Features of Ugly but Capable Women of Ancient China

The aim of this study was to analyze the appearance of women viewed as "ugly but capable" in ancient China. A Google search was conducted for the "Four Great Ugly Women." Information on 3 women was collected from Lienüzhuana, a collection of biographies of eminent women compiled by the Former Han period. With the addition of 1 (Huang Yueying), 7 "ugly but capable" women were analyzed. The manifestations of their ugliness in the texts were recorded. Among the 7 women, 5 exhibited physical manifestations, whereas the remaining 2 were simply described as "ugly" without specific characteristics. Among the discernible body characteristics of the 5 women deemed unattractive, the most common feature was dark skin (80%), followed by body shape (60%). Other frequently observed traits included sparse or yellow hair, an upturned or overly large nose, a convex forehead, and an unattractive neck (each at 40%), with the latter potentially exhibiting a protruding Adam's apple, a thick neck, or a neck mass. Less common features were sunken eyes, a large head, and a masculine skeleton, each occurring in 20% of cases. Based on the depiction of women considered unattractive, the authors can infer that dark skin, a fat body, a large or upturned nose, sparse hair, a protruding forehead, a thick neck, deep-set eyes, and a large head were elements associated with ugliness. Through the description of the ugly woman, authors can infer the standards of ugliness in ancient China.