Although Nanga is an abbreviation of Nansoga, it is different from the idea circulating in China, and in Japan, the term refers to a school of painting which was generated on the basis of the Chinese paintings during the 17th - 19th centuries which were imported via Nagasaki city, text books of painting, theories of painting, block prints, etc.
南画は南宗画の略称であるが、日本では中国での概念と異なり、長崎市を経て輸入された17～19世紀の中国の絵画、絵画教科書、絵画理論書、版画などをもとにして発生した絵画の流派をさす。