What Is Ideal Beauty In Chinese Culture

The concept of ideal beauty has not changed a lot during centuries and is not strongly influenced by the Western culture, as sometimes is claimed. The Chinese language identifies an ideal woman in a phrase that literally can be translated as “white, reach and beauty.” Therefore, the first feature of the concept of the ideal beauty is white skin. Among other feature are also “goose egg face,” slim body, big eyes and a small nose. Consequently, the ideal Chinese woman is slim, with a pale skin, big eyes, noble nose and an oval face with a pointed chin.

As it was mentioned above the concept of ideal beauty almost has not changed its initial features. Thus, pale skin historically became the feature of a beautiful woman. Fair skin for years represented health and wealth since it indicated that person had not worked outside. Therefore, it

Despite often claims that modern Chinese beauty ideals are strongly influenced by the Western culture, it is barely true. As it may be seen, most of the features that are necessary for being considered beautiful always were recognized as such during Chinese history. For instance, such feature as fair skin and slim body have always been desirable and recognized as ideals. Mostly it may be explained by the assumption that these features symbolize and present healthiness, wealth and fertility of a woman. However, some of the features of the ideal of Chinese beauty have not remained the same. Thus, preferences with regards to the shape of a face and eyes have been changed with a pass of time. It has been illustrated in the paper that initially round face were much preferable among Chinese dynasties. The same approach existed with referring to the shape of eyes. Eyes with single eyelids were considered more attractive, than double eyelids that are much preferable