industry truly took off in the 1960s, largely driven by adaptations of popular manga series created by Osamu Tezuka.

Final Thoughts

The history of manga is not the story of a single invention but a rich cultural evolution. It is a journey that spans nearly a thousand years, shaped by anonymous monks, legendary artists, and 20th-century innovators. The answer to “what was the first manga” is layered, with each historical “first” adding a crucial element to the art form we love today.

• There is No Single “First Manga“: The answer depends on your definition. The history is an evolution, not a single event.
• The Earliest Precursor is Likely the Chōjū-giga: These 12th-century scrolls of “Frolicking Animals” established key visual storytelling techniques still used today.
• The Word “Manga” Appeared in the 18th Century: The term was first used in a publication by Santō Kyōden in 1798, long before it meant “comics.”
• The First “Modern” Manga Was Created in 1902: Kitazawa Rakuten is credited as the father of modern manga for introducing serialized comic strips with panels in Jiji Manga.
• Osamu Tezuka Revolutionized the Medium: Known as the “God of Manga,” Tezuka’s cinematic style and prolific work after WWII, like Astro Boy, defined manga‘s modern era and global appeal.

From the satirical animal scrolls of the Heian period to the globally recognized works of today, manga has always been a medium for dynamic storytelling. Its strength lies in this long and varied history, which continues to inspire creators and captivate readers around the world.