The Blue Lotus: When Tintin goes to China, Hergé discovers much more than adventure!

It is 1934, and Tintin, accompanied by his faithful Snowy, sets sail for China with The Blue Lotus . But behind this new adventure lies a decisive turning point for Hergé, who finally abandons clichés to adopt a more authentic approach. And all this, my friends, thanks to a crucial encounter: Tchang Tchong-jen , a Chinese sculpture student, whom he met in Brussels.

You are probably wondering what this meeting could have brought? Well, Tchang was not content to be a simple cultural informant for Hergé, he literally transformed his way of seeing the world! Thanks to him, Hergé abandoned stereotypes and immersed himself in a much more respectful and realistic representation of China. This influence is immediately visible in The Blue Lotus , where we discover a vibrant country, with its traditions, its political conflicts, and its landscapes, all depicted with a precision that hits the mark!

Tchang Tchong-Jen, Hergé's friend

Tchang's mark on Hergé's work

Tchang not only changed Hergé's view of China, he also influenced the graphic universe of Tintin . He was the one who introduced Hergé to Chinese aesthetics, with what is called "the wind and the bone": a subtle balance between free inspiration and solidity of line. Just that, yes! It can be felt in the finesse of the details that emanate from the plates of The Blue Lotus. And for those who like anecdotes, know that Tchang even becomes a key character in this album, proof of the importance of their friendship.

But that's not all, their relationship doesn't end there. They meet again many years later, in 1981, after being separated for almost 50 years. Imagine the emotion! Only two years before the author's death, this reunion sealed a friendship that forever marked the world of comics.

Album of the adventures of Tintin: The Blue Lotus - © Hergé/Tintinimaginatio 2024

The Blue Lotus: The Beginning of a New Era for Hergé

Tintin's adventure in China truly marked a turning point in the Adventures of Tintin . From The Blue Lotus onwards, Hergé no longer contented himself with taking his hero to imaginary countries. No, sir! He documented each place, each era, striving to describe the political and social realities of the time. We will see this in his following albums, where Tintin explored South America, Europe under tension, and even Eastern countries. In short, Hergé became the historian of modern times, with Tintin as his shock reporter.