Xia Da is a Chinese manhua artist. She is best known for creating the comics Zi Bu Yu and Chang Ge Xing, and five million copies of her works have been sold as of 2018. Her art has been noted for its classical style, and have been met with positive reception in both China and Japan.
Early life
Xia Da was born on 4 April 1981, in Huaihua, Hunan. Her interests had included painting and comic-reading since she was a child, and she was eventually inspired to make her own comics in high school. She published her first work, titled Cheng Zhang, in the Beijing Cartoon magazine, receiving an encouraging, handwritten reply by her editorial teacher. After graduating from university, she moved to Beijing and briefly worked in advertising before quitting to focus on her own comics. During this time, she became engrossed in drawing, seldom leaving her apartment as she lived on a modest income.
Career
Her first comic book, April Story, was published in 2003 shortly before her college graduation. Zi Bu Yu, her second work, was serialized in 2008. The series won the 5thGolden Dragon Award on the same year, and was subsequently published in Japan by Ultra Jump in 2009. Prior to its publication in Japan, the work was reviewed and recommended by Matsui Sakamoto, editor-in-chief of the manga Saint Seiya. After the release of Zi Bu Yu, Xia Da published several other comics. Chang Ge Xing, a historical drama set in the Tang Dynasty, received the Golden Monkey Award for Chinese Comics during its serialization, and a televised series based on the comic began shooting in 2019. In December 2016, Xia Da issued an article on Weibo holding Summer Island Studio responsible for an unequal contract agreement set to last for 10 years. A publication hiatus for Chang Ge Xing was announced in the same article, with Xia Da citing issues with her health as the main cause. On 26 December, Xia Da and more than 30 comic creators announced their contract withdrawal from Summer Island. In September 2017, Xia Da announced the formation of her own studio in Hangzhou, along with the serialization of a new comic, Shiyi Liu.
